Blog Archive: February 2020

Foster Care Budget Request: Send an Email to Legislators Now

The legislative session is winding down and right now budget negotiators (legislators who serve on Senate Finance and House Appropriations) are meeting to determine items in the final budget that…

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Black Children & Youth Advocating for Change

Black children and youth sacrificed their childhoods for their involvement in the civil rights movement, including time, imprisonment, lynchings, beatings, and death. I often wonder what contributed to the resilience…

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Early Childhood Education in the House and Senate Budgets

We are closer to seeing the largest state investment in early childhood education in Virginia! The budgets approved by the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and the House Appropriations Committee…

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Progress for Mental Health in the Senate and House Budget Recommendations

This past Sunday, February 16th, the Senate and House “money committees” released their budgets. While there are differences in the House and Senate budget proposals, the great news is that…

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Mid-Session Budget Update: Foster Care

In December, the Governor proposed several investments into the child welfare system. On Sunday, the House and Senate money committees submitted their changes to the proposed budget. Over the next…

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2020 Legislative Session Advocating For Kids In Foster Care (Updated Feb. 21st)

Foster care is a state-run program that provides temporary care for children who cannot live with their parents or other relatives. Through this system, the local department of social services…

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Mid-Session Update: Campaign for a Trauma-Informed Virginia Unified Policy Agenda

The 2020 GA Session has made progress towards making Virginia a more trauma-informed state. Thanks to all of  our partners who helped create and advocate for the Campaign’s Unified Policy…

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Voices seeks an equity consultant

Voices for Virginia’s Children is currently seeking an Equity Consultant. The following RFP details the specific scope of work.  Please contact Voices Interim Executive Director, Johanna Schuchert, at johanna@vakids.org with…

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Improvements to school lock-down drills in Virginia (Updated 2.20.20)

School lock-down drills, also known as “Active Shooter Drills” have become nearly ubiquitous in public schools across the nation. While the intent of  lock-down drills is to prepare teachers and…

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Why Black Children & Youth Have to Be Resilient

Black children and families are no stranger to resilience. As a Black woman, I know our history. The decorations in my home consist of historically recognized icons ranging from Dr….

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