How is VOICES different from other children’s organizations?
VOICES is the only nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization that provides research and advocacy on all issues that affect children in Alabama from birth to age nineteen.
Other organizations deal primarily with one segment of child well-being such as A+ Education Foundation (education), The Children’s Trust Fund (child abuse and neglect prevention), The Alabama Partnership for Children (early childhood development).
VOICES is the only organization in Alabama that provides research on how children are doing in each of Alabama’s sixty-seven counties. VOICES produces The Alabama Kids Count Data Book, the only publication that annually reports for each county demographics on children as well as multiple indicators of child well-being. This information is available from no other source and provides a research based foundation upon which other state or community organizations interested in children’s issues can base their work.
VOICES developed the first comprehensive Children’s Legislative Agenda for Alabama’s children and continues to do this on an annual basis. This agenda is based on input from citizens across the state and focuses on priorities that will improve the lives of children in Alabama. The agenda is developed in concert with other organizations, and other organizations work to promote this agenda. VOICES works in collaboration with many other children’s groups and often serves as an umbrella bringing together these single-issue regional or local organizations to maximize our voices to improve the well being of all of Alabama’s children.
VOICES is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization.
Is VOICES a lobbying group?
VOICES does lobby for the annual Children’s Legislative Agenda and other legislation that affects children and families. However, lobbying for public policy to improve the lives of children is only one portion of VOICES’ work. In addition, research for Alabama Kids Count and other reports as well as communication and education of the public on children’s issues, and building of collaborations to improve child well-being are major parts of the work that VOICES does each year.