Voices for America's Children

Voices for America's Children was 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]

Voices for America's Children closed its doors in June 2013, although its members group continue their work at the state and local level.^[3]

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

2013 - Voices closes its doors after a vote by the Board of Trustees

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

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 State-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 children's 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.

Funding

Financial backing is provided by membership fees and grants from the following foundations:^[4]

• 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

External links

• Homepage (via archive.org)
• 2010 pamphlet which includes list of member groups (via archive.org)