Why Invest in a Children's Policy Organization?

Because children can’t speak for themselves. In the public policy arena, we are their voice. We speak up about their needs, especially those of disadvantaged children whose voices often go unheard. Our work influences leaders and decision makers to improve policies affecting children, and these improvements directly benefit children throughout the Commonwealth.

We Make a Difference

• Voices’ Working Families Child Care Coalition (26 organizations) successfully advocated for a $12M increase in child care funding for low-income working parents. At least 2,600 additional children can be served; their parents will be able to stay employed, off welfare, and on the path to self-sufficiency.
• In partnership with the Virginia Poverty Law Center, we helped to lead the First Lady’s For Keeps initiative to reform the foster care system. As a result, 8,000 children in foster care now have a better chance to establish permanent family ties and transition to productive adulthood.
• Voices co-led, with JustChildren, the coalition supporting expansion of the Virginia Preschool Initiative. An additional 7,000 low-income four year olds now have access to quality preschool. They will enter kindergarten ready to succeed, have fewer grade retentions or special education placements, and eventually have higher graduation rates and lower rates of crime and welfare enrollment.
• Voices led a successful effort to persuade legislators, in making their difficult choices about cuts to balance the budget, to protect safety net services that reduce the recession’s harmful effects on children. Critical services were preserved; thousands of children will therefore avoid the hazards of long-term poverty.  

We Make Kids Count!

Our Kids Count data system is Virginia’s most relied-upon source of information on the status of children. Using multiple indicators of the well-being of children, we publish research briefs spotlighting key trends and risk factors. Our online system puts the latest data in the hands of elected officials, government leaders, funders, program administrators, community leaders and citizens.

Inspiring Action: Working with others, we create powerful coalitions that push for needed policy changes. By acting together, with one voice, we inspire the public and hold our leaders accountable to support policy initiatives that improve the lives of children in Virginia.

Policy Solutions: We study scientific research and initiatives in other states to find promising policy options. In collaboration with partners and stakeholders, we evaluate options and propose policy initiatives tailored to Virginia. Voices is the source for objective, non-partisan policy recommendations.

Public Awareness: We bring key issues and emerging problems to the attention of the public and our leaders. Using multiple communication approaches including our widespread electronic alert network, we publicize these issues to ensure that problems are widely recognized and the public and decision makers are ready to support needed changes.

Your Gift helps Voices help children. Many donors choose to give to programs that directly serve children in need. We applaud that choice, and ask that you also give to Voices to support broader, longer-term system and policy changes. We influence leaders and the public, creating the climate in which decision makers are more likely to make kids a high priority. This results in more critically needed direct services – the services provided by hundreds of Virginia’s public and private child-serving organizations. We do the policy work that sets the state for greater invesments in porgrams that help children. Your gift will Make Kids Count!