VOICES for Alabama’s Children

COVID is having significant impact on children and families, and that impact is disproportionately felt by minority children and families. 

The state’s poor ranking is also a drop from Alabama’s ranking last year of 44th in the nation.

Stephen Woerner and the staff at his Montgomery nonprofit have spent more than two years preparing to ensure that marginalized people, especially children, get counted in the 2020 census, and all the planning and work blew up when the U.S. Census Bureau announced Monday that all counting efforts would end a month early.  Woerner, executive … Continued

For the entire 30 years of its existence, I’ve been following the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS Count Data Book and how Alabama fares each year. The 2019 report was issued back in the summer, and overall, Alabama ranked 44th in the nation where child well-being is concerned. Alabama is always in the bottom 10. … Continued

Children in Alabama are faring slightly better than they were last year across several wellness indicators, but almost 300,000 Alabama children, 26 percent, still live in poverty, and racial disparities remain across every key wellness indicator.  According to the 2019 Alabama Kids Count released publicly on Tuesday the state’s infant mortality rate is at an … Continued

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey held a ceremonial bill signing on Monday for House Bill 76, which would license certain day cares in the state. VOICES for Alabama’s Children released a statement in support of the legislation which they claim will lead to safety improvements in child care centers across Alabama. The Child Care Safety Act … Continued

By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter As the Legislative Session moves forward, a piece of legislation requiring all day cares be licensed in Alabama is gaining momentum in support. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, would revoke a licensing exemption status that nonprofit and religious day cares, and bring them under regulation … Continued

By Staff Alabama Political Reporter Wednesday, an innovative public‐private partnership is officially up and running in Alabama, paving the way to bring fresh food retailers to under-served areas across the state. The Healthy Food Financing Program is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affair. ADECA will disperse $300,000 in up to $50,000 increments … Continued