| Our Promise |
The Promise of Michigans ChildrenA collaborative effort of Michigans Children and Michigans Promise
Childrens health To ensure that all children have access to reliable health care. Education To improve the economic opportunities of students and the welfare of their communities by increasing graduation rates and improving No Child Left Behind. Economic security To lift more children out of poverty by giving their parents proven economic tax breaks. These are our priorities and our promises to children from Dearborn, Brighton and Grand Rapids to Alpena, Grand Traverse and Escanaba, and everywhere in between.
Together and as part of a national effort, Michigans Children and Michigans Promise are working to create a groundswell of support in the Great Lakes State to ensure that children and their families are a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. With funding from First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization launched by Americas Promise, the Michigan partnership will focus its efforts on: Reauthorization and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (MI-Child) Strengthening of No Child Left Behind Increasing graduation rates Expanding the Child Tax Credit Simplifying the Earned Income Tax Credit
The Promise Issues The Promise of Michigans Children is working with the states Congressional members, other state leaders and community advocates on the following: Childrens Health We are committed to making health care more accessible and reliable for Americas children. Specifically, we believe that strengthening critical federal programs such as the State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP - known as MIChild in Michigan) and Healthy Start, and advancing federal efforts addressing childhood obesity are vitally important. Click here for more information and updates on Congressional action. Education Declining high school graduation rates now threaten economic progress and compromise the viability of our workforce. We will support efforts to raise graduation rates and restore the dream of progress through education.
Click here for more information and updates on Congressional action.
Family Economics We are is working to strengthen two effective, bipartisan tax measures that have already lifted millions of children out of poverty - the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. Click here for more information and updates on Congressional action. In the News Click here for all press releases and statements issued by The Promise of Michigans Children as well as related coverage of the Promise issues in Michigan and national media. Take Action!Click here to find out how YOU can help make a difference in these efforts. Get tips and talking points for writing letters to the editor, find contact information for Congressional members, get up-to-date information about local events. Click here to sign our online petition urging Congress to reauthorize and expand SCHIP. What's Happening in Michigan Click here for information on what The Promise of Michigan's Children and others are doing on the Promise issues. The PartnersIn April 2007, Michigans Children and Michigans Promise joined forces to launch The Promise of Michigans Children, a powerful statewide partnership to further a mutual public policy agenda related to childrens educational opportunities, health outcomes and economic security. The strong public policy and advocacy resources of Michigans Children and the expertise of Michigans Promise in creating grassroots community collaborations proved a potent combination and the joint venture was selected among similar efforts in other key states to receive a grant from First Focus. During the 16-month project, each of the state grantees will work their respective states around the three core issue areas, and advocate together for them on the federal level. Michigan's Children is a statewide, independent voice for children and their families that works with lawmakers, business leaders, and communities on several issues to make Michigan a place where all children have the opportunity to thrive. The Board of Directors of Michigans Children, which includes a range of statewide leaders in business, philanthropy, the media, the faith community and other professions, has adopted a set of legislative and administrative priorities for 2007 that are designed to better support families with young children, eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in child well-being, and ensure a successful transition to adulthood for at-risk youths. Michigans Children is a member of Voices for Americas Children, and works closely with Voices as it furthers its public policy agenda. Michigans Promise is a network of Communities and Sites of Promise that seeks to create safer streets, healthier youth and stronger communities by providing leadership and resources to ensure that the Five Promises are available to all of Michigans youth. Through increasing awareness, advocating for children and engaging in a few powerful initiatives, we use the strength of our network to more effectively and strategically bring the power of the Five Promises to children. We help facilitate collaboration through advocacy trainings and networking opportunities that provide communities with far greater resources to serve young people then they would otherwise receive from separate disconnected entities.
Related links and information Click here for related and partner organizations for more information on the issues. |