Tennyson Center for Children is proud to be home to the Colorado chapter Every Child Matters.

The Every Child Matters Education Fund (ECMEF) is a 501(c)(3) organization focused on making the needs of children and youth a national political priority and promoting the adoption of smart policies for children, youth, and families—including stopping child abuse, helping working families with child care, expanding pre-school education and after-school programs, and ensuring that children receive good health care.

Many national and state organizations advocate for children and youth, but budget and policy setbacks in child and youth services show that advocacy, while important, is not enough when children’s needs run up against more powerful special interests. A necessary companion strategy is to make children and youth a priority during the election cycle, not just after. Children and youth issues are much more likely to gain political attention when office seekers believe that they can gain public approval by supporting pro-children policies. We employ a multi-pronged, non-partisan approach for raise the visibility of children and youth issues in elections.

How do children in Colorado rank compared to other states? Click here to find out.

Our Vision:
Move Colorado from a State of Risk to a State of Greatness for Children

Every Child Matters is partnering with Tennyson Center for Children to spearhead a new collaborative effort targeting policy research, strategy, and advocacy to on behalf of children and families.

Strategy for 2007 and Beyond:

• Collaborated in creating and implementing The Children's Action Agenda
• Increase capacity of Tennyson Center program offerings to serve a greater number of children and families in need
• Direct and mobilize the Business Coalition for Children to influence policy
• Federal, state and local policy engagement and advocacy
• Advocacy trainings for child-serving community (teachers, health care, social workers, etc)
• Voter education and mobilization in low income and ethnically diverse communities
• Represent children’s issues at 2008 Democratic Convention through forums and media
• Build consensus between local, state and federal policy makers and stakeholders

By bridging communication and vision at all policy levels, Colorado is poised to become a national leader for bringing children from risk to greatness.  More information about this effort will be available in coming weeks.   

About the Colorado Director of ECM

Becky Miller Updike brings experience and expertise in child and family policy, advocacy, and research from serving as a Congressional Aide to a senior member of Congress in Washington, DC, an aide to House Leadership in the Indiana Legislature, staff of a state political party, and as a lobbyist and consultant for several child welfare and human services groups.  She recently authored a study published by the Colorado Judicial Institute, called A Voice of Their Own: Youth Perceptions of How They Are Represented In Court Decisions Regarding Foster Care and Other Placements. To read the study, click here. As Director of Strategic Initiatives at Tennyson Center for Children, she directs the Every Child Matters campaign for CO.  Becky is a Ph.D. Candidate in Child and Family Leadership (focusing on policy) at the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver, where she she also received an M.A. in Child and Family Studies and also holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Indiana University. She resides in Denver with her husband and two daughters.

You can contact Becky at 720.855.3455 or email her by clicking here.

National Training Institute on Campaigning for Kids

You're invited to the first-ever National Training Institute on Campaigning for Kids, April 9-11, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver. Registration is FREE! Click here for more information.

The 2008 Children's Action Agenda

Tennyson Center for Children and the Every Child Matters Education Fund are proud to be partners in presenting the Children's Action Agenda, a legislative agenda prepared by a coalition of children’s organizations and advocates. We hope this agenda will provide a guiding framework for the 2008 Colorado State legislative session to benefit Colorado’s children. Find out more by clicking here.

You can download a PDF version of the 2008 Children's Action Agenda by clicking here.

Every Child Matters-Colorado: 720-855-3455.

In attending political events of any kind, neither Tennyson Center nor Every Child Matters endorses a particular candidate or party.

©2008 Tennyson Center for Children at Colorado Christian Home
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