Voices for America's Children

Voices for America's Children (Voices) was a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Voices was a U.S. nonpartisan, national organization that advocated 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.

Voices for America's Children
Founded1984
DissolvedJune 2013 (2013-06)
TypeChild Advocacy
Location
Area served
United States
Members
60
Key people
Tamara Copeland, president (1996 - 2006)

William Bentley, CEO (since 2007)

Deborah Stein, federal policy director

Joe Theissen, vice president
Revenue
$2,723,275 (in 2009)
Websitehttp://www.voices.org
Formerly known as the National Association of Child Advocates (renamed in 2003)

Voices for America's Children officially closed its doors in June 2013, although groups of former members continue their work at the state and local level.[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. In 2003, ACA changed its name to Voices for America's Children.

In 1996 the National Association of Child Advocates established its annual Florette Angel Memorial Child Advocacy Award in memory of Florette Angel and her efforts to improve the lives of West Virginia children.[3]

In 2004, the organization prepared and published a report named “Early Learning Left Out: An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age".[4] The report was based on a comprehensive analysis of public investments in education and child development. It covered three age groups - early years (0-5), school age (6-18) and college age (19-23) - across 12 states.[5] The report was updated the following year[6] and then again in 2010.[7]

Voices for America's Children received two grants from Atlantic Philanthropies, a $1.8 million grant in 2006[8] and a $3 million three-year-grant in 2008.[9]

In 2011, after reviewing ten Republican candidates' debates and campaign websites,[10] Voices found that only 2.2% of the debates referenced children-related issues.[11]

In 2012 Voices sent letters to Democratic candidate President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney urging them to clarify their stance on child and family issues and to formally seek the advice of child advocates.[12]

In 2013 Voices was dissolved after a vote by the board of trustees. In September of the same year President Obama appointed William Bentley, former CEO of Voices, to head Family and Youth Services Bureau.[13]

Members

Voices had 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 was defined as an organization that belonged to the Voices network and was 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.

Funding

Financial backing is provided by membership fees and grants from the following foundations:[14]

References
  1. "About Us". Voices for America's Children. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  2. In 2014 these members formed a new organization, Partnership for America's Children, www.partnershipforamericaschildren.org. Voices for America’s Children Closes National Office. Youthtoday.com.
  3. Staff, P. B. N. (2007-10-09). "Bryant honored as national child-advocacy leader". Providence Business News. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  4. "Early Learning Left Out: An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  5. "An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age" (PDF).
  6. "Closing the Investment Gap for America's Youngest Children, 2nd Edition" (PDF).
  7. "Building an Early Learning Childhood System to Secure America's Future, 3rd Edition" (PDF).
  8. Kelly, John (2006-03-01). "Newsmakers for March 2006". Youth Today. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  9. Center, Foundation. "Atlantic Philanthropies Awards $3 Million to Voices for America's Children". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  10. "Advocacy group finds focus on children in presidential race lacking". Iowa Caucuses. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  11. Service, ROD BOSHART, Courier-Lee News. "Advocates complain: Issues pertaining to children getting little attention in campaign". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2019-01-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "Child advocates ask presidential candidates: What about kids? » ChildWise Institute". 28 August 2012. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  13. Kelly, John (2017-10-27). "Trump Taps William Wubbenhorst to Lead Family and Youth Services Bureau". The Chronicle of Social Change. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  14. "Annual Report 2006" (PDF). Voices for America's Children. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  15. "Pew Trust (Vol.7 #1)" (PDF).
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