Blog Category: State Advocacy

Healing for the Healers: Our 2024 Policy Priorities

On January 23, 2024, Voices for Virginia’s Children and ChildSavers are joining together to host Healing for the Healers – an advocacy day to uplift policy for youth mental health…

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2023 General Assembly Budget Passes with Significant Investments for Youth and Family Well-Being

In the world of politics and public policy, budgets play a pivotal role in driving change and progress. They serve as the financial blueprints that determine the extent and influence…

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Health, Healing, and Hope for Children: Voices’ trip to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters

Pictured above, from left to right: Jack Warburton, VP of Mental Health Service Line at CHKD; Stephanie Osler, Director of Mental Health Service Line at CHKD; Allison Gilbreath, Sr. Director…

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Young People are Leading. Are We Ready to Follow?

This blog was written by Voices Summer Fellow, Cat Atkinson, MSW, in collaboration with Virginia’s Youth in Action (VAYA) alum, Kayla Bravo. Civic Engagement, or Political Engagement, is defined as…

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Mixed Results: Reflections on 11 Years as a Child Advocate

Over my 11 years at Voices, I’ve written blogs celebrating policy wins, launching new initiatives and reflecting on issues of the day. Today I write my last blog for Voices….

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Healing Centered Engagement in a Trauma-Informed World

Above photo caption: Youth advocates rallied together before a day of legislative meetings to share affirmations and words of encouragement with one another. Imagine a world where we have all…

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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…

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group of teens walking in high school

Bill and Budget Explainer: School-based Mental Health Services

Virginia is poised to make significant progress in children’s mental health during the 2023 legislative session. Virginia ranked as 48th in Youth Mental Health access according to Mental Health America…

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Young Advocates Take on the General Assembly

On a rainy Tuesday during the first full week of Virginia’s 2023 General Assembly session, eighteen advocates took the Virginia legislature by storm. This group, ranging in age from 13…

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Virginia’s Youth in Action in the News

Last week, Voices hosted its Virginia’s Youth in Action (VAYA) Advocacy Day at the General Assembly with 18 bright and impressive young advocates from around the state. In total, VAYA…

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