Build the Village

Gainesville, FL, 2000

Floridians are routinely bombarded with alarming statistics about our children. The Annie E. Casey “Kids Count” survey ranked Florida's children 40th in the nation in overall child health and well-being. The number of children living in poverty increased 14 percent during the past decade. The total number of low-birthweight babies jumped five percent.

Build the Village sought to offer insights and solutions by encouraging open dialogue among the groups dedicated to caring for children. Central to the project was a monthly radio program tackling some of the toughest issues facing the state's children, including access to health care, child abuse and early-childhood education. Build the Village recruited parents, child- and health-care providers, politicians and policymakers in reporting and producing the 10-minute documentary segments that kicked off each program. The remainder of the program consisted of an expert panel answering listener questions.

In addition to the program, a “quick response team” was formed—a small group of senior broadcast students at the University of Florida responsible for news coverage, with guidance from investigative journalists and child abuse experts, after every major child abuse incident in the listening area, in order to tell the stories behind these tragedies.

Child Care Resources produced a regular series of 1-minute radio spots offering advice and tips related to child health and child care. This gave CCR an active role in programming as well as outreach. Outreach efforts included an interactive Web site and a “Welcome to the Village” informational packet provided to local hospitals for distribution to new mothers.

Over the next 15 years, Florida's youth population will experience a net growth of nearly one million. How we prepare for this boom will be the most significant factor influencing Florida's economic vitality and public safety. WUFT/WJUF's Build the Village aims to continue as a proactive player in empowering all citizens to take responsibility for raising healthy children and challenging lawmakers to make sure kids count in Tallahassee.

Contact Information

WUFT-FM
Tanya Ott, Producer
Tel: 407-856-1874

Child Care Resources, Inc.
Johanna McElrath, Community Relations Team Leader
Tel:352-955-6542