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NEWS RELEASES
April 2012
Report: Presidential debates discussed child issues less than 2 percent of the time
CHICAGO – Voices for Illinois Children today released an updated report tracking questions about child policy – like education, child health, child safety, and child poverty – raised in the first 20 presidential debates. The new edition examines each of the transcripts of the Republican presidential debates beginning with Greenville, SC, on May 5, 2011, and ending in Mesa, Arizona, on February 22, 2012.
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February 2012
Illinois Kids Count 2012: Illinois at risk of losing a generation of children
CHICAGO – According to the Illinois Kids Count 2012 report, children are caught in a “budget crossfire” at both the state and federal levels, while policymakers are neglecting long-term investments in children. The recession has taken a heavy toll on Illinois families. In 2010, one in five Illinois children lived in poverty, and more than 33,000 homeless children were enrolled in the state’s public schools. Moreover, in a time of growing need, the state budget crisis is undermining hard-won progress in expanding opportunities for children.
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Fiscal Policy Center launched to provide quality policy analysis on behalf of children and families
CHICAGO – To promote state policy that invests in a more prosperous future for the children, families and communities of Illinois, Voices for Illinois Children today announced the launch of the Fiscal Policy Center.
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October 2011
DuPage, Kane and Cook Counties confront high levels of child poverty and wide disparities in students’ reading achievement
NAPERVILLE – In third and fourth grades, children make an important transition in their education – from learning to read to reading to learn. Students who don‘t hit that mark are far more likely to struggle academically. Now, recent data about DuPage, Kane and Suburban Cook County students has local community leaders concerned about disparities in reading ability and other indicators of success.
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August 2011
National 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book Reveals Impact of the Recession on Illinois Children
CHICAGO – The recession has hit Illinois children and their families hard, according to new, national data: unemployment and foreclosures remain high, and child poverty continues to increase.
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May 2011
Cost Savings Analysis Shows Preschool Saves Illinois More than Half a Billion Dollars Annually
CHICAGO – Illinois saves up to $530 million each year from its investments in preschool programs for children ages 3 to 5, according to a new study.
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February 2011
New Report Shows Illinoisans Would Suffer Under House Budget Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – At a time when 588,800 Illinoisans are out of work, the U.S. House of Representatives’ approach to the federal budget fails those who are struggling most, according to a new report by the Coalition on Human Needs for the SAVE for All campaign.
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Illinois Kids Count 2011 Report: State faces rising child poverty, wide disparities in children’s reading achievement
CHICAGO – In third and fourth grades, children make an important transition in their education – from learning to read to reading to learn. But in Illinois, reading scores at these grade levels have barely improved, and wide disparities among student groups remain; challenges are particularly great among the 45 percent of public school students who come from low-income families.
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December 2010
Nobel Laureate Economist James Heckman challenges progressives and conservatives to invest in early childhood development to boost our economy and reduce budget deficits
In a December 16 event, Nobel Laureate and University of Chicago Professor James Heckman will challenge conventional wisdom by arguing that one of the best ways to reduce mounting budget deficits and strengthen the economy is to invest in early childhood education for at-risk children.
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November 2010
Community Leaders Convene to Examine the Devastating Impact of Recession on Children and Families
SPRINGFIELD – Child poverty in Illinois is increasing and will get worse in years to come – even after the economy improves. And in Sangamon County and Springfield specifically, the rates of children living in poverty are the highest in a decade, according to information presented by education, media, government and advocacy leaders at “Children and Families in a Time of Economic Crisis,” a symposium co-hosted by Sangamon County’s Continuum of Learning and Voices for Illinois Children around Voices’ Illinois Kids Count 2010 report of the same name.
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October 2010
St. Clair County Faces Record Levels of Children in Poverty; Families Struggle with Unemployment and Education Disparities
EAST ST. LOUIS – In St. Clair County and East St. Louis specifically, the rates of children living in poverty are among the highest in the state, according to information presented by education, religious, business and advocacy leaders at “Children and Families in a Time of Economic Crisis,” a symposium hosted by Voices for Illinois Children around its Illinois Kids Count 2010 report of the same name.
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February 2010
Illinois Kids Count 2010 Report:
20 Percent of Young Children Living Below Poverty Level
The first comprehensive study of how the recession is affecting Illinois’ children and families shows that child poverty is increasing and will get worse in years to come – even after the economy improves. The findings in Illinois Kids Count 2010, a report released today by Voices for Illinois Children, underscore the need to maintain strong public policy investments to help kids and families through the recession and beyond.
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December 2009
Economic Recovery Act Keeping Roughly 305,000 Illinoisans Out of Poverty
Along with boosting the economy and saving and creating jobs, seven provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) passed in February also are protecting approximately 300,000 Illinoisans from living in poverty this year, according to a new study from the Washington, DC-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Recovery Act as a whole is likely keeping many more Illinoisans out of poverty, since these seven provisions account for only about one-fourth of the act's total funding.
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September 2009
Health Insurance Coverage for Illinois Children Improves
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau today show continued improvement in health insurance coverage for Illinois children, due largely to enrollment in the state’s “All Kids” health insurance program, according to an analysis of the data by Voices for Illinois Children.
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August 2009
Ryg Joins Voices for Illinois Children
As families face ever-increasing challenges, Voices for Illinois Children gains a new leader who shares its strong commitment to improving kids’ education, health care and economic security: State Representative Kathleen Ryg.
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July 2009
More Illinois Children Living in Poverty, National Report Reveals
Illinois children and their families continue to face challenging economic conditions as more children are living in poverty and in families without secure parental employment, according to the 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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April 2009
Ease 'Tax Day' Pressures on Struggling Families
Perhaps nowhere is April 15—Tax Day—tougher on struggling families than in Illinois. As an overall percentage of their earnings, Illinois' lowest-income families often pay twice as much as wealthier households do on state and local taxes combined. That's why Illinois' Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) should be increased substantially—to provide more working families with the tax relief they need and deserve.
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February 2009
Report Reveals Illinois Children Face Complex Learning Challenges
Educational disparities persist across Illinois, particularly with respect to school resources and student achievements. These contribute to the substantial, complex challenges the state faces in educating the current and next generation of students, according to the "Illinois Kids Count 2009" data book released by Voices for Illinois Children. This year's report, "Education for the 21st Century," highlights challenges that state and local policymakers must address as they formulate education policy to prepare all students for the 21st century.
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October 2008
Illinois Taxes Working-Poor Families Deeper Into Poverty
Low-income families in Illinois are already struggling to get by in a weak economy, and a report released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., examines the income taxes that are pushing them deeper into poverty. The report measures the "tax threshold" — the income level at which families begin owing taxes — in each state.
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September 2008
Local Advocacy Groups Respond to Illinois Designation as "Best Chance" State for Early Childhood Programs
Illinois policymakers' commitment to invest in early childhood programs helped rate Illinois fourth in a national ranking of "best chance" states for parents seeking a high-quality, state-funded preschool program for their children. And while local child advocacy groups Voices for Illinois Children, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, and Illinois Action for Children applaud the prestigious ranking, they note that more work must be done to expand early childhood programs statewide.
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Children Must be Top Election Priority
Thousands of children in Illinois live in poverty, have no health insurance and lack access to quality education. But these children are largely invisible in the 2008 campaigns and related media coverage. In response, local residents, policymakers and advocates Wednesday called on candidates for election at the state and federal levels to make children's issues their top priority.
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June 2008
Rate of Illinois Youth in Custody Lower than U.S. Average, Number of Incarcerted Youth Still Too High
Although the rate of detained and committed youth in custody in Illinois was two times lower than the U.S. rate in 2006, far too many Illinois adolescents remain incarcerated, according to Voices for Illinois Children and the Juvenile Justice Initiative. The new statistics were released as part of the national 2008 KIDS COUNT Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
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Preserve Crucial Budget Supports for Illinoisans in Need
Tens of thousands of the most vulnerable Illinoisans are in great need of help that hinges upon final state budget decisions. The tentatively approved Fiscal Year 2009 budget includes important advances in housing supports, health services and programs serving children and youth. But these priorities must be protected in final budget action that still must be taken by Governor Blagojevich and state leaders, insist advocates for Illinoisans in need.
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March 2008
Report Documents Today's Kids Better Off than 20 Years Ago
he well-being of Illinois children has improved dramatically in the past two decades on 20 significant measures of development, according to the Illinois Kids Count 2008 report released today by Voices for Illinois Children. The "Illinois Kids Count 2008" report examines the quality of life for children statewide, in every county and in the City of Chicago. This year’s report reflects on how 20 years of work to change public policy has improved the well-being of 3 million Illinois children.
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CHILDREN'S ISSUES IN THE NEWS: WHAT YOU NEED KNOW
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