Child Poverty

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.

2009 Legislative Agenda

mjennings — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:28:17 -0500

The Children's Alliance 2009 Legislative Agenda lays out our top priorities in this tough legislative session.

Legislative Agenda: 2012 session

Adam — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:15:02 -0500

Our 2012 legislative agenda calls on lawmakers to:

Protect Apple Health for Kids and State Food Assistance;
Reject further budget cuts that hurt low-income families and children of color;
Improve health with a licensed dental practitioner;
Close the opportunity gap with early learning;
Raise revenue to protect our future.

Download and print our 2012 legislative agenda.

Media Release: Apple Health for Kids wins $16.9 million for progress on covering children

Christina — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:09:23 -0500

(December 28, 2011) — Apple Health for Kids, Washington’s health coverage program for children, has won $16.9 million from the federal government – money earned for the state’s efforts to connect more children to health care.

Getting and keeping kids insured means healthier families, and helps our state allocate scarce health dollars wisely.

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.

The State of Washington's Children

Adam — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:13:33 -0500

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.

Read the report.

Media Release: Hundreds of Kids, advocates to deliver Special Session children’s proclamation

Adam — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:20:00 -0500

Wednesday, November 30 – The first week of Special Session will have a memorable closing day on Friday in Olympia, when hundreds of kids, parents, and advocates stand together at Children’s Alliance’s Have a Heart for Kids Day: 2011 Special Session. This will culminate in a rally with parent and youth speakers, and a Proclamation by the Children of Washington released and delivered to legislators.

The Facts about State Food Assistance

Christina — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:11:28 -0500

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.

Emergency room rule compromises kids’ health, equal opportunity

Christina — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:50:25 -0400

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.

Letter to Sen. Patty Murray: protect kids in deficit talks

Adam — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:58:34 -0400

More than 60 partner organizations joined us in urging Sen. Patty Murray to protect kids in the course of federal debt negotiations. Read the letter.