Poll of Issues on Children and Families By Bendixen & Associates

August, 2009

22

Methodology

Sample size 1,515 registered voters in  Florida likely to vote in 

the general election

Dates of interviews July 13 –

August 2, 2009

Margin of error 2.5 percentage points

Languages of interviews English, Spanish, Haitian‐ Creole

Demographics of Florida Electorate

44

Region of Florida

24%

37%

32%

7%

North  (Pensacola, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville)

Central (Orlando, Tampa‐St. Petersburg, Daytona Beach)

Southeast (West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami)Southwest (Naples, Ft. Myers, Sarasota)

55

Race / Ethnicity

70%

12% 15%

3%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Non‐Hispanicwhite

Black Hispanic Asian / Other

66

Party Registration

43%

43%

14%

Democrat

Republican

Independent /Other

The Importance of Children’s Issues

88

How important of a problem is it to you that Florida has a shortage of quality services for children and families?

62% 26%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Not important

Very / Somewhatimportant

88%

11%

Rating and Ranking of Issues and Services for Children and Families

1010

Needs of Children and Families: Rating the Proposals

Average

Providing health insurance for all children. 8.5

Providing screening for children whose parents are 

concerned about their development and treatment for 

those with autism, dyslexia, cerebral palsy and other 

disabilities.

8.3

Providing parenting education programs. 7.5

Improving the educational quality of child care programs 

for children from birth to age five.7.4

Improving quality standards for pre‐kindergarten 

programs.7.4

Expanding the school year from 180 to 220 days and 

lengthening the school day by two hours.6.7

1111

Needs of Children and Families: Ranking the Proposals

62%

13%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Health insurance Pre‐K School year

1212

Needs of Children and Families: Ranking the Proposals

49%

21%26%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Screening /Treatment

Improving childcare

Parentingeducation

1313

Ranking the Needs of Children and Families

1. Providing health insurance for all children

2. Providing screening for children whose parents are 

concerned about their development and treatment for those 

with autism, dyslexia, cerebral palsy and other disabilities

3. Expanding the school year from 180 to 220 days and 

lengthening the school day by two hours

4. Providing parenting education programs

5. Improving the quality of Florida’s pre‐kindergarten programs

6. Improving the educational quality of child care programs for 

children from birth to age five

1414

Messages on providing health insurance for all children in Florida

1. We need to provide health insurance for all  children in the state because health is the 

foundation to child development, learning and  future success. 

2.

We need to provide health insurance for all  children in the state because there are more than 

800,000 Florida children without any health  insurance coverage today.

1515

Messages on providing screening opportunities for children whose parents are concerned about their development and treatment for those at risk of certain disabilities

1. We need to provide early screening opportunities for  all children because early diagnoses of special 

developmental, physical, or behavioral needs can lead  to greater developmental gains and fewer challenges 

later in life.

2. We need to provide early screening opportunities for  all children because early screening can provide the 

majority of parents with the peace of mind of knowing  that their child is healthy.

Taxes

1717

After hearing all these proposals, would you support or oppose an increase in your taxes to make more quality services available to children and families in Florida?

50%41%

9%

Support

Oppose

Don't know /No answer

Potential Activism

1919

There may be a campaign in Florida next year to promote quality services for children and families. Would you be supportive of this campaign?

67%

20%

13% Yes, would besupportive

No, would notbe supportive

Don't know /No answer

2020

There may be a campaign in Florida next year to promote quality services for children and families. Would you be supportive of this campaign? By Region of Florida

68% 21%

73% 15%

67% 19%

57% 28%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Southwest

Southeast

Central

North

Yes, would be supportive No, would not be supportive

2121

What would you be willing to do for the campaign to promote quality services for children and families in Florida?

45%

20%

7%

42%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

No

Financialcontribution

Communityorganizer

Write electedofficials

Multiple responses accepted

Poll of Issues on Children and Families By The Tarrance Group

August, 2009

2323

Party Registration

43%

43%

14%

Democrat

Republican

Independent /Other

2424

Political Ideology

42%

24%

7%

20%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Conservative

Moderate

Progressive

Liberal

2525

Most Important Issue

2%

4%

11%

11%

12%

50%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Shortage of quality services forchildren and families

Increasing rates of homeinsurance

Cost of medical care andinsurance

High property taxes

Low‐quality of many publicschools

Jobs and Economy

2626

How important of a problem is it to you that Florida has a shortage of quality services for children and families? By Party Registration

67% 21%

46% 34%

76% 19%

62% 26%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Independent

Republican

Democrat

ALL VOTERS

Very important Somewhat important

95%

80%

88%

88%

2727

Needs of Children and Families: Rating the Proposals

Average GOP

Providing health insurance for all children. 8.5 7.2

Providing screening for children whose parents 

are concerned about their development and 

treatment for those with autism, dyslexia, 

cerebral palsy and other disabilities.

8.3 7.6

Providing parenting education programs. 7.5 6.6

Improving the educational quality of child care 

programs for children from birth to age five.7.4 6.7

Improving quality standards for pre‐

kindergarten programs.7.4 6.5

Expanding the school year from 180 to 220 days 

and lengthening the school day by two hours.6.7 6.2

2828

After hearing all these proposals, would you support or oppose an increase in your taxes to make more quality services available to children and families in Florida? By Party Registration

50%

41%

63%

30%

36%

54%

53%

37%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

ALL VOTERS Democrat Republican Independent

Support Oppose

2929

There may be a campaign in Florida next year to promote quality services for children and families. Would you be supportive of this campaign? By Party Registration

71% 14%

53% 32%

78% 10%

67% 20%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Independent

Republican

Democrat

ALL VOTERS

Yes, would be supportive No, would not be supportive