Voices for Illinois Children

voices4kids.org

All too often, officials and public agencies find themselves attempting to make good decisions in a vacuum of information. The needs of Illinois' citizens change quickly, in response to shifting financial and social realities. Knowing how to meet those needs with real efficacy can be a daunting challenge.

Voices for Illinois Children, the first private agency to advocate for all of Illinois' children, provides a vital service to bridge this gap: Research, advocacy and technical assistance, aimed at preserving the social safety net crucial to the well-being of many of our children and families.

Voices conducts complex budget analysis, producing sought-after reports on future trends in such issues as human services spending, poverty and the changing conditions faced by kids and families. The agency serves as a go-to resource for decision-makers in Springfield, and its influence can be seen in state policy.

In 2011, for instance, the Budget & Tax Policy Initiative at Voices examined budget projections from the Governor's Office. Careful analysis revealed that Medicaid-funded programs were squeezing out resources available for other crucial human services.

Voices presented these findings to the Illinois Human Services Commission, which recommended that health care be separated out from the rest of human services budgeting. Later in the year, the Budgeting for Results Commission made this same recommendation to Governor Quinn, who then incorporated the idea in his proposed budget for FY2013.

Equally important, Voices also provides its research to the broader public, in briefer reports that target the media and a broad audience of stakeholders. These are produced on a regular and frequent basis, to accurately reflect current circumstances.

This work helps the state better meet such needs as health insurance for low-income families, children's mental health care and preschool for all. Their efforts help all Illinois residents live in a healthier society, one that is better able to respond to all our needs.

See the Trust's recent grants to Voices for Illinois Children

Learn more about our grant making in Basic Human Needs