Champions for Children are state lawmakers recognized by the Children’s Alliance for their outstanding service on behalf of children.
To be honored as a Champion for Children, a state lawmaker must provide significant leadership in protecting or advancing state policies or investments that improve the well-being of children in Washington.
Learn more about Children's Alliance's criteria for selecting Champions for Children (pdf).
Our 2013 Legislative Report describes the Children's Alliance's work for kids in partnership with coalitions and individuals from all across Washington state.
Together, our teamwork over the 2013 session won:
Children’s Alliance Legislative Champions are state lawmakers recognized for their outstanding service to children in a specific policy area in a particular legislative session.
On June 4th, Washingtonians asked their legislators to Stand Strong for Kids when they make choices in state budget negotiations. See photos of them standing up for Washington values in these five PDF documents:
A collage combining the photos submitted at the June 4 Voices for Children luncheon will be sent to all state legislators and Governor Inslee with a request that they stand strong for kids.
Here's a preview of just a few of the many beautiful photos submitted!
No child should go hungry in our state. The Washington State Legislature has the opportunity to restore full State Food Assistance benefits for children and families in the 2013-15 Biennial Budget. Learn more about State Food Assistance.
Twenty-six of the Senate's 49 members have signed a letter requesting the restoration of State Food Assistance. Read the letter.
To contribute to our state’s future, children need the competitive edge of a great education. Apple Health for Kids helps children stay healthy and able to learn. Our priority for the 2013 legislative session is to reverse unaffordable monthly premiums imposed on hundreds of children in immigrant families. Learn more.
Sixty-two community organizations from across the state have joined together to call for restoration of State Food Assistance for our children, elders, and families. Read their joint letter to state lawmakers.
High-quality early learning lays a foundation for a strong future. But too many young children still don’t get a chance to build the fundamental brain architecture that allows them to thrive in school and in life. Washington policymakers should:
Expand ECEAP by 1,500 children in the upcoming
biennium and work toward the legislature’s commitment
of full implementation by 2018
Make a simultaneous investment in targeted, voluntary,
comprehensive programs for infants and toddlers at
greatest risk of academic failure.
Science tells us that, long before they reach kindergarten, children lay down the mental foundation for future learning. When we fail to surround young children with quality opportunities to build that foundation, it’s much harder for them to catch up later. Child care providers want the best for children in their care, but they need resources to improve and maintain quality. Investments now can lead to benefits for children, families, and society in the future. Chart a path for increasing access to high-quality care that includes:
No child should go to school hungry. No elder should have to cut back on food to pay rent. But since the 50% cut to State Food Assistance went into effect last summer, more immigrant families are struggling against hunger.
Read about one families' struggle to survive after the cuts.
When children are forced to skip meals, or can’t access high quality nutrition, their performance in school suffers. Learn more about the link between childhood nutrition and academic achievement.
All children deserve healthy, nutritious food at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here in Washington, the legislature made a smart decision to meet our children’s nutritional needs by creating State Food Assistance in 1997. Learn more.
Nuestra 2013 agenda legislativa piede que legisladores:
Our 2013 legislative agenda calls on legislators to:
Out-of-date laws are keeping Washingtonians from receiving the oral health care that is vital to their overall health.
Modernizing our laws will free up dentists with a proven workforce-based solution: a mid-level oral health care provider who will deliver the routine care and oral health education that families need.
