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Voices for Illinois Children Newsletter
From Voices President Tasha Green Cruzat

December 20, 2018

The turn of the year offers us a unique chance to both reflect on the past and to look forward to new opportunities. Along with our regular work regarding KIDS COUNT, early childhood, and Illinois tax and budget issues, this past year saw Voices:

• Establish the Thought Leaders of Color Conversation Advisory Board
• Help legislators establish the Illinois Children's Health Caucus
• Join with the Ann and Robert L. Lurie Children's Hospital and four other founding organizations for the official kickoff of The Collaborative for Children's Health Policy
• Join with the U.S. Census Bureau, Forefront, and the Public Library Association to conduct a census solutions workshop in Chicago

All these endeavors will assist us in 2019 as Voices moves forward to combat racial and ethnic disparities in education, health, and economic well-being; increase access to needed medical services for all Illinois children; and lay the groundwork for a complete 2020 census in Illinois that addresses those Illinois communities with low response rates in the 2010 census. In addition, Voices will continue to work with other advocacy organizations, the incoming Governor, and members of the General Assembly on rebuilding our human services network that is still recovering from the budget impasse, strengthening our state's institutions of higher learning, and providing the necessary funding to implement the evidence-based school funding formula that is designed to reduce funding disparities across our state.

New Legislators

With all the votes tallied and races certified by the State Board of Elections, we now know who will be representing the people of Illinois in the 101st General Assembly. In total, there are 37 new members entering the legislative branch, with 27 new members of the House. This is quite a large turnover from the 100th General Assembly. It will be vital for all of us to reach out to these new members, introduce them to Voices and see that they are committed to ensuring that Illinois makes the public investments needed to improve the lives of all children in our state. You can find a list of the new members and which districts they will represent on our website: http://www.voices4kids.org/incoming-new-members-of-the-illinois-general-assembly/

Newly Designed Website

Speaking of our website, we've given it a newly designed look for 2019 and beyond. Our thanks to the Taproot Foundation, which connected us to some great professionals who provided their expertise in refreshing our site. You'll still find information on Illinois children at our KIDS COUNT data center, posts and publications on issues facing Illinois children including the impact of our state's finances, and regular legislative updates. In fact, we've added a new feature from TrackBill that will provide real-time updates on legislation of importance to Illinois children and their families. We've also added a new section regarding our mightymath!@ work that includes resources for parents and activities for kids birth to eight.

Voices Profile: Dr. Bill Byrnes

We are honored to introduce the new project manager for the Illinois KIDS COUNT Program, Dr. Bill Byrnes. Bill comes to Voices with robust experience in data collection and analysis, having worked as a research associate at the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) at Loyola University, where he recently received his doctorate in sociology. Prior to his work at CURL, Bill was a social worker in Chicago's south and west suburbs. During that time, he worked as a case manager providing services to people with developmental disabilities. Along with his Ph.D., Bill holds an undergraduate degree in social work from Illinois State University and a master's degree in sociology from Roosevelt University. We are thrilled to have Bill on our team and look forward to the tremendous contributions he will make to our organization.

Board Profile: Harold Rice, Jr.

We also have a new member of the Voices for Illinois Children Board of Directors. Harold Rice, Jr., President and CEO of the Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) of Cook County, joined the Board this month. Prior to joining CEDA, Mr. Rice was the Executive Director and CEO of the Albany Park Community Center.  He has also served as the Chief Development Officer for United Way of Metropolitan Chicago and was the owner and operator of seven McDonald's franchises. We welcome Mr. Rice to the Board and look forward to his insights and assistance with Voices' important work.

Collaborative for Children's Health Policy

That important work will include continuing our efforts with The Collaborative for Children's Health. Earlier this month, nearly 90 people came together at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago to provide input on the Collaborative's statewide policy agenda for the next several years.

Voices President Tasha Green Cruzat addressed the gathering where she discussed the Collaborative's work to date; the fact that racism as well as social and economic inequality impact health; and how access to health services is a key component of health equity. In addition to the session held this month, the Collaborative plans a second strategy session early next year.

Year-End Appeal

While Voices has accomplished much this year, there is a great deal of work ahead. Your support is crucial in our advocacy efforts to improve children's access to health care, access to quality educational and child care opportunities, and economic well-being. With your support, our collective voice becomes stronger.

Please consider an end-of-year donation to Voices. You can do so at our website. Your contribution will help our efforts to see that all children in Illinois are happy, healthy, and safe and reach their full potential. 

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