No Kidding: Children's Alliance Blog

The budget cuts’ impact on kids

Adam — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:54:22 -0400

It’s the worst we’ve seen.

That’s our assessment of new cuts to state services. The across-the-board budget reductions are more severe than anything we’ve experienced recently. They’re also being made in an extremely challenging context.

The budget that was finalized this spring, during the last legislative session, did not anticipate the persistently slow economy. And, rather than our elected representatives deliberating in public over cuts, these decisions are being made by the Governor in consultation with agency secretaries and assistant secretaries. They are decisions as momentous as any made during the last legislative session, only without legislators convening to hear and represent their constituents’ concerns.

WA could win up to $1.3 million for home visiting

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:41:06 -0400

The federal government has finally released the guidelines states need to apply for their slice of $1.5 billion in new grant funding for home visiting programs, which connect new and expectant parents with trained nursing and early learning professionals.

The new guidelines issued late last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will allow Washington to apply for up to $1.3 million this year.

The first wave of these grants, part of federal health care reform that became law in March, will go to states this summer.

Over the next few weeks and months, we and our allies on the Washington Home Visiting Coalition will be working with state agencies and stakeholders on a plan for how Washington will use these home visiting funds.

New rules should give families affordable choices for health coverage

Adam — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:48:31 -0500

The federal Affordable Care Act was signed into law nearly two years ago. Since then, we at the Children’s Alliance, alongside health advocates across the state, have been working to make health care reform a reality in Washington.

In the next few weeks, health care leaders in the state House and Senate will take a crucial next step: They’ll set up ground rules for the state’s new Health Insurance Exchange.

New poll should make legislators hungry to protect State Food Assistance

Adam — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:34:05 -0500

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:

Prime time to close the opportunity gap

Adam — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:40:48 -0500

The State Supreme Court earlier this month based a key decision on our state’s constitutional responsibility to provide a basic education to every child residing in Washington. During this legislative session, lawmakers can pass one bill that’s key to upholding that responsibility.

The High Quality Early Learning Act would establish universally accessible early learning programs for Washington 3- and 4-year-olds, while also strengthening programs that ensure the healthy development of infants and toddlers.

Ashley's toothache

Adam — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:05:10 -0500

Eight-year-old Ashley had a toothache – a common problem for a kid her age.

Calling numerous dental offices in the three-county area surrounding their home, Ashley’s mother April couldn’t get her an appointment. Most didn’t take her form of insurance, Apple Health for Kids.

Meanwhile, Ashley’s cavity turned into an abscessed tooth. The resulting pain and earaches were keeping her up at night.

Kids in the News, January 6, 2012

Adam — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:03:00 -0500

In this edition, Washington begins 2012 with millions in national recognition for Apple Health for Kids just after winning a competition from the Obama Administration to advance and extend quality early learning throughout our state. In other news, routine dental health care is out of reach and unaffordable for too many, so some states are looking to add a new provider to the dental workforce.

Washington 1 of 4 states to shine on children’s health and early learning

Christina — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:54:33 -0500

A new year for Washington begins with a new milestone for kids. The last two weeks of 2011 brought our state tens of millions of federal dollars, positioning Washington as a national leader in both children’s health and early learning.

In fact, our state was just one of four in the country to win national competitions for health and early learning, along with Ohio, Maryland and North Carolina.

Decades of work on early learning pay off

Adam — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:51:28 -0500

When the White House on Friday announced the nine winners of the Early Learning Challenge Fund, Washington State passed a significant landmark. Ours was one of nine states awarded funds to improve their early learning systems. The state will get $60 million over four years.

Proclamation by the Children of Washington State

Christina — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:27:35 -0500

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.