Although it's official name is the Children's Movement of Florida it's called the Milk Party and its goals are to increase investment in Florida's children. The bipartisan group  was founded, and is co-chaired, by former Miami Herald publisher and long-time child advocate David Lawrence.

The Milk Party was born from the growing realization that what happens in early childhoodis the biggest factor in determining how well children will do in nearly every aspect of their lives. Study after study has confirmed this fact and people are beginning to realize that our future success as a society depends on how well we provide for our children today. The party was also born from the sad fact that Florida, the fourth largest state for numbers of children,is consistently ranked at the bottom of national studies of child welfare.

Florida ranks 49th in the nation in percentage of uninsured children, with more than 18 percent of its children - nearly 800,000 - uninsured, almost double the national average. Florida meets just two of eight benchmarks for children's dental health, while more than half the state's children on Medicaid received no dental services at all in 2007, the last year for which data are available. Lawrence points out that the state spends less than $2,600 on a child's enrollment in pre-kindergarten, but $51,000 to house a juvenile in a secure facility.

"You know the statistics. You know how badly we under-invest," Lawrence said recently."If you look at money the state actually controls, not federal money, you'll find out that in state money, we spend three percent of the budget on early intervention and prevention. We're surely better people than this."

So far the party has a million dollars in private funding and major policy making experience amongst its members. Republican attorney Roberto Martinez of Miami, a member of the state Board of Education, is the co-chair. On the steering committee: former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings, former Secretary of the Department of Children and Families Bob Butterworth, and former House Speakers Allen Bense and Jon Mills. They're calling for greater commitment to pre-kindergarten, child health care, prenatal care and mentoring programs - and are planning 15 rallies across Florida in September to alert the public.

"We are seeking to build a movement for children," Lawrence said. "A movement can be described as enduring, sustainable, long-term...It's not one session of the Florida Legislature, but enduring for the years to come where children are a priority."

The Milk Party went public on August 9th, starting in Miami, stopping in Orlando and Tampa Bay before ending on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee.

Former education commissioner Betty Castor says, "It is very disappointing that we do have children who are being taken care of, but not for long enough and not with the standards that would make all of us proud."

Florida's pre-kindergarten program meets only four of 10 nationally recommended standards and ranks 34th among 38 states in per pupil funding.

Castor and the Milk Party are calling for a greater investment. "Ninety percent of a child's brain is developed by the time they are age five," Castor said. "I'm convinced that we have got to work really hard to build a more knowledgeable populace in this state."

Former Republican lawmaker and currently Florida's Chief Child Advocate, Jim Kallinger said in a speech at the state capital, "Especially in these fiscal times, when the Legislature, I think, really needs to decide where they're going to invest the money - they really do respond to what the people say," Kallinger said. "So if we raise awareness among the general population and they in turn speak to their legislators, I think we'll see some good stuff happen."

David Lawrence has said, "We are trying to demonstrate, frankly, clout in getting things done. I'm tired of being sort of figuratively, metaphorically, patted on the head and saying "You're doing noble work". I think this is noble work, but I think it is very practical work about the future of the fourth biggest state for all children, all 220,000 born each year."

The Children's Movement has recruited 20 full-time organizers, hundreds of volunteers, an internationally known political strategist, an elite PR firm and currently has 15 regional steering committees. Backers hope the movement spreads nationwide.