Day 9: October 8, 2009

Today is the last of our four day trip around the Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Bay County area. I have been inspired by the programs and the people that have welcomed us with open arms. In particular, I have been touched by Mayor Scott Clemons of Panama City and the time he has given to me and the Worst To First team. There are so many great advocates for children in West Florida. Our challenge is to want to find and highlight every single one of these organizations. In time, we hope to do just that.

Our first visit today was to the Chapman Early Learning Center led by Dr. Pamela Fleege. The Early Learning Center is a Head Start and Early Head Start program that began as childcare for under-served families and has morphed into an early intervention program. New moms in hospitals off-site are helped through The Early Learning Center as well and follow-up surveys are conducted with these mothers to ensure child development is progressing in a healthy, normal way.

After stopping at the Chapman Center, I had lunch with Mayor Scott Clemons who provided me with great amounts of information on the Panama City and Bay County area and organizations that are doing amazing work for kids.

I thought it was appropriate, after spending time with the Mayor, that our last stop on this leg of our journey be to the After School Assistance Program (ASAP), a program that was originally started by Barbara Clemons, the mayor's wife. Now, a number of schools are partnering with ASAP so their students have a place to go after school where they can work on homework, get tutored if the need exists and/or get reading help. Positive character values like respect are also taught and encouraged as is game playing and lots of other fun activities.

A busy day with such an encouraging ending. Now it's back to Tallahassee for a rest and then back on the road to walk, listen and visit great programs and great people wanting to make Florida a great place for kids.