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Leading Experts Propose Game-Changing Ideas to Improve the Lives of Children
Press Release

October 5, 2010

Contact:
Katie Peters
202.657.0685 (office)
202.445.4312 (mobile)
katiep@firstfocus.net

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A selection of seasoned policy experts and emerging stars have come together to provide game-changing proposals aimed at generating big ideas to significantly improve the well-being of children in the United States.

The publication, entitled Big Ideas: Game-Changers for Children, is a compilation of creative solutions to help develop a national agenda for children’s public policy. The book has been published by First Focus, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Proposals included in the book represent perspectives from child advocates, international organizations, and the private sector.

“The willingness of these leading scholars, advocates, and policy experts to contribute to this compilation illustrates the universal recognition among them that children are not a major priority at the federal level,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus. “For the first time in our history, most Americans do not believe their kids will have the same opportunities they had to lead a happy, healthy, and prosperous a life. In our nation today, one out of every five kids is born into poverty and working class Americans are losing their jobs and homes at record rates. Nine million kids are living without health insurance, and 1.2 million students are dropping out of school each year. The ideas in this publication address these challenges by placing a renewed focus on child policy. America has always risen to the challenge of ensuring a brighter future for our children. It’s time that we rise to that challenge again.”

Papers in the book focus on four themes which include: creating a national agenda for children; holding our government accountable; protecting the rights of children; and increasing investments in our nation’s future. Some proposals highlight success stories in other countries, while other papers discuss changes taking place at the local or state level here in the United States resulting in national implications for children.
During the month of October, First Focus will be releasing a selection of papers from the book each week. The first of papers released today focus on “Creating a National Agenda for Children,” and include:

• “From Target to Legislation: Tackling Child Poverty in the United Kingdom—A Model for the United States?”
  The essay, by Kate Bell of the UK charity Gingerbread, takes a detailed look at the recent passage and policy implications of the U.K.’s Child Poverty Act, a comprehensive piece of legislation to halve child poverty within the U.K. by 2020.

• “A National Council on Children: Renewing Our Vision for America’s Future”
  The paper, by Bruce Lesley and Shadi Houshyar of First Focus, proposes Congress create a separate entity to protect the wellbeing of our nation’s children through extensive research, policy evaluations, and recommendations to Legislative and Executive branches.

• “What’s the Plan?”
  The proposal, by Elizabeth Gaines and Thaddeus Ferber of the Forum for Youth Investment, explores the need for a broad, coordinated strategic plan for our nation’s children and youth on the federal, state, and local levels.

• “It’s Time to Reestablish the White House Conference on Children and Youth”
  The essay, by Linda Spears of and Timothy Briceland-Betts of the Child Welfare League of America, describes the history of conferences on children and youth welfare held by the Executive branch since 1909, and the substantial policy improvements that followed.

• “Big Idea: Youth Councils”
  The paper, by Thaddeus Ferber of the Forum for Youth Investment, describes how a national network of Youth Councils can positively affect policymaking decisions, and additionally advises the best way federal and state governments can create high quality teams of engaged youth.
  

Learn more about Big Ideas and request a free copy of the publication.