Have a Heart for Kids Day is your day to speak up for kids. Right now, your voice matters. Join hundreds of child, youth, and family advocates from across Washington state and speak up for kids!
Children's Alliance 2011 Special Session Have a Heart for Kids day is Friday, December 2, 2011. This is your opportunity to bring your voice directly to your legislators as they return to Olympia to balance the budget.
Two bills will establish a voluntary early learning program for 3- and 4-year-olds in Washington, with a concurrent focus on services in the first three years of life.
Learn more about substitute House Bill 2448 and substitute Senate Bill 6449.
Last week’s national poll results on food stamps should make Washington legislators take notice.
The poll found overwhelming support from voters for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, known universally as food stamps.
Along with tens of thousands of Washington children benefitting from SNAP, more than 12,000 children in our state depend on a form of food stamps called State Food Assistance – one of the vital programs lawmakers may cut.
The poll, conducted in the second week of January, is a strong indication that cutting SFA would be enormously unpopular:
Our 2012 legislative agenda calls on lawmakers to:
Download and print our 2012 legislative agenda.
On Dec. 2, 2011, Children's Alliance gathered hundreds across the state on Capitol steps to issue a statement to lawmakers signed by Washington's kids.
Read our Proclamation by the Children of Washington State: For Us, By Us, For Our Future.
The State of Washington’s Children 2012 is a broad review of how Washington’s 1.5 million kids are faring in tough times. The report is issued by KIDS COUNT in Washington, a new partnership between Children’s Alliance and the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.
The state legislature reduced funding for State Food Assistance (SFA) by half for the current biennium. A court order is in place prohibiting the benefit reduction, however, pending the outcome of an equal protection and due process lawsuit on behalf of SFA recipients. Gov. Christine Gregoire has again proposed to eliminate the program.
Download The Facts about State Food Assistance to learn more.
A state rule starting early this month has inspired public debate and a lawsuit making national headlines.
The consequences of this policy will threaten the safety and health of Washington’s Medicaid families. The rule imposes harmful and confusing limits on benefits for care received at the emergency room that could have severe consequences for children covered under Apple Health for Kids.
Let's say YES to policies that support all Washington's kids! We can use our power and passion as parents, advocates, caregivers and leaders to protect kids and fight for budgets and policies that put kids first. Join us on September 21st at the Children's Alliance Annual Membership Meeting.
Read this release in English.