It's Official: Voters Love Funding Kids |
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Recently, we released a collection of diverse resources that point toward the same conclusion: Voters are enthusiastic about funding programs and services for children and youth. Our new case studies (more on their way!) show how two communities voted to raise $200 million in new revenue for kids over the next decade.
We also released results from our recent poll and meta-analysis of over 60 state, local, and national surveys (both conducted by FM3 Research in August). They show that 70% of voters are willing to raise their taxes by $25 per year and 64% by $150 per year to fund “programs and services to support the development of children of all ages.”
Save the date for our upcoming webinar on Wednesday, December 1 at 2 pm ET where we'll share more results from our poll and discuss how local communities can leverage these findings to support programs and services for kids.
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This Month's Kids Funding Win |
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The American Rescue Plan includes more than $160 billion designated for education and child care as well as an additional $350 billion that states and localities can flexibly spend on children. This month, while we anxiously wait for the Build Back Better plan to pass, we're highlighting some of the creative ways that communities have used their American Rescue Plan allocations for children and youth.
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Maine is using its additional $118 million in Child Care Stabilization Grants to support low-income families by waiving parent fees in the Child Care Subsidy Program until 2024.
- Dutchess County, NY, is using part of its $57 million in federal relief funding to launch the Learn, Play, Create grant program that will provide $3 million in one-time grants to local non-profit organizations serving youth to expand learning in the arts, libraries, and athletics.
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St. Louis is dedicating $6 million of its state and local federal relief funding allocation received to invest in year-round youth job training and pre-apprenticeship programs. The investment aims to provide career pathways for youth from underserved communities.
If you want to learn how much your community received from the American Rescue Plan or share how your community is currently using the funds, see our resources here. |
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Read the first of our series of four case studies
This year, thanks to voter-led ballot measures, four communities celebrated the securing of $2 billion in new revenue for kids over the next decade. Our new case studies show how two of these communities, Leon County and Escambia County, overcame organized opposition, natural disasters, and more to create their first ever Children’s Services Councils.
Keep your eye out for upcoming case studies from San Antonio, TX, and Multnomah County, OR, in the coming weeks! With the 2022 elections around the corner, we hope these releases will inspire and inform your community on how to pass ballot measures for kids.
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How much money will your community get from the American Rescue Plan?
Looking for a guide on all things American Rescue Plan? Our new resources will help your community build a bright future funding kids:
- A searchable database of American Rescue Plan funding for kids that includes data for all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia as well as more than 27,000 counties, cities, and towns; nearly 17,000 school districts; and 3,500 higher education institutions.
- A fact sheet about ways intermediary organizations can partner with state and local agencies and other fund recipients to make the most of these dollars.
- An FAQ page about how communities can use the American Rescue Plan funding to support children and youth.
- A page for communities to share how they are using funds from the American Rescue Plan.
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Three steps to use American Rescue Plans to their fullest
What steps can communities take to use American Rescue Plan funds for kids? In our new op-ed, Elizabeth Gaines and Rev. John C. Jones from HOPE Toledo break down three critical steps to ensure that this once-in-a-generation investment can be fully utilized:
- Collaborate intentionally to ensure equitable outcomes.
- Invest in people and operations to ensure efficiency.
- Transparency is vital to success.
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Local Children's Cabinet Network
Is your community looking to start or expand its children's cabinet? Children's cabinets are policy- and action-coordinating bodies that bring together government agencies, local organizations, business leaders, and more to ensure that all kids get the services they need to thrive.
The Local Children's Cabinet Network, co-hosted by Children's Funding Project, Education Redesign Lab (EdRedesign) at Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the Forum for Youth Investment, is a free network that supports children's cabinets in nearly 50 communities across the country with networking opportunities, webinars, and resources. If your community wants to pursue better outcomes for kids, creating a children's cabinet and joining the Local Children's Cabinet Network is a great way to do so.
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