A recent editorial says deep cuts to food stamps in the Farm Bill would hurt 234,000 Washington families. In other news, a strong advocate in Lacey gets recognition for protecting State Food Assistance for 12,500 hungry children in Washington. In national news, an amendment to prevent a $4.5 billion cut to food stamps is voted down in the U.S. Senate. The Affordable Care Act’s health coverage expansion to 49 million parents is good for kids, and President Obama’s new immigration policy to protect young people will make waves in early learning.

At the Voices for Children Awards Luncheon last week, Children’s Alliance recognized the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, the Washington Parent Ambassadors and Jiji Jally for their stellar advocacy for kids. In national news, an editorial calls for protections to food stamps in the Farm Bill, and a columnist reminds us that prior to the Affordable Care Act, 28 percent of young Americans were uninsured.

Last Thursday, nearly 500 advocates from every corner of the state gathered at our Voices for Children Awards Luncheon to protect the “Just One Childhood” every child has to grow and thrive.

With the help of returning emcee Eric Liu, Children’s Alliance presented three awards honoring outstanding advocates for kids in our state: 

Tuesday, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler released a report outlining losses for Washington’s families if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Care Act. In other state news, a small business owner from Seattle speaks up for health care in Congress. In national news, child care cuts and proposed food stamp cuts in the Farm Bill put our economic stability, and kids’ futures, on the line, and 15,000 diverse voices across the U.S. convened to vote on what our country’s priorities should be for families in the 2012 election.

Last Saturday was no ordinary one for the Children’s Alliance.
At their Bloom Gala Saturday night, International Community Health Services (ICHS) honored us with a Bamboo Award for “tough, resilient” advocacy for children’s health. We were humbled to be receiving the award from and among such stellar advocates who have taught us, informed our work and joined the fight to cover all kids in Washington state.