Blog Category: Family Economic Security

A Comparative Analysis of House and Senate Proposed Budgets for Economic Security: A Closer Look at Key Investments

Families have been hit hard by the impact of inflation, the rising costs of utilities, food, and household necessities, and the loss of pandemic-era supports, such as the expanded federal…

Continue Reading

Virginia Roadmap to End Hunger: 2024 Update

According to Hunger Free America’s 2023 Annual Hunger Survey, 11.7% of Virginia children live in food insecure households, putting them at risk for poor health outcomes and academic performance. As…

Continue Reading

Investing in Strong and Stable Families During the 2024 Legislative Session

All families in Virginia deserve the opportunity to thrive, and the cornerstone of vibrant youth and adolescence is economic security. Communities should be well-resourced, having access to good schools, affordable…

Continue Reading

2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book (Interactive Charts): Virginia Child Well-Being by Race

Every year Voices partners with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to release their annual ranking of child well-being, the KIDS COUNT Data Book. This year’s data includes a look at…

Continue Reading
mother filling out papers and forms with child playing next to her

Putting the “Child” in Front of Tax Credit

Few tax policies are conditional on providing for the needs of children or ensuring that refunds are distributed based on the number of children in a home. It’s been a…

Continue Reading
white child holding a school lunch tray

School Meals Provide a Guarantee That Children Will Get Fed

Young people can learn and thrive when they are fed and have access to healthy and nutritious foods. However, in Virginia, one in ten children are considered food insecure and…

Continue Reading

Voices Supports Proposed Changes to Child Care Payment Rates and Parent Co-Pays

Voices supports the proposed improvements to child care payment rates and the parent copayment requirements. These proposed changes will greatly impact the under resourced child care sector as well as…

Continue Reading

Continuing Our Efforts for Tax Credits and Economic Stability for Families

Virginia reached an important policy milestone this year — the General Assembly approved a state refund for a portion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) available to low-income working…

Continue Reading

Improving Family Economic Security Reduces Child Maltreatment

Guest Post by Jamia “Mia” Crockett, Chief Executive Officer of Families Forward Virginia Families Forward Virginia, in partnership with the Division of Family Services at Virginia Department of Social Services…

Continue Reading

How Virginia Families Can Benefit from Proposed Tax Credits

Parents have faced numerous challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Child care closures made it more difficult to work. Employment uncertainty and illness made it more difficult to plan ahead….

Continue Reading