Greetings!
Happy holidays! As we enter this season of
joy and giving, I would like to thank you for
partnering with Voices for Michigan's
Children to put children on government's
agenda. As Michigan's only statewide
multi-issue child advocacy organization,
Michigan's Children has been at the forefront
of child policy debates since 1992. We
believe, as you do, that every child,
especially those most vulnerable, deserves to
be healthy, educated and safe.
Big wins happen for children because of
changes in government policy. Michigan's
Children, along with our national, state and
local partners, work hard every day to
deliver those wins.
With our national partners, Voices for
America's Children and First Focus,
Michigan's Children successfully pushed
Congress to renew and expand the State
Children's Health Insurance Program to ensure
that 8 million children will have access to
health coverage. We now are actively engaged
in the debate over national health care
reform, reminding our representatives in
Washington that any reform should not reduce
coverage for children.
In Lansing, Michigan's Children has enjoyed
several successes in public policy despite
drastically reduced state revenues that are
disproportionately affecting children,
including draconian cuts to schools. Our
successes included inserting language in
education reform legislation to require
failing schools to work with community
partners so that more children succeed in
school, and playing a key role in preserving
$4 million in the Department of Human
Services budget on a child abuse/neglect
prevention program. And we continued to
empower communities and youths to become
their own best advocates by sponsoring forums
such as KidSpeak, Youth Legislative Day and
Youth Voices Changing Public Policy as well
as advocacy trainings in communities
throughout Michigan.
Many new opportunities to improve children's
policy lie ahead in 2010. President Obama is
set to increase federal early education
spending by $10 billion, and Michigan needs
to be positioned to take advantage of that
funding. Michigan's Children, in
collaboration with local and state partners,
will be working hard to raise public
awareness about investing in early childhood
programs during the coming election season.
Next year also will be a pivotal year for
Michigan as we face another even deeper
budget crisis. Michigan's Children already is
gearing
up to fight for our children and the proven
programs and services that provide the
opportunities to succeed.
During these uncertain economic times, as we
face multiple challenges, it is more
important than ever to help prepare children
for school, work and life. For the sake of
our youths, our communities and our economic
future, we must make sure that all children
have access to quality education. We must
make sure our leaders know that child
development is the foundation for economic
development.
With your help, we will continue to improve
the policies and programs that affect the
most cherished members of our beautiful and
dynamic state, and we invite you to join us
on the frontlines of
the fight for a better future for Michigan's
children and youths.
Please consider Michigan's Children as you
make your end-of-year donations. A
tax-deductible contribution will help us
continue to speak up for children.
Make an online donation today or mail
your donation
to: Voices for Michigan's Children, 428 W.
Lenawee St., Lansing MI, 48933. For more
information, please contact Chuck Calati,
Director of Fund Development & Operations, at
517.485.3500 or chuck@michiganschildren.org
Thank you for speaking up for Michigan's
children.
My very best wishes to you for 2010,
Jack Kresnak, President & CEO
