JLM PUBLIC ISSUES:
POSITION STATEMENTS, PUBLIC STANDS
The League may take stands on local public issues related to its purpose or program upon approval of the general membership. Association procedures must be followed if a League wishes to take a stand on a state, national or international issue.
Position statements are League policies covering a broad field; public stands are specific actions falling under position statements.
POSITION STATEMENT: CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., is committed to ensuring that children and families have the opportunities and services essential for their physical, intellectual, emotional, mental and social growth and will advocate to see that such opportunities and services are provided.
1. PUBLIC STAND: Child and Family Welfare
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports legislation and programs which would:
A. provide for the expansion of subsidized adoption programs;
B. provide for reform of the foster care system to strengthen family life and provide protection for children;
C. provide a "voice for children" in the court system, such as the Guardian Ad Litem program, and improve and expand the shelter care system;
D. provide health care facilities in accessible convenient locations for teenage students;
E. provide adequate funding for family care home programs that provide full-service care and long-term placement for emotionally troubled dependent children, such as The Menninger Family Care Homes (CHARLEE) in Dade County.
2. PUBLIC STAND: Child Care
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports:
A. quality child care that is easily accessible and affordable to parents;
B. a wide variety of child care programs should be available to meet the needs and preferences of children and their families;
C. enforcement of minimum standards for licensing requirements to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children;
D. incentives for corporations and other entities that provide child-care benefits for their employees.
3. PUBLIC STAND: Juvenile Justice
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., will take public action to support efforts to improve conditions at the Dade County Juvenile Detention Center and to effect system changes in the area of Juvenile Justice.
4. PUBLIC STAND: Domestic Violence
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., is committed to eliminating domestic violence by supporting programs and legislation designed to understand the problem, assist and protect the victims and work effectively with the abusers. The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports short and long-term housing needs for victims of domestic violence.
POSITION STATEMENT: CRIME PREVENTION
Florida's crime problem has grown to epidemic proportions. This problem affects every citizen and attracts unfavorable national attention. To this end, The Junior League of Miami, Inc., endorses the implementation and support of programs, policies and financial resources to reduce and prevent crime.
PUBLIC STAND: Crime Prevention and Crime Control
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports:
A. programs to prevent delinquency;
B. greater supervision of and improved facilities for dependent and delinquent children;
C. expanding victim/witness support programs;
D. the concept of the Early Intervention Program which has been instituted in Dade County;
E. the review of the probation and community control systems;
F. legislation requiring a mandatory period of seven days between the purchase and delivery of any handgun.
POSITION STATEMENT: ENVIRONMENT
The integrity of the environment in South Florida is vital to the health of its citizens, the quality of life, and the economic well-being of the community. Therefore, The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports policies and programs that restore, maintain, and enhance the preservation of our unique ecosystem. Additionally, we advocate increased community education aimed at environmental awareness.
POSITION STATEMENT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Historic preservation is essential to the uniqueness of a city, to its cultural resources, to its economic viability, and to its future development.
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., recognizes the need for and fully supports the preservation of our heritage, the development of viable alternatives to preserve our architecturally significant buildings and sites, and the education of our citizenry in the area of historic preservation.
PUBLIC STAND: Historic Preservation
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., will:
A. advocate on behalf of and monitor the issues related to historic preservation;
B. support and promote educational programs in the community and in the League;
C. form coalitions with other organizations whose purposes are to support and promote the aforementioned items.
POSITION STATEMENT: HOMELESSNESS
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., is committed to eliminating homelessness by supporting programs and legislation designed to understand the problem, and to assist and protect the homeless. We further support programs promoting independent living offered through emergency shelters, transitional housing, and low-cost permanent housing for the homeless.
POSITION STATEMENT: GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., recognizing that a healthy environment and respectful use of our natural resources are essential to our basic survival, long-term economic stability and overall quality of life supports programs that ensure prudent comprehensive growth management.
1. PUBLIC STAND: Household Hazardous Waste
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., having a specified concern for the contaminating effect of household hazardous waste materials on our quality of life and our fragile environment, promotes appropriate hazardous waste disposal, and supports legislation to fund and create permanent amnesty sites for household hazardous waste removal.
2. PUBLIC STAND: Solid Waste
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., promotes the coordination of government and private enterprise for the implementation of an environmentally sound solid waste management program, and further advocates the creation of public awareness programs to educate citizens on solid waste issues.
3. PUBLIC STAND: Recycling
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., promotes the implementation and maintenance of a state-wide recycling program and supports the immediate development and availability of biodegradable and recyclable products. The Junior League of Miami, Inc., further promotes public awareness of recycling to encourage widespread participation.
4. PUBLIC STAND: Pesticides
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., encourages community and governmental awareness of the health and environmental effects of non-agricultural application of pesticides.
5. PUBLIC STAND: Ground Water Protection
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., with concern for the State's water resources, supports legislation and rule-making and their implementation which will perpetuate Florida's aquifers and protect them from contamination.
POSITION STATEMENT: PUBLIC EDUCATION
In our ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life in our community and state, The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports quality education and reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence in the public schools of Florida. Good public schools are essential to the well-being of every community and are a vital training ground for civic and economic participation in our democratic society.
PUBLIC STAND: Public Education
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports:
A. Appropriate funding and expansion of before and after school care;
B. Upgraded classroom equipment and increased availability of computers;
C. Providing scholarships for women high school seniors (academic and community involvement);
D. Providing education stressing women as positive role models;
E. Adequate and stable funding for primary and secondary levels;
F. The improvement of classroom instruction by ensuring an adequate supply of quality teachers (e.g., expanding the Chapie James Scholarships for potential teachers);
G. Expansion of preschool programs throughout the state, especially in disadvantaged areas where enrichment experiences are limited due to the changing American family structure;
H. The improvement of administrative accountability, competency, efficiency, and productivity;
I. A reduction in overcrowded classes by accommodating growth and construction needs;
J. Legislation designed to ensure that lottery funds are not used to supplant previously allocated funds;
K. Appropriate funding for mandated programs.
POSITION STATEMENT: SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., defines substance abuse as the misuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco by both minors and adults. The Junior League of Miami, Inc., believes that substance abuse is detrimental to society. To maintain the well being of society, The Junior League of Miami, Inc., strongly supports measures to eliminate substance abuse.
PUBLIC STAND: Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., will:
A. actively seek Florida's appropriate share of federal funds for substance abuse programs;
B. support legislation to provide state funds for federal substance abuse programs in the state when federal funding is discontinued;
C. support legislative action to stop discrimination of zoning for substance abuse facilities
D. encourage corporations to offer drug treatment benefits to their employees;
E. support programs and counseling on preventive education within our community and schools, such as Informed Families, Woman to Woman and Red Ribbon Day;
F. support maintaining the legal drinking age at 21 in the State of Florida;
G. support legislation designed to prevent drunk driving.
POSITION STATEMENT: WOMEN
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports the goal of attaining fair and equal treatment of all women and will advocate to achieve this goal. The Junior League of Miami strongly supports measures to teach and create public awareness to overcome the stereotypes limiting the opportunities of women in today's society and to enhance the role of the working professional woman in the public and private sector.
1. PUBLIC STAND: Medical Issues (Women and Health)
The Junior League supports:
A. addressing medical issues as they relate specifically to women and health care;
B. medical research involving women as a study group
C. nutrition programs for women;
D. the funding of programs to treat diseases specifically related to women;
E. preventive medicine as related to women.
2. PUBLIC STAND: Employment (Women and the Work Force)
The Junior League supports legislation and programs which would:
A. create equal employment opportunities for women;
B. eliminate sex discrimination in the workplace;
C. recognize and educate on sexual harassment
D. encourage companies which are not mandated by county ordinance (50 employees or less) to establish flexible family leave policies;
E. provide assistance and support to single working mothers;
F. advocate equality in salaries.
3. PUBLIC STAND: Violence Against Women
The Junior League of Miami, Inc., supports legislation and will advocate for harsher laws dealing with rape and battery against women and encourage programs that provide protection training and awareness of crimes against women.
