- Voices for America's Children
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Voices for America's Children Type Child Advocacy Founded 1984 Location Washington, DC Area served United States Mission To improve the lives of children in the United States by advocating for effective public policies. Revenue $2,723,275 (in 2009) Members 60 Website http://www.voices.org Formerly known as the National Association of Child Advocates (renamed in 2003) Contents
About
Voices for America's Children is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Voices is a U.S. nonpartisan, national organization that advocates for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government. It addresses areas such as early childhood education, health, juvenile justice, child welfare, tax and budget decisions.[1] It was renamed from National Association of Child Advocates in 2003.[2]
History
Voices for America's Children began when child advocates from the US met for the first time in 1981 and formed the National Association of State-based Child Advocacy Organization (ACA) in 1984. ACA later changed its name to Voices for America's Children.
Timeline
From ACA to NACA to Voices for America’s Children
2009 – Voices Celebrates 25 years of Advocating for Children
2008 & 2009 Voices plays leadership role in the development and passage of SCHIP
2006 – Speaking Out is introduced
2006 – Member Leadership Council is inaugurated
2006 – Board of Trustees is reconfigured as an independent Board
2004 – First national agenda is adopted
2003 – Name is changed to Voices for America’s Children
2000 – Child Safe initiative is launched
1995 – Children’s Budget Watch is started
1991 – Role is expanded to aid in member fundraising, facilitate collaboration among members, and enhance member influence in national policy making debates
1992 – ACA moves from Cleveland to Washington D.C. and becomes NACA
1984 – National Association of Sate-based Child Advocacy Organization (ACA) is incorporated in Cleveland, OH
1981 – Leaders of child advocacy organizations from around the country meet for the first time
Goals
Voices for America's Children has 6 areas of focus for childrens wellbeing:
Equity and Diversity
All children achieve their full potential in a society that closes opportunity gaps and that recognizes and values diversity.
Health
All children receive affordable, comprehensive, high-quality health care.
School Readiness
All children and their parents receive the services and supports to enable them to start school prepared for success.
School Success
All children have an equal opportunity to attend an adequately and equitably financed public school meeting rigorous academic standards aligned with the needs of the 21st century workforce.
Safety
All children are safe in their homes and communities from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, avoid risky behaviors, and contribute to community well-being.
Economic Stability
All children live in families that can provide for their needs and make investments in their future.
Members
Voices has 62 member organizations in 46 states of the US, as well as in The US Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia (DC).. A member is an organization that belongs to the Voices network and is a nonprofit organization that is either: a provider coalition with an advocacy component to its overall agenda; or the state or community affiliate of a national single-issue child advocacy organization; or a state or community-based organization focused primarily on public awareness, resource or referral or direct services, with child advocacy as part of its mission; or a KIDS COUNT grantee without child advocacy as any component of its agenda.
Some members are, but not limited to:
Children’s Action Alliance (AZ)
Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
Children’s Advocacy Institute (CA)
Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth (CA)
Connecticut Association for Human Services
Connecticut Voices for Children
Children’s Campaign, Inc. (FL)
Child & Family Policy Center (IA)
Advocates for Children & Youth (MD)
Massachusetts Citizens for Children
Partnership for Children (KS/MO)
Voices for Children in Nebraska
Children’s Advocacy Alliance (NV)
Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire
Association for Children of New Jersey
New Mexico Voices for Children
Citizens' Committee for Children of New York
Schuyler Center for Analysis & Advocacy (NY)
Westchester Children’s Association (NY)
Action for Children North Carolina
Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy
Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children
Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PA)
Children’s Trust of South Carolina
South Dakota Voices for Children
Black Children’s Institute of Tennessee
Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth
Voices for Children of San Antonio
Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands
Voices for Virginia’s Children
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance
Funding
Financial backing is provided by membership fees and grants from the following foundations:[3]
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation
- The Atlantic Philanthropies
- The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
- The William Penn Foundation
References
- ^ "About Us". Voices for America's Children. http://www.voices.org/about/. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Our History". Voices for America's Children. http://www.voices.org/. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ "Annual Report 2006". Voices for America's Children. http://www.voices.org/uploads/2006AnnualReport.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-08.[dead link]
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