Thanks to all who have been in touch about Building a New Narrative About Our Kids, the report we released last month in partnership with the FrameWorks Institute, and for all the retweets, forwards, and inclusions in your communications pieces. It has been especially gratifying to talk with many of you about our findings and it is heartening to hear that this work is resonating. We anticipate sharing the next reports from the project after Labor Day.
The passage of the American Rescue Plan in March represented the single largest investment made to improve the lives of kids and recognition of government as a supportive partner with families in the lives of young people. We are now seeing the first distributions of the new Child Tax Credit, which will not only cut the child poverty rate in half, but more broadly, provide financial support to more than 90 percent of families with children in the United States. Much has been written about the need to make this a benefit permanent, and now is the time to hold our elected leaders accountable for making this a reality.
As we look toward the new school year and a hopeful return to full-time, in-person learning, let’s continue to make choices with the best interests of all students in mind. Our decisions about education, masks, vaccines, and mental health access and resources must center children and young people, and ensure there are meaningful opportunities for students to share their experiences and perspectives. As we have seen, young people tend to enjoy better health and social well-being in countries where youth voice is not only invited, but encouraged and respected.
Be well,
David
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David Alexander, M.D.
President, Leading for Kids
(650) 714-6609
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I have had terrific conversations with many of you about the findings from our initial report and how our country’s mindsets about kids might impact the effectiveness of advocacy messaging and related resource allocation, policy development, and implementation. Our next reports, anticipated to be released after Labor Day, will focus on advocate messaging and analyses of children in the media.
We continue to seek collaborations with individuals and groups, especially those who are working with young people and where young people are reflected in local policies, programs, laws, and budgets. If you are interested in working with us, either as an implementation or funding partner; please contact David.Alexander@leadingforkids.org.
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In June, UNICEF Innocenti, the research arm of UNICEF, released their report: Where Do Rich Countries Stand on Childcare? The United States was ranked 40th of 41 wealthy countries in a league table based on parental leave, access, quality, and affordability. The report notes: “weak investments in leave and childcare appear to indicate that childcare is seen more as a private rather than a public responsibility.”
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America’s Promise Alliance and Research for Action conducted Where Do We Go Next, a wide-ranging, national survey of more than 2,400 high school students, providing one of the most comprehensive looks yet at the high school experience during a year of historic upheaval.
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More than 500,000 children responded to The Big Ask, a U.K. survey asking about the experiences, perspectives, and ideas of young people. Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel deSouza, reported that these responses will “shape our Childhood Commission—and we’ll make sure those in power who make decisions about children’s lives know what children’s priorities are for the future.”
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Commission for Children and Young People Victoria released findings comparing two snapshots of children and young people taken over November-February and in June this year, showing a growing and cumulative impact from the pandemic.
Recent Blog Posts:
Articles of Note:
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Distributions from the American Rescue Plan’s Child Tax Credit have begun, and a Vox article notes, “the sudden deposits were such a delight to many parents that the hashtags #childtaxcredit and #childtaxcredit2021 blew up on TikTok, with tens of millions of views under each.” The impact of this benefit—non-refundable tax credits that form a universal income program for children—cannot be underestimated. It’s time to make the exapanded Child Tax Credit permanent.
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thank you! let’s stay connected!
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Leading for Kids is committed to improving the health and well-being of children by creating a movement to change how we talk about kids, how we can invest wisely and productively in their futures, and how our decision makers can better protect their rights and reflect their voices.
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