Advocacy
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is actively supporting and speaking on behalf of a person and
their needs. Now more than ever parents and early childhood professionals
need to be actively involved in advocacy 
and
organizing efforts to improve early care and education services for young
children and jobs for those responsible for their care and education.
Although the needs of children are constantly changing as service gaps
are addressed and others emerge, children will always need someone to
speak out on their behalf, someone to be their advocate. When it comes
to decisions about state budgets, programs, and priorities for children
and families, everyone can make a difference.
Most of us are already advocates. Although advocacy encompasses a variety
of activities, including lobbying in support of specific legislative action,
public policy research and spreading your message to influence public
opinion and policymakers, you don't need to be a politician or lobbyist
to make a difference.
Who are your legislators?
Voter
Information and Registration
Missouri Links
Citizens for Missouri's
Children
Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Citizens for Missouri's Children is an
advocacy organization representing all of Missouri's Children. The mission
is to advocate the rights and well-being of all Missouri's children, especially
those with the greatest need. CMC is a not-for-profit, non-partisan public
interest organization.
Local INvestment
Commission (LINC)
The Local INvestment Commission is a citizen-driven community collaborative
involving efforts by the state of Missouri to work with neighborhood leaders,
citizens, business, civic and labor leaders to improve the lives of children
and families in Kansas City and Jackson County.
LINC, as it often is referred to, is involved in initiatives to provide
employment to those on welfare, create new businesses in the central city,
improve the delivery of human services and help improve the lives of families
and children.
Missouri
Bar Association Family Law Section
The Family Law Section of the Missouri Bar studies laws concerning family,
juveniles, divorce, adoption, and other related laws. The page includes
their legislative agenda as well as their newsletters and member information.
Missouri Impact
Missouri Impact's purpose is to be a grassroots network of persons across
Missouri, who, out of concern for justice on the basis of religious and
moral convictions, seek to influence public policy in Missouri.
Missouri Juvenile Justice
Association
The mission of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association is to develop
and promote a quality juvenile justice service delivery system for youth
of the State of Missouri.
Partnership for Children
Partnership for Children’s (PFC) mission is to focus Greater Kansas
City's energy on enhancing life for children and youth through research,
education, mobilization, and capacity building. PFC launched the #1 Question
Campaign, which encourages everyone in our community to ask the question
— Is it good for the children? PFC is the home for Kansas
City’s Promise, a program that is working to provide Greater Kansas
City’s children and youth with the resources they need to succeed
in life.
St. Louis
Children's Agenda
The St. Louis community works in collaborative strategic action to address
priority needs of the region’s children through the St. Louis Metropolitan
Children's Agenda. Representatives of some 300 children’s agencies
and community organizations serve voluntarily in Children’s Agenda
work groups.
Vision
for Children at Risk
The mission of Vision for Children at Risk (VCR) is to promote the well-being
of children and youth in the St. Louis metropolitan area, targeting particularly
those young people who face serious socio-economic risk. This site includes
information on the organization, the Children of Metropolitan St. Louis
2005 Report, and other research resources.
National Links
Annie E. Casey Foundation
National and state KIDS COUNT Data posted on this site. Casey Foundation
is a private charitable organization dedicated to helping build better
futures for disadvantaged children.
Children's
Advocacy Institute
Located at the University of San Diego School of Law, Children’s
Advocacy Institute (CAI) works to improve the status and well-being of
children in our society by representing their interests and right to a
safe, healthy childhood. CAI represents children in the state legislature,
in the courts, before administrative agencies, and through public education
programs.
Children's
Defense Fund
Children's Defense Fund is a national child advocacy organization located
in Washington DC. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children
of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. They also
publish a variety of reports on the status of children and advocate on
a wide range of issues related to children.
Children Now
Children Now is a national children's advocacy organization that provides
information in policy analysis, research, and communication and has a
directory of children's issues on the web.
Center on Budget and
Policy Priorities
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonpartisan research organization
and policy institute that conducts research and analyses on a range of
government policies and programs, with an emphasis on those affecting
low- and moderate-income people.
Connect for Kids
This site provides reports, public opinions, and other resources on a
number of children's topics. Get current news on children's issues in
each state and sign up for e-newsletters that contain articles and information
on issues.
Every Child
Matters
Every Child Matters is a national nonprofit organization devoted to improving
the lives of children and families by advocating for better public policy
during federal and state campaigns.
Family
Support America
Information about family support programs, including news affecting children
and families, family support legislation, family support resources and
success stories
National Center for Children in Poverty
The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) promotes the economic
security, health, and well-being of America’s low-income families
and children. Using research to inform policy and practice, NCCP seeks
to advance family-oriented solutions and the strategic use of public resources
at the state and national levels to ensure positive outcomes for the next
generation.
Stand for Children
Stand for Children is a citizen voice for children that advocates for improvements to and funding for programs that give every child a fair chance in life.
Voices for America's
Children
Voices for America’s Children is a nonpartisan, national organization
committed to speaking out for the well-being of children at the federal,
state and local levels of government. The mission of Voices for America's
Children is to improve the lives of children in the United States by advocating
for effective public policies.
Early Care and Education
Center for the Child Care Workforce
The Center for Child Care Workforce, a project of American Federation
of Teachers Educational Foundation, works to improve the quality of early
care and education for all children by promoting policy, research and
organizing that ensure the early care and education workforce is well-educated,
receives better compensation and a voice in their workplace.
Education
Resources Information Center
The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) is a digital library
of education-related resources, sponsored by the Institute of Education
Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education.
National Association
of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
NACCRRA joins efforts with other national organizations to make technical
assistance, resources, and training available to CCR&R staff who work
with child care providers and families dealing with children exhibiting
challenging behaviors. The materials and technical assistance are designed
to help early care and education professionals and families promote the
positive social and emotional development and mental health of young children.
National Association
for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is
dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular
focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all
children from birth through age 8.
National Child Care
Information Center
This site provides a searchable database of child care information, publications,
state profiles, and other resources.
National
Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education
National organization conducting research and development to improve the
well-being of children under age eight and their families, supported by
the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
Parents as Teachers
National Center
National organization that provides support and encouragement to parents
who wish to help their children develop optimally during the crucial early
years of life.
ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit, multidisciplinary organization
that advances its mission by informing, educating and supporting adults
who influence the lives of infants and toddlers.