6/6/2023 - Meeting Materials r
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SALT LAKE CITY
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA
Tuesday, June 6th 2023
5:30pm
City& County Building
451 South State Street
Cannon Room 335
This meeting is a discussion among Commissioners and select presenters. The public is welcome.
Items scheduled may be moved or discussed during a different portion of the meeting based on
circumstances or availability of speakers.
This meeting will be hybrid. The Commission Meeting will have a physical location at the City and
County Building in Cannon Room 335 and members of the public may provide public comment in-
person. Commissioners and presenters may join or participate either in person or through
electronic means.
CONDUCTED BY: Chair Jason Wessel
Members of the Human Rights Commission:
Commissioner Jason Wessel, District 1, Chair
Commissioner Esther Stowell, District 2, Vice Chair
Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, District 3
Commissioner Will Terry, District 4
Vacant, District 5
Commissioner David Leta, District 6
Vacant, District 7
Commissioner Everette Bacon, At-Large
Commissioner Pamela Silberman, At-Large
Mayor's Office Staff in Attendance:
Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager
Maria Romero, Executive Assistant
Andrew Johnston, Director of Homelessness Policy & Outreach
1
Alzenda Items
1. Welcome
• Roll Call
2. Approve and Adopt Minutes
• May 2023
3. Public Comment(5 minutes)
• Attendees may be provided one or two minutes of time, determined by the number of
attendees and the time available determined by the Commission. Please observe the
time limit stated at the beginning of the public comment period so everyone may have
a chance to speak.
• Per the public meeting guidelines, keep comments free of discriminatory language
referring to a person or group based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race,
color, descent, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or other gender identity
factor. Items or comments that disrupt the meeting, intimidate other participants or
that may cause safety concerns are not allowed.
4. Community Presentation (— 30-40 minutes)
• Moe Hickey, Executive Director of Voices for Utah Children will provide a
presentation to the commission.
5. StrategyManning Session (— 10-15 minutes)
• This will be a brief discussion on the vision for the HRC.
6. Review Subcommittee Goals &Priorities (— 10-15 minutes)
• Racial Equity in Policing Commission
• Human Rights Day
• CEDAW
• Homelessness
• Gentrification
• Refugees &New Americans
• Children/Youth Advocacy
7. Discussion/Dialogue about Human Rights Around the World (5-10 minutes)
2
• During this portion of the meeting, Commissioners may raise topics and discuss
current events that may impact or influence the Commission's overall work,
discussions, and deliberations to provide recommendations to the Mayor and City
Council. No action will be taken during this section of the meeting. Matters discussed
during this section of the meeting may be scheduled on a subsequent agenda for
follow-up.
8. Review Human Rights Commission Meetings for 2023:
• Tuesday, january 03
, 2023
• Tuesday, March 07, 2023
• Tuesday, April 04
, 2023
• Tuesday May 02 2023
• Tuesday, June 06, 2023
• Tuesday, July 04, 2023 Recess
• Tuesday, August 01, 2023
• Tuesday, September 05, 2023
• Tuesday, October 03, 2023
• Tuesday,November 14, 2023 —Final Regular Meeting of 2023
• Sunday, December 10, 2023 —Human Rights Day Celebration
• hops://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day
CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
On or before 5:30pm on December 31, 2022 the undersigned, duly appointed Equity Manager,
does hereby certify that the above notice and agenda was (1)posted on the Utah Public Notice
Website created under Utah Code Section 63F-1-701, and(2) a copy of the foregoing provided to
The Salt Lake Tribune and/or the Deseret News and to a local media correspondent and any
others who have indicated interest.
MICHELLE MOONEY
SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE
Final action may be taken in relation to any topic listed on the agenda. People with
disabilities may make requests for reasonable accommodation, which may include alternate
formats, interpreters, and other auxiliary aids and services. Please make requests at least two
business days in advance. To make a request,please contact City staff at HRCkslc og v.com or
385-707-6514, or relay service 711.
3
Human Rights Commission Minutes
Human Rights Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
DRAFT Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
5:30 P.M.
The Human Rights Commission met in an electronic meeting pursuant to the Salt Lake City
Emergency Proclamation and determination of the Chair.Minutes are provided in conjunction
with the video/audio file.
You may also watch a recording of the meeting on the SLC HRC Meeting YouTube Channel.
CONDUCTED BY: Chair Jason Wessel
Members of the Human Rights Commission:
Commissioner Jason Wessel, District 1, Chair
Commissioner Esther Stowell, District 2, Vice Chair
Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, District 3
Commissioner Will Terry, District 4
Vacant, District 5
Commissioner David Leta, District 6
Vacant, District 7
Commissioner Everette Bacon,At-Large
Commissioner Pamela Silberman, At-Large
Commission Members in Attendance Commissioner Jason Wessel, Commissioner
Esther Stowell, Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, Commissioner Will Terry,
Commissioner David Leta, Commissioner Everette Bacon
Commission Members Absent: Commissioner Pamela Silberman
City Staff in Attendance:
Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager
Maria Romero, Executive Assistant
Andrew Johnston, Director of Homelessness Policy & Outreach
Guests in Attendance: none
The meeting was called to order at 5:34 PM.
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10/13/2023 7:27 PM
Human Rights Commission Minutes
Agenda Items
1. Welcome
• Roll Call
2. Approve and Adopt Minutes
• April2023
o Motion: David Leta. Second: Olivia Jaramillo. All in favor. The motion
passed.
• Commissioner Leta has commented on Hannah Regan's email on the city's
position on bills.
3. Public Comment(5 minutes)
• No guests from the public were in attendance during this meeting.
4. Updates on Homelessness Policy& Outreach (—60 minutes)
• Andrew Johnston, Director of Homelessness Policy & Outreach will provide an
update on the current initiatives regarding the population experiencing
homelessness in Salt Lake City.
• Andrew Johnston has provided an overview of the housing system and an
overview of camp mitigation strategies.
• Andrew Johnston has brought forth information about the Rapid Intervention
Team Outreach that works with the County Health Department and Volunteers of
America.
o Commissioner Chair Jason Wessel commented on the Rapid Emergency
Shelter closing gap of 10-2 weeks negatively affecting the unsheltered
community. The Commissioner commented on the correlation between
services and locations in the unsheltered community.
• Commissioner Jason Wessel has commented on the population and where
services are located.
o Commissioner David Leta has commented on the reasons the city is
unable to have daytime services for people. The Commission has
commented on the possibility of a peer model in the shelters.
o The other side village will require residents to work at the location.
o The Commission addresses the more services available the more of an
increase of unsheltered people.
• Andrew Johnston has provided an overview of an example of a well-functioning
Low Barrier Emergency Shelter.
o Commissioner Will Terry has commented on if the city would use
motels.
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10/13/2023 7:27 PM
Human Rights Commission Minutes
• Andrew Johnston has provided a Mini Model overview. Andrew Johnston has
provided an overview of the role of the private community. Andrew has provided
an overview of the Switch point Model.
• Commissioner David Leta has shared his perspective regarding the potential
implementation of financial incentives within the city, specifically in the form of
rebate exemptions on property taxes, as a means of addressing the issue of
housing the unsheltered population.
o Tax amendment
• Commissioner David Leta has formally requested a copy of the PowerPoint
presentation that was used.
5. Review Subcommittee Goals &Priorities (— 5-10 minutes)
• CEDAW
o Michelle Mooney has requested the availability of all commissioners for
informational sessions that will be open to the public. The sessions aim
to provide community members with information on CEDAW.
o Commissioner Jason Wessel has provided an overview of CEDAW.
• Homelessness
o No update was given at this meeting.
• Gentrification
o Commissioner Will Terry has expressed his intention to meet with
Commissioner Garcia, a former commissioner who is actively leading
efforts on addressing gentrification.
• Refugees &New Americans
o No update was given at this meeting as the subcommittee did not meet.
• Children/Youth Advocacy
o Michelle Mooney and Commissioner Esther Stowell have initiated a
meeting with the Youth& Family department. During the meeting,
Commissioner Esther Stowell specifically emphasized the importance of
focusing on the needs of preschool-aged youth.
6. Discussion/Dialogue about Human Rights Around the World (5-10 minutes)
• No items were discussed during this portion of the meeting.
7. Review Human Rights Commission Meetings for 2023:
• Tuesday, t ,03
, 2023
• Tuesday, February 07, 2023
• Tuesday, Mar-oh n�2023
• Tuesday, April nn 2023
• Tuesday, May 02 2023
• Tuesday, June 06, 2023
• Tuesday, July 04, 2023 Recess
• Tuesday, August 01, 2023
3
10/13/2023 7:27 PM
Human Rights Commission Minutes
• Tuesday, September 05, 2023
• Tuesday, October 03, 2023
• Tuesday,November 14, 2023 —Final Regular Meeting of 2023
• Sunday, December 10, 2023 —Human Rights Day Celebration
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights htg s=day
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM
Minutes Approved through consensus: TBD
MICHELLE MOONEY
SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may have
been held; please refer to the audio or video for entire content pursuant to Utah Code 52-4-
203(2)(b).This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the
Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting on May 2, 2023.
4
10/13/2023 7:27 PM
•I C E S XFO R
UTAH
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Investing in Upstream Solutions for Utah Children
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At Voices, we work to make Utah a place for every child to thrive. It all begins with this basic question:
" Is it good for all kids?"
We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. To achieve this vision, our
dedicated focus revolves around these five pivitol areas that benefit healthy development in all children:
Health Early Care & Safety Economic Stability Equity
Learning
0
All children deserve to All children deserve All children deserve to All children deserve to All children deserve to
receive affordable, care for kids that is be safe in their homes live in families that can reach their full
comprehensive, & high- affordable, accessible, & communities from all provide for their needs potential in a society
quality healthcare. forms of abuse, & make investments in that closes opportunity
and meets kids needs. pp Y
neglect, exploitation & their future. gaps & recognizes and
violence. I values diversity.
STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maurice "Moe" Hickey, CEO Kim McGuire, Chair
Anna Thomas, Policy Director Allison Nicholson, Secretary
Sara Gunderson, Administrative Manager Dustin Lipson, Treasurer
Chris Conard, Immediate Past Chair
Ciriac Alvarez Valle Bianca Pangalila-Bills Gabriella Archuletta Sebastian de Freitas Ze Min Xiao
Laneta Fitisemanu Taylor Throne Annie Evans Bennett Emmie Gardner Brian Yazzie
Martin Munoz Jenna Williams Neal Davis Brooke Georgell
� O O
Introduction............................ p. 1
Utah's Growing Racial, Ethnic,
& Economic Disparities
Among Children....................... p. 2
Early Care & Education...... p. 4 ,�
Healthcare.............................. p. 8
Juvenile Justice.....................
p. 11
Immigrant Family Policies.... p 13 -
Smart Investing...................... p. 17 �
Conclusion............................... p. 19
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O D O
Voices for Utah Children is proud to present our Little Kids, Big We hope that this document may provide a roadmap about
Impacts Agenda that lays out the most effective - and cost- the ways we can all work together to make a better future for
effective - steps that our state can take in the years to come to all of Utah's children.
create the best possible future for all of us in Utah by
supporting our children.
1 Utah's population under the age of 6 makes
— up 9.7% of the state population of 3,096,848 WHEN W E INVEST I N O U R CHILDREN,
persons. As the youngest state in the nation, WE BUILD A BETTER TOMORROW
the policies we implement today will help
children thrive and prosper in the future. We
are focusing on the youngest children in our
state as we believe that is where we can have
the biggest impact. I
We begin with an overview of the challenges facing Utah's
children, followed by various public policy areas that have the
greatest impact on children, including education, health care, ��■■j
juvenile justice, and immigrant family policies concluding with
a discussion of what the recommended policy changes would
cost and how to pay for them.
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Perhaps the best news we have to offer is that our economy is
performing well, and we have the funds required to meet the
challenge. Investment in the Stronger Child Increased Workforce Enhanced Economic
Development of Development Productivity Growth&Prosperity
Young Children Increased Educational Increased Reduced Poverty,
If the pandemic leaves behind anything, we hope it will be a Attainment Competitiveness of Utah Dependency,Substance
lasting understanding that the gaps and flaws exposed by it in Businesses Abuse,Crime,
Incarceration
our social, economic, educational, and healthcare systems
should no longer be considered acceptable, and returning to
normal should not mean returning to the way things were on
the eve of the pandemic.
O O —
A A 0
O_ 'y
The 2022 Kids Count Data Book ranked Utah fourth overall in UTAH'S NATIONAL RANKING IN THE
the nation for the well-being of children. While this is good KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK
news, there is still more important work to do, such as in the
areas of health and education where Utah ranked 10th for
both. [1]
Utah also received excellent news from the Utah State Tax
Commission's annual report for the fiscal year 2022. The report
showed that Utah collected a total revenue of more than $16
billion. The amount was nearly a 15 percent increase over 2021,
about $2 billion more. [2]
CHILDREN'S
Utah's strong fiscal health could help to improve the outcomes
of Utah families. Utah is in a better position than many states
to invest in our children, and we urge our policymakers to take '
the lead. EDUCATIONHEALTH
In a state with such a strong economy, even one child in
poverty is too many. The rate of children under 18 living below
the poverty level is 8 percent, which is about 76,000 Utahn
children. The rate increases to 10 percent for children under 5. 8% of children under age 18 live below
[3] 8% the poverty line.
In addition to the rising poverty trend in successive economic This is approx. 76,000 children.
cycles, we are also witnessing widening racial and ethnic
disparities and growing gaps between rich and poor, and
between urban/suburban and rural Utahns.
[1]"2022 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK"(Baltimore,Maryland:The Annie E.Casey Foundation,2022), a
�O /0 10/a of children under age 5 live below
https://www.aecf.org/resources/2022-kids-count-data-book. �
[2]Utah State Tax Commission Annual report,https://tax.utah.gov/commission/reports/fy22report.pdf. the poverty line.
[3]2021:ACS 1-year estimates table B17001.
In 2022, all students' high school graduation rate was 88%. Yet Rural Utah suffers from a similar pattern of neglect. As the
the graduation rate for Black students was 79%, Native Deseret News reported pre-pandemic, while the Wasatch Front
American students at 78%, Hispanic and Latino students at was booming, "rural Utah is a starkly different profile with some
81%, and Pacific Islander students at 80%. Asian and white counties experiencing a stagnant economy, high poverty rates
students have the highest graduation rate among racial and job losses." [5]
groups; each 90%.
Thus, while Utah has been more welcoming of immigrants and
Students with disabilities and English learners have the lowest refugees than many states and enjoys a richer cultural mix and
graduation rates at 73% and 76%, respectively, but they have more vibrant economy as a result, an important question
improved by at least seven percentage points since 2015. remains:
Economically Disadvantaged students' graduation rate was Are we prepared to take the steps needed to avoid going the
77% and decreased since 2021. [4] way of other states that have allowed these various disparities
and gaps to widen, leading to more deeply entrenched
2022 Utah High School Graduation Rates problems?
The decisions we as Utahns make now will shape the future
White&Asian our children inherit.
Hispanic/Lation
Black/AA •
Native American/AI
English Learners • • .
Students w. Disabilities
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
[41"Utah 2022 Graduation Rates-4-Year Graduation Report'(Utah:Utah School Board of Education,
December 1,2022),https://www.schools.utah.gov/data.
[5]https://www.deseret.com/2019/l/17/20663540/a-tale-of-2-utahs-group-hopes-lawmakers-take-
1 steps-to-tackle-urban-rura I-d ivid e
ram.
BOO
All children deserve to start their lives with a real chance to
EARLY CARE • EDUCATION succeed and be happy in life. Unfortunately, not all families
have access to the things that set their kids up for a bright
future. When the wellbeing of young children is at the center of
public policy and community investment, we all do better.
1
v 1s't �q vvs� The early years in a child's life are critically important in terms
of social, emotional and cognitive development. In fact, 90%
S of a child's brain develops by age five. That is why Voices for
Utah Children focuses on promoting targeted investments in
F early childhood care and education, structured to meet the
mQ unique needs - and build on the unique strengths - of Utah's
many diverse communities.
It is possible to build an early childhood system in Utah that
supports families by making sure they have access to
affordable and appropriate options for their children's early
r '-' care and learning—whether children spend their days at home,
in formal childcare, at public school, or in the care of trusted
family and friends.
If we want all families to be able to provide their young —
children a strong start in life, we must invest in the programs
and professionals that partner with those families to offer
additional support. `
4 6
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In order to ensure a quality, consistent system of early care ,
and education for Utah's littlest residents, we must:
Match federal support with state funding to increase
access to high-quality preschool programs for families
that choose to participate.
Build on existing home visiting programs that offer
critical support to low-income families with young
children, and who lack community support.
Reform our existing child care system so that it is '� --
affordable, accessible, and offers real choices to those
families that rely on it.
Sadly, though, for the past several decades Utah has failed to
promote and grow programs that we know work for young
children and their families.
Thanks to federal funding and some local support, thousands
of Utah children each year benefit from Head Start, Early
Head Start and preschool through the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Our state consistently passes up opportunities to grow these --- - - ' — i
programs through matching state funds as other states do.
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Despite being the youngest state in the nation, with one of Participation in high-quality preschool programs has been
the highest rates of new births per capita, Utah invests very connected to substantial positive impacts for kids later in life:
little in the development and education of young children. academic success, higher educational attainment, more secure
employment and financial stability. In addition, this is an
In early 2023, state leaders took one small but important step opportunity for which many Utah families have expressed a
toward creating a more robust early childhood care and need and desire.
education system. After years of advocacy by education
leaders and community partners, the state legislature finally In a 2021 poll conducted by Y2 Analytics, an astounding
created a funding mechanism to ensure that schools 90% of registered voters said that preschool is beneficial
statewide will be able to offer optional full-day kindergarten for children - and 51% of those said it was very
to all interested families. beneficial.
Now that this critical early education building block has been In the same poll, 70% of respondents said "yes!" when
addressed, it is time to turn our attention to the other asked if they would enroll their children in a public
interventions that can help young children and their families. preschool program if they had the opportunity.
For example, the state government funds only one, small high- It is time for Utah to restructure its high-quality preschool
school preschool program - and each year, early education
grant program so that it can be efficiently grown to reach
advocates must fight for enough funding to simply keep pace
with the natural growth in costs. This is despite decades of more children, through both public school classrooms and
research on the positive outcomes preschool can produce.
private child care programs.
Like preschool, home visiting programs have also been
connected to many positive benefits for young children and
their family: lower incidences of neglect, more cognitive
development, fewer low-birth babies, and more.
Home visiting programs - like the Nurse Family Partnership,
Parents As Teachers, Family Spirit and others - offer in-home
one-on-one support for parents who are expecting their first
! baby, raising a newborn, or learning how to better manage
their children's learning within the family.
Jew
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Despite strong evidence that home visiting helps Utah families High child care costs can influence important family decisions,
with young children, our state has cut funding to programs such as when to have children, how many to have, career
statewide in recent. years. We must reverse course and move choices, staying at home, and entering the workforce. Each
in the opposite direction: when we know that something family should have the freedom to make choices that align
works, we need to share it with as many families in need as with their individual needs, preferences, and values. When high
possible. costs force parents to choose less-than-ideal situations, it limits
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE CHILD CARE SYSTEM their choices and can negatively impact their family's well-
being and economic stability.
In Utah, the majority of two-parent households (64%) have
both parents employed, creating a need for child care. But Increase Accessability
child care is expensive and hard to find. 77% of Utah's Since Utah's current child care system only meets 35% of the
population lives in a child care desert and Utah is one of 33 state's need, we must invest in the early child care profession
` states where infant care is more expensive than college. to attract and retain a robust workforce.
� The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that every year, Despite playing a critical role in a child's development, on
00- Utah's economy loses about$1.36 billion due to disruptions in average child care educators make less than dog walkers. The
child care access for working parents. historical undervaluing of caregiving has led to an industry with
low wages, few benefits, and high rates of burnout and
Nationwide during the pandemic, nearly 16,000 childcare turnover. With the largest driver of quality in child care being
programs permanently closed and 100,000 workers left the interactions between the child and caregiver, kids lose without
industry entirely. Due to federal COVID-19 relief dollars, Utah's awell-compensated, skilled, and engaged workforce.
child care industry remained stable. But when that funding
ends next year, the problems that existed in child care before Help Kids Thrive
the pandemic will continue. Programs will be forced to consider
raising tuition, cutting wages, are closing entirely. Whether a child is in the care of a parent or professional
caregiver, countless studies demonstrate the substantial
State leaders must prioritize investments to the child care positive impact early childhood learning has on a child's
sector that allow families to make the choices that are best for development. Quality early learning leads to greater cognitive
them and their children, and ultimately supports the and socioemotional growth, and helps set the foundation for a
development of the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and child's future health, stability, and success.
innovators.
Care for Kids
Increase Affordability
84% of parents feel overwhelmed by the cost of chlld care. On F7� Our Care for Kids is a campaign addressing
v\l
average, a typical family in Utah has to spend 24.7% of their Utah's child care system and its challenges,
income on child care for an infant and a 4-year-old, more than offering practical solutions for families. Visit
three times the recommended affordability level. www•utahcareforkids.org_for more information.
BOO
1
At Voices for Utah Children, we believe all children deserve the/
_ opportunity to be healthy and to thrive. We recognize 000
Q r different factors affect children's health outcomes and we
celebrate the many strengths that make our kids healthy and
v'
`'✓�� resilient. All children and parents need affordable health
` insurance, access to quality and consistent health care, and
connection to strong communities.
That is why we advocate for change across multiple levels,
from health insurance to healthy environments. We know
this multi-point strategy is how we can ensure kids, and
` their families, can achieve their full health potential.
-' 100% KIDS COVERAGE COALITION
� � r
Utah has one of the highest rates of uninsured children in
the nation. In 2021, Utah had an estimated 79,000
uninsured children, down from 82,000 in 2019. We
continue to rank among the worst in the nation, 46th
place, when it comes to insuring our kids.
Unfortunately, this is another area where we experience stark
disparities along racial and ethnic lines. For example, our 2021
' - gap between White and Latino child uninsured rates was 11
percentage points (6% vs 17%), compared to just 5 percentage
points nationally (4% vs 9%). In fact, in 2021 Utah had the
highest rate of uninsured Latino children in the entire nation -
for the 4th year in a row. [8]
Voices for Utah Children's "100% Kids Coverage
100% Coalition" is dedicated to ensuring that all children in
KIDS Utah have adequate health insurance coverage. The
COVERAGE
Coalition includes community partners, social service
Mi care providers, and health care providers from across
Utah. [9]
[8]All data from Kids Count Data Center:datacenter.kidscount.org
[9]Visit the coalition site at https://www.100percentkids.healthZ
Health insurance is the essential foundation to help children / MENTAL HEALTH CARE
thrive; when children are insured, they have better health,
educational and economic outcomes- both in the long and When children have insurance, they are more likely to be able
short term. This is why the coalition advocates and supports to access mental health resources. What's more, pediatric
the following solutions: health care providers are on the front lines, able to screen,
identify, and treat conditions before they escalate or reach a
. Investing in consistent outreach funding for families know what health care options are available to crisis point. Therefore, helping all kids have access to
4�O
consistent health coverage means we are better able to
them. The majority of uninsured children in our state address kids' mental health crises.
are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
An unprecedented number of Utah children are experiencing
�1 Monitoring and supporting the implementation of mental health crises and challenges. Utah has taken
year-round, continuous eligibility, similar to private health insurance for children enrolled in Medicaid considerable steps to invest in Utah children's mental health.
starting January 2024.
We can build on these investments by:
Supporting outreach and implementation of SB217
+• ". • ..,. that will allow more children, regardless of status to Telehealth is a proven way to help kids regularly
have access to health coverage starting January access mental health care. This is especially
2024. important as we address the shortage of
Protecting and expanding coverage opportunities 0 providers currently in Utah.
for parents, such as removing barriers for pregnant
immigrant women. Research finds that when Increasing school-based health care services
• parents have coverage, children are more likely to including school nurses, school counselors, and
be covered too. access to preventive care in schools. School
health services are critical to identifying and
0r treating mental or physical conditions before
they escalate, so kids can focus on learning.
0
Help all children enroll into insurance; when kids
have health coverage, they are more likely to
afford & obtain mental health care.
D O
MATERNAL & FAMILY HEALTH Utah needs to enhance coordination, innovation, and funding
One in three Utah women experience mental health problems
for statewide school dental screenings programs. It can also
during pregnancy or postpartum, and the pandemic has only
reinstate dental benefits for low-income parents in Medicaid to
heightened the needs of new moms, dads, and caregivers.
improve their oral health. These actions will help reduce oral
health disparities and prevent school absences due to
Moreover, suicide and drug-related overdoses are now unnecessary tooth pain.
the leading causes of maternal mortality in Utah.
i
In 2023, the Utah Legislature expanding postpartum coverage
for women. When moms have access to quality, health •� �,
insurance, they can obtain the preventative mental health
and physical health services they need to prevent further ;, •• +
complications in the future. `
In addition to coverage, we need policies that ensure health
care providers are screening and have the proper education
and training to refer a mom in need. Too many families are }
needlessly suffering because their symptoms were ignored or
dismissed. When parents have access to quality, affordable a%+�
mental health support, the whole family is stronger.
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DENTAL CARE
Dental pain or poor oral health is a leading cause of
school absences among children.
However, Utah's funding for kids' dental care has been reduced
or eliminated over the past decade, resulting in limited access
to necessary care for many children. In fact, approximately
50% of Medicaid-enrolled children are missing routine
preventive dental care.
It is time Utah re-invest in dental care for kids by restoring
funding for a state dental director and oral health program,
and restoring statewide data and evaluation on dental care
access. -
D O Q F O 4
At Voices for Utah Children, we believe that children should be
nurtured, educated and given an equitable chance at success in
life. That means allowing young people to make mistakes, learn
from those mistakes, develop accountability to themselves and
their communities, and work through their own unique
challenges as they prepare for their lives as adults.
A youth-centered juvenile justice system meets the needs of
the children involved in it, while simultaneously producing
positive outcomes for Utah families and protecting
community safety.
Children need a chance to learn and grow- without being
pushed out of school and into the court system. For this
reason, we urge elected to continue supporting innovative
school-based efforts to meet the unique needs of individual
children, within a safe and supportive school community.
We can have an even greater and longer-lasting impact on
youth behavior and related outcomes, by investing far earlier
in our young people - rather than waiting for them to make
painful and sometimes destructive mistakes, before assessing
and meeting their underlying needs.
Since 2016, statewide reform has reduced substantially
the number of children who are funneled toward the
most expensive and least effective interventions (out-of-
home community placements, detention and secure care
facilities). Utah has been reinvesting the money saved
through reform into earlier interventions that support
youth and their families.
These early interventions focus on the underlying problems
that often drive youth misconduct (such as family stress and
lack of support at home, poverty, mental health and
substance abuse issues, bullying and lack of engagement at
school), rather than simply dealing with the resulting
misbehavior.
O O -
We encourage state leaders to embrace the success of recent
juvenile justice reforms, by extending the "early investment"
and "early intervention" philosophy to other policy areas that
affect Utah children and their families such as:
• Home visiting programs that support high-risk young
parents access to prenatal and postpartum health
interventions ;
• High-quality early education opportunities (including safe ;l )011
and reliable child care, as well as preschool programs) \' �; �.
• Economic supports for families with young children
These all work to reduce the likelihood that a young person will '� J
engage in the kind of misconduct that necessitates court
intervention later in life.
2022 Juvenile Justice Policy Priority Updates +�
There are two key policy priorities that were proposed for study �A1W.
during the 2022 Interim Committee that we are in support of Mors� �! ,
as they will help provide better outcomes for system involved ` !'�"• " t
youth and their families. 4i f
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The first policy item is the study of juvenile fines and fees which i
explores a means to reduce or eliminate juvenile fines and fees. r--
The second policy priority is the expungement of juvenile
records. The policy development is an automatic expungement
of juvenile records for low-level offenses. [10] 11
•
[10]"2022 Interim Committee Study Items"(Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, t
April 20,2022),https://Ie.utah.gov/interim/2022/pdf/00002124.pdf. ♦' ti' -
Immigrant and refugee families are important members
of our communities.
Immigrants and refugees in our state face unique challenges
Aub, that can be addressed through intentional investments at
different levels of government, through public and private
partnerships, and empowerment of immigrant and refugee
` •, '� leaders and organizations. Outlined in this section are ways
r` that Utah can help support its immigrant and refugee families.
CHANGES IN POLICY
' - Take steps to invest time to improve local and state policies
to address the needs in immigrant and refugee communities.
t
Increase Language Access
` Utah has historically passed a number of pro immigrant and
refugee legislation such as driving privilege cards, welcoming
refugee families, and providing in-state tuition for immigrant
youth.
r
In 2020, policy makers made statutory changes to allow local
governments such as cities and counties flexibility around
translations and interpretation services. This was a crucial
Xx� _ change during pandemic that allowed immigrant and refugee
communities to have up to date information on resources and
general information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is a great step forward and in the longer term, we
advocate that Utah reverse the "English Only" harmful policy in
its entirety and invest in language access throughout the state.
Y / - Additionally, in 2022 and 2023, Utah expanded language
'!
access for drivers license testing for certain licenses. We know
r that the more people have access to obtain a drivers license,
�•' the more safe the roads will be for all of us. That is why we
support these changes and urge the same thoughtfulness for
- f driving privilege cards.
Removing Barriers to Health Coverage for
Immigrant Mothers
Remove the 5-year bar for pregnant Legal Permanent
Resident (LPR) women. The "5 year bar"refers to the five year
waiting period a Legal Permanent Resident must wait before
being able to apply for Medicaid health coverage.
Health coverage is vital for the wellbeing of children and
families, as stated earlier in the health section. At the state
level, there are changes that Utah can make that allows }
children and pregnant women who are Legal Permanent
Residence (LPRs) the opportunity to obtain coverage without •
the five year waiting period.
In 2016, Utah expanded this option for LPR children,
understanding that five years is too long to wait for a child's `
developmental and health care needs.
Utah has the same option through the Immigrant Children's
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Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) to provide this opportunity for {r "'
pregnant moms. 26 other states have adopted this option,
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understanding that health insurance during pregnancy is a key
policy that can help provide adequate healthcare services that
can help prevent complications during pregnancy and in
postpartum care.
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INVEST IN COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS
Invest in existing culturally appropriate programming.
Sustainable Funding for Community Health Workers
We support the long-term sustainable funding of Community
Health Workers. Community Health Workers (CHWs) as a way
,,. of improving health equity for immigrant communities.
During the pandemic CHWs were key to bridging the needs
of communities of color and immigrant communities around
the state. The COVID Community Partnership Pilot Program
provides a model for future opportunities for organizations
who are reaching communities in need. [111
r CHWs are integral members of communities of color;
their role within the larger public health eco-system is
essential to improve health disparities and outcomes of
communities of color including immigrant and refugee
families. They continue to provide culturally appropriate
' healthcare support and health education.
A
With optional certification, CHWs will continue to strengthen
their professional identity and scope of practice that shows
ik greater evidence to their effectiveness and worth.
'4 We value the strength of their workforce and will continue to
support options that provide greater sustainability through
funding such as Medicaid, long-term grants, and long-term
contracts for their health equity centered work.
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[11]https://www.health.utah.gov/disparities/data/ohd/CCPPilotPrgjectNov202O.pdf
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it
CREATE AN INCLUSIVE FUTURE
Promoting dialogue around the vital role of immigrant and
refugees in our state
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Fight the chilling effect of the Public Charge Rule
The changes in the Public Charge Rule increased fear, anxiety, C
and uncertainty to families across Utah throughout the last few
years. Although only a small portion of immigrants are subject
to the Public Charge Rule, the "chilling effect" has proved
harmful to immigrants and refugees all around our state.
This "chilling effect" refers to the fear that families have
that they may be subject to the Public Charge rule and
choose not to sign up for programs they or their children
are eligible for.
While a new rule was codified with the original intent, many
immigrants and refugee communities continue to face barriers ' ; "'`•�
and fears because of misinformation, and lack of knowledge of
these changes. This is why we will continue to advocate to ,
promote dialogue around the state to ensure families
understand the programs they are eligible for.
Uplifiting Stories of Immigrants and Refugees
In 2019, it is estimated that 258,800 immigrants lived in Utah r�
[12]. Immigrants and refugees have continued to add value to
our state through their economic, cultural, and community
- r
contributions.
Understanding our changing demographics, we plan to make
policy progress through intentional storytelling of immigrants
in our state such as DACA recipients to promote immigration
reform, and the urgency for reform in our state. Through this,
we can cultivate greater inclusion of immigrant and refugee
experiences and their needs throughout our state. '.. ,. .°
[12]https://www.americanimmigrotioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/new americans in
utah.pdf
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A ■ Every year, Utah's taxes (income, sales, gas, and property
taxes) generate revenues that state and local governments
then expend in ways that profoundly affect families and
communities. The fiscal choices Utah makes — such as whether
to invest in Utah's future or give in to the temptation to cut
taxes below their current historically low level — will make a
critical difference in the lives of the next generation of Utahns.
If we make good fiscal choices, we can help foster
opportunity for all our children. We have the power to lay a
strong foundation for the future success and happiness of
those children.
In recent years, the Utah State Tax Commission and the Utah
Foundation both published research showing that taxes in
s Utah are the lowest that they have been in decades, following
repeated rounds of tax cutting. [15]
Voices for Utah Children has calculated that the tax
y breaks given out in recent decades now amount to
nearly 20% of all public revenues, an annual total of over
/ $3.5 billion. [16]
The idea of a tax cut is usually pretty popular. But when you
include the context that this will mean fewer programs for
children, and of lower quality, people think twice about
whether a short-term tax cut is really worth it.
` [151 https://le.utah.gov/interim/2019/pdf/00003720.pdf and
http://www.utohfoundation.org/reports/a-lighter-load-uto hs-chong i ng-tax-burden/
[16]Lttps://www.investinutahsfuture.org/learn-more#h.ul2gZquiklio
FF I
o O -
OVERALL UTAH TAX LEVEL
At the some time as we ensure revenue sufficiency, we should
also take care that public revenues are generated in ways that WHEN WE PUT CHILDREN FIRST, IT
are fair. No family should be taxed into poverty at the price of PAYS FOR ITSELF.
educating their children.
The way Utah taxes its residents pushes about 100,000
families into poverty every year. The lowest-income Utahns pay Enthusiastic
a higher overall tax rate (7.5%) than those with the highest Investment in
incomes (6.7%). [18] Programs for Children
In 2022, Utah became the 31st state in the nation with
our own Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) equal to 15% of ~
the federal EITC. However, unlike the federal credit, Reduced Need for t : Economic Strength
Utah's new EITC is excludes the lowest-income Utahns Late-Stage Social `1 r & Community
who need it the most! Interventions Stability
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In the past legislative session we became the 13th state N I�
to enact a Child Tax Credit. We would like to see this
expanded and made refundable, which would benefit
the families that need it most. More Public Funding Better Outcomes for
Available for Kids, Fewer Crises
Positive Programs for Families
(� for Families
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[18]www.ITEP.org/WhoPays/Utah
im VOO
O O
It is clear that investing in Utah's future, means investing in
its most important and valuable resource - our kids. All of
them.
We must use data, research and proven policy to identify
ii . T
upstream solutions that address the needs of our
children. These must be proactive, not reactive, with a
goal of developing sustainable long term solutions.
o ' er jr r
Past generations of Utahns established a record of making _
sacrifices for the long-term betterment of our state. What
about us today? Are we willing to live up to their example j �\
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and make the upfront investments in our children that will _ s
resonate for generations to come.
T
Please contact Voices for Utah Children if you have any
questions regarding the information and recommendations
listed in this agenda. We encourage and welcome your
collaboration and partnership.
Voices for Utah Children
747 East South Temple Suite 100
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
voices@utahchildren.org mow_
801.364.1182 VOICES FOR
UTAH
0000 dren
utahchildren.org °<, ►fir .. .
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We greatly appreciate all of your support
and contributions that make it possible for
us to continue the important work of
advocating for Utah's children.
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