More Work Remains to Improve Mental Health Outcomes for Children

In honor of Children’s Mental Awareness Week, Voices for America’s Children celebrates and recognizes the importance of children’s mental health across the country. Although the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has two initiatives to improve children’s mental…

This holiday, we’re thankful for food aid for families

As millions of American families still struggle in the wake of the recession, we know what we’re thankful for this year. Voices for America’s Children is praising SNAP (the program formerly known as food stamps) for helping families put food…

Fighting for disconnected youth, on Capitol Hill and across the nation

Around 1 in 6 young people are disconnected from work and school. These youth need more outreach to remain a productive part of society — and if they can, then both they and society will benefit, as our own Michele…

Feds accuse Mississippi county of running a “school-to-prison pipeline”

A county in Mississippi has been incarcerating students as part of a “school-to-prison pipeline,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice (via CNN).

The Justice Department has given Lauderdale County, Mississippi, 60 days to reform its school disciplinary actions that are…

Chronicle of Philanthropy on Voices infographics

The Chronicle of Philanthropy last week examined how nonprofits are using infographics to engage audiences on social issues in a new way. The piece, like their article on infographics last January, mentions Voices’ campaign of last fall, when we studied…

Tell Congress: Close racial gaps in educational achievement!

The next generation is much more racially diverse than adults now, and signals a more colorful America to come. In fact, The Pew Research Center estimates that by 2050 less than half the population will be White.
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Op-ed: Don’t balance the budget on the backs of children

Karen Crompton, head of Voices for Utah Children, today takes to the Salt Lake Tribune to argue against cuts to kids. “Programs for children and families are among the softest targets for policymakers desperate to make cuts this fall,”…

One year of Princeton versus one year in prison

The Atlantic this week shares a comparison between sending someone to prison and sending someone to Princeton. “It costs the state of New Jersey more money to hold a prisoner for one year than to fund one Princeton student’s…

Congress is looking for smart investments. Tell them: Start with kids!

Congress has been consumed with talk of cost-cutting and smart spending. We say pre-kindergarten is a great place to start; it’s much easier to nurture a child than rehabilitate a young adult. And that’s the topic of our new infographic!
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Infographic: With states broke, schools suffer

Around 115,000 education jobs were lost nationwide since last fall. State and local governments, still reeling from the recession, are facing budget shortfalls and have had no choice but to cut education jobs for the past several years. Our latest…