View source for Voices for America's Children

{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=November 2009}}
{{advert|date=January 2012}}
}}
{{Infobox organization
| logo =
| type = Child Advocacy
| key_people = Tamara Copeland, president (1996 - 2006)
[[William Bentley]], CEO (since 2007)
Deborah Stein, federal policy director
Joe Theissen, vice president
| footnotes = Formerly known as the '''National Association of Child Advocates''' (renamed in 2003)
| name = Voices for America's Children
| founded_date = 1984
| dissolved = {{End date|2013|06}}
| founder =
| location = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| origins =
| area_served = [[United States]]
| product =
| focus =
| method =
| revenue = $2,723,275 (in 2009)
| endowment =
| num_volunteers =
| num_employees =
| num_members = 60
| subsid =
| Non-profit_slogan =
| homepage = http://www.voices.org
}}
'''Voices for America's Children''' '''(Voices)''' was a [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit organization located in Washington, DC.  Voices was a U.S. nonpartisan, national organization that advocated for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government. It addressed areas such as [[early childhood education]], health, [[juvenile justice]], [[child welfare]], tax and budget decisions.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.voices.org/about/
| title=About Us
| publisher=Voices for America's Children
| accessdate=2009-11-08
}}</ref>
It was known as '''National Association of Child Advocates''' prior to 2003.
Voices for America's Children officially closed its doors in June 2013, although groups of former members continue their work at the state and local level.<ref>In 2014 these members formed a new organization, Partnership for America's Children, www.partnershipforamericaschildren.org. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140511213341/http://www.youthtoday.org/view_article.cfm?article_id=6179 Voices for America’s Children Closes National Office]. Youthtoday.com.</ref>
==History==
Voices for America's Children began when child advocates from the US met for the first time in 1981 and formed the National Association of State-based Child Advocacy Organization (ACA) in 1984.  In 2003, ACA changed its name to Voices for America's Children.
In 1996 the National Association of Child Advocates established its annual Florette Angel Memorial Child Advocacy Award in memory of Florette Angel and her efforts to improve the lives of West Virginia children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pbn.com/bryant-honored-as-national-child-advocacy-leader27780/|title=Bryant honored as national child-advocacy leader|last=Staff|first=P. B. N.|date=2007-10-09|website=Providence Business News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
In 2004, the organization prepared and published a report named “Early Learning Left Out: An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234652792|title=Early Learning Left Out: An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age|website=ResearchGate|language=en|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref> The report was based on a comprehensive analysis of public investments in education and child development. It covered three age groups - early years (0-5), school age (6-18) and college age (19-23) - across 12 states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED491074.pdf|title=An Examination of Public Investments in Education and Development by Child Age}}</ref> The report was updated the following year<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wnywomensfoundation.org/app/uploads/2017/11/74.-early-learning-left-out.pdf|title=Closing the Investment Gap for America's Youngest Children, 2nd Edition}}</ref> and then again in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smartstart.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/State-Investments-in-EC-Voice-for-Americas-Children-June-2010.pdf|title=Building an Early Learning Childhood System to Secure America's Future, 3rd Edition}}</ref>
Voices for America's Children received two grants from [[Atlantic Philanthropies]], a $1.8 million grant in 2006<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://youthtoday.org/2006/03/newsmakers-for-march-2006/|title=Newsmakers for March 2006|last=Kelly|first=John|date=2006-03-01|website=Youth Today|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref> and a $3 million three-year-grant in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/atlantic-philanthropies-awards-3-million-to-voices-for-america-s-children|title=Atlantic Philanthropies Awards $3 Million to Voices for America's Children|last=Center|first=Foundation|website=Philanthropy News Digest (PND)|language=en|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
In 2011, after reviewing ten Republican candidates' debates and campaign websites,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/2011/12/07/advocacy-group-finds-focus-on-children-in-presidential-race-lacking/|title=Advocacy group finds focus on children in presidential race lacking|website=Iowa Caucuses|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref> Voices found that only 2.2% of the debates referenced children-related issues.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/advocates-complain-issues-pertaining-to-children-getting-little-attention-in/article_20ef2eba-20bd-11e1-8f68-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Advocates complain: Issues pertaining to children getting little attention in campaign|last=Service|first=ROD BOSHART, Courier-Lee News|website=Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier|language=en|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
In 2012 Voices sent letters to Democratic candidate President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] urging them to clarify their stance on child and family issues and to formally seek the advice of child advocates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.childwise.org/child-advocates-ask-presidential-candidates-what-about-kids/|title=Child advocates ask presidential candidates: What about kids? » ChildWise Institute|date=28 August 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
In 2013 Voices was dissolved after a vote by the board of trustees. In September of the same year [[Barack Obama|President Obama]] appointed William Bentley, former CEO of Voices, to head [[Family and Youth Services Bureau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chronicleofsocialchange.org/youth-services-insider/william-wubbenhorst-lead-family-youth-services-bureau/28546|title=Trump Taps William Wubbenhorst to Lead Family and Youth Services Bureau|last=Kelly|first=John|date=2017-10-27|website=The Chronicle of Social Change|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-16}}</ref>
==Members==
Voices had 62 member organizations in 46 states of the US, as well as in The US Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia (DC)..  A member was defined as an organization that belonged to the Voices network and was a nonprofit organization that is either: a provider coalition with an advocacy component to its overall agenda; or the state or community affiliate of a national single-issue child advocacy organization; or a state or community-based organization focused primarily on public awareness, resource or referral or direct services, with child advocacy as part of its mission; or a KIDS COUNT grantee without child advocacy as any component of its agenda.
==Funding==
Financial backing is provided by membership fees and grants from the following foundations:<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.voices.org/uploads/2006AnnualReport.pdf
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174509/http://www.voices.org/uploads/2006AnnualReport.pdf
| url-status=dead
| archive-date=2016-03-03
| title=Annual Report 2006
| publisher=Voices for America's Children
| accessdate=2009-11-08
}}</ref>
* The [[Annie E. Casey Foundation]]
* [[The Atlantic Philanthropies]]
* The [[David and Lucile Packard Foundation]]
* The [[John S. and James L. Knight Foundation]]
* The [[William Penn Foundation]]
*The [[The Pew Charitable Trusts|Pew Charitable Trusts]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/legacy/legacy-and-pre-launch-image-edits/trust-mag-pdfs/trust_winter04.pdf?la=en|title=Pew Trust (Vol.7 #1)}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131103124753/https://www.voices.org/ Homepage] (via archive.org)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917154059/http://www.voices.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/VoicesforAmericasChildren_pamphlet.pdf 2010 pamphlet which includes list of member groups] (via archive.org)
[[Category:Children's charities based in the United States]]
[[Category:Children's rights organizations in the United States]]