December 5, 2011

2011 Kids Count Award Benefit —  A Time To Celebrate, Reflect, And Share In The Successes For Kids 

Hundreds of guests who crowded the Mid-America Club on Oct. 27 to support the work of Voices for Illinois Children applauded keynoter retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Harry Sieben’s commitment to educating policymakers that early childhood education is vital to our country’s future. The member of Mission: Readiness, an organization of retired military leaders dedicated to investing in today’s youth, told the audience, “The most important asset for our nation’s defense and security is not high-tech gizmos and equipment; it’s the men and women of the military. They need to have the skills to be good team players and interact constructively with others skills they learn in preschool.” Brigadier General Sieben inspired attendees by discussing the myriad interventions that help today’s youth succeed. He also thanked all advocates in the room for efforts to improve children’s lives and prepare them for the future.

Voices also paid tribute to Kids Count awardees State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, for championing children’s learning and development, and Chicago’s own WGN-TV, for outstanding work as Voices for Illinois Children’s media partner in the Foster Kids Are Our Kids Campaign. Marty Wilke, Vice President and General Manager at WGN-TV accepted the award.

The annual fundraiser was emceed by Rob Johnson, Co-Anchor at CBS 2.

From left: Honorees Vice President and General Manager Marty Wilke, WGN-TV; State Senator Kimberly Lightford; Voices' President Kathy Ryg; Voices' Board Chair Sue Irion; and keynote speaker Brigadier General Harry Sieben (retired), Mission Readiness.

Kids Count Symposium Audience Hears from Top Experts 

Why do the early years matter? Nearly 130 attendees of a Naperville Kids Count symposium had the opportunity to learn why from Samuel J. Meisels, Ed. D., president of Erikson Institute. The Voices Leadership Committees of DuPage, Kane and Suburban Cook Counties, with special help from the Junior League of Kane & DuPage Counties Inc., hosted the symposium at DePaul University in Naperville. Meisels was among a long list of respected experts from the community and around the state who explored, among many important topics, the importance of reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Kathy Ryg, president of Voices for Illinois Children, presented the Kids Count findings, which examines the well-being of Illinois children.  Click here for Facebook photos and information about the speakers.

Reauthorization Of The Elementary And Secondary Education Act 

As part of Voices for America’s Children network initiative, Educating America’s Kids First, Voices for Illinois Children has reached out to U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk as key policymakers in the reauthorization of ESEA, formerly known as “No Child Left Behind.” During a Voices for Illinois Children-hosted policy call to answer that charge, attendees learned from Congresswoman Biggert’s staff about HR2437: The Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Act of 2011. This legislation has bi-partisan support from the Illinois delegation and expands the availability of programs that teach students skills such as problem-solving, conflict resolution, responsible decisionmaking, relationship building, goal-setting, and self discipline.

Voices for Illinois Children also solicited feedback on key priorities and issue areas following a taped presentation by U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert at the symposium sponsored by the Voices Leadership Committees of DuPage, Kane and Suburban Cook Counties. (See story above.) Support for quality early childhood education, increased parental involvement including fathers, and advocacy for community school funding were among key topics raised by attendees.

Common Core Standards Emphasize Reading, Other Subjects 

In a three-part series presented by Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, Catalyst Chicago and the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, key leaders are discussing the implications of the Common Core Standards adopted last year. Created by teachers, school administrators, and experts, Common Core Standards define what students need to know about math and English language arts at each grade level and are designed to make students college- and career-ready by the time they graduate from high school.

Emphasizing these standards is intended to improve academic success in areas such as reading, where research shows that children who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely not to graduate from high school than proficient readers. Voices’ birth-to-eight work also addresses the educational supports needed to reach this essential milestone.

For more information and to register for upcoming lectures, go to www.catalyst-chicago.org.

National Runaway Switchboard Releases Runaway Youth Longitudinal Study 

In a kick-off of the 2011 National Runaway Prevention Month, the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) released an important new study offering compelling evidence that adults who ran away from home as children are far more likely to experience substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and economic hardship than their peers.

Kathy Ryg, president of Voices for Illinois Children, joined a panel of experts to discuss the findings and the need to provide protective factors to families and youth to prevent run away situations and support runaways in building resiliency skills. Reduced access to community mental health and youth services for non-Medicaid eligible families because of budget cuts also places more youth at risk of running from home. More information can be found at 1800RUNAWAY.org.

Illinois Practice Becomes Federal Policy 

In September, the President signed the Child & Family Services & Innovation Act (PL 112-34). For those of us in Illinois, it makes federal policy of practices that have been in development at the Department of Children and Family Services over the past several years. Specifically, it would require child welfare agencies in states to include trauma in developing plans for the health and mental health needs of children in foster care. It also places an emphasis on the lifetime needs of children and youth.