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

Early childhood education

Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...

, health, juvenile justice, child welfare

Child welfare

Child protection is used to describe a set of usually government-run services designed to protect children and young people who are underage and to encourage family stability...

, tax and budget decisions.
It was renamed from National Association of Child Advocates in 2003.

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

Equity and Diversity

All children achieve their full potential in a society that closes opportunity gaps and that recognizes and values diversity.

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:

VOICES for Alabama’s Children

Children’s Action Alliance (AZ)

Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families

Children Now (CA)

Children’s Advocacy Institute (CA)

Children’s Partnership (CA)

Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth (CA)

Kids in Common (CA)

Colorado Children’s Campaign

Connecticut Association for Human Services

Connecticut Voices for Children

KIDS COUNT in Delaware

DC Action for Children

Children’s Campaign, Inc. (FL)

Voices for Georgia’s Children

Good Beginnings Alliance (HI)

Idaho Voices for Children

Voices for Illinois Children

Child & Family Policy Center (IA)

Kansas Action for Children

Kentucky Youth Advocates

Agenda for Children (LA)

Maine Children's Alliance

Advocates for Children & Youth (MD)

Massachusetts Citizens for Children

Michigan’s Children

Priority Children (MI)

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

North Dakota KIDS COUNT!

Voices for Ohio’s Children

Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy

Children First for Oregon

Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children

Public Citizens for Children & Youth (PA)

Rhode Island KIDS COUNT

Children’s Trust of South Carolina

South Dakota KIDS COUNT

South Dakota Voices for Children

Black Children’s Institute of Tennessee

Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth

Children at Risk (TX)

Texans Care for Children

Voices for Children of San Antonio

Voices for Utah Children

Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Voices for Virginia’s Children

Voices for Vermont’s Children

Children’s Alliance (WA)

West Virginia KIDS COUNT Fund

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:

• The Annie E. Casey Foundation
  Annie E. Casey Foundation
  The Annie E. Casey Foundation was started in 1948 in Seattle, Washington, by UPS founder James E. Casey and his siblings George, Harry and Marguerite. It was named in honor of their mother. The foundation moved to Baltimore in 1994....
  
  
• The Atlantic Philanthropies
• The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  David and Lucile Packard Foundation
  The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private foundation that provides grants to not-for-profit organizations. It was created in 1964 by David Packard and his wife Lucile Salter Packard. Following David Packard's death in 1996, the Foundation became the beneficiary of part of his estate...
  
  
• The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
  John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
  The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is an American private, non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts....
  
  
• The William Penn Foundation
  William Penn Foundation
  The William Penn Foundation is a grant-making foundation established in 1945 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by businessman Otto Haas and his wife Phoebe....