Putting Children in the Electoral Spotlight April 2012 Prepared for Voices for America’s Children Civic Engagement Project

Narrative for Putting Children’s Issues into the Electoral Spotlight 1.Voters Care About Children and Child Policy 2.There is a Disconnect Between What Voters Care About and What They View Politics as Doing 3.Child Policy is a Legitimate and Critical Part of Federal Policy and Needs to Be Presented as Such 4.There must be a Concerted Campaign to Convince Candidates, the Media, and Child Allies that Children’s Issues Should Be Part of the Electoral Policy Dialogue 5.The Policy Guide offers the Context to Do So 6.Voices, its Members, and Many Partnering Organizations Can Work Together to Make This Happen

1. Voters Care About Children and Child Policy 55%worse off 55% fear that children will be worse off, when they grow up, than people are now 67%higher priority 41%very important primary factor 45%important 10% 67% believe the President and Congress should give a higher priority to the health, education, and well-being of America’s children. 41% say issues of child well-being are very important and a primary factor in deciding how to vote, 45% say they are somewhat important and are one of several issues to consider, and only Only 10% say they are not important. 30% of voters are parents of children under 18; 30% are grandparents; and 30% plan to have children or grandchildren.

2. There is a Disconnect Between What Voters Care About and What They View Politics as Doing What Voters Think Politics Is What Voters Care About

3. Child Policy Is a Legitimate and Critical Part of the Federal Policy and Needs to Be Presented as Such 2010 Federal 2010 Estimated Budget State/Local Budgets Health and nutrition $ 143 billion $ 75 billion Education (p-12) $ 89 billion $580 billion Safety (child protection and welfare) $ 12 billion $ 14 billion Economic security $ 118 billion $ 10 billion Housing and social services $ 12 billion $ 2 billion $ 374 billion $681 billion There is a recognized, long-standing public sector role to ensure children have health, education, safety, and security needs met – and the federal government currently assumes a major role to this end.

4. There Must Be a Concerted Campaign to Convince Candidates, the Media, and Child Allies that Children’s Issues Should Be Part of the Electoral Policy Dialogue Starts with Re-Articulating the Public Sector’s Responsibility to Children/Grandchildren: Health Education (early childhood and K-12) Safety Security (economic, fairness, social)

5. The Policy Guide Offers the Context to Do So PART ONE 1.Describes the Role of the Federal Government in Ensuring Children’s Health, Education, Safety, and Security (7 Different Issue Areas) 2.Describes Continuing Needs of Children and the Public’s View on the Importance of Addressing Them 3.Offers a Framing Question to Start the Dialogue PART TWO 1.Outlines What Candidates, Voters, and Advocates Can Do to Get Children’s Issues Addressed 2.Provides Background Information on Federal Budget

Child Safety as an Example Importance of child safety: Over 2 million reports and 700,000 confirmed cases of child abuse each year, 400,000 children in foster care who need safety, permanency, and well-being. Federal role: States play the major role in managing systems, but, since 1935 federal government has provided funding and worked to strengthen child protection through state actions – with major advances made by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Federal funding constitutes nearly half of all funding to prevent and treat child abuse. Current Challenges: Achieving permanency and supporting children as they enter adulthood is a growing challenge which requires new responses. Voter opinion: Polls consistently show keeping children safe from abuse and neglect is a key responsibility for government. Question to Candidates: What federal actions should be taken to address the needs of this vulnerable population of children?

6. Voices, its Members, and Many Partnering Organizations Can Work Together to Make this Happen Voices and Its Members’ Activities: 1. Co-branding and dissemination to media, editorial boards, and Congressional candidates and committees. 2. Coordination with other state organizations for dissemination and use. 3. Specific additional on-the-ground activities in 22 key states to raise child policy issues. National Partnering Organizations: 1.Co-branding and dissemination to own members and media contacts. 2.Further development/sharing of materials on federal policy issues affecting children. 3.Coordination with own specific advocacy campaigns.

Chorus or Cacophony? Securing America’s Future Every Child Matters First Focus Kids2012 Too Small to Fail Leave No Child Behind America’s Kids, America’s Future Who’s for Kids and Who’s Just Kidding The Children’s Movement Step Up for Children Stand for Children Students First National Movement for America’s Children

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