Colorado Children's Campaign

Advocacy: the Children's Campaign works through a coordinated set of evidence-based advocacy tactics that are continuously refined: policy advocacy: policy advocacy requires a specific set of skills related to how and when to interact most effectively with federal, state and local elected and appointed officials and staff. Our track record of legislative and regulatory success is built on our capacity to analyze complex policy issues, to develop winnable policy alternatives that attract broad support, to implement effective media and communications strategies, and to build and sustain strong broad-based coalitions and maintain strategic alliances with other stakeholders on a statewide basis. Communications: providing the strongest voice for Colorado's kids involves raising awareness about the challenges facing Colorado kids and families, helping the public understand how policy translates to tangible impacts on kids' lives, and building public support for solutions. Media, traditional and social, earned and paid, is an important means to this end. Our weekly electronic newsletter, kidsflash, reaches thousands of subscribers with issue updates, including periodic action alerts that identify advocacy opportunities. Community engagement: it's about kids (iak) is our statewide network of child advocates (child care providers, educators, health care providers, community leaders, parents) active in nearly every Colorado county. Iak is led by a dedicated group of volunteer community leaders. These iak leaders establish and maintain relationships with policymakers and the media in their own communities and provide guidance to the Children's Campaign in a variety of ways. Our staff travels the state, including visiting iak communities, to provide data presentations and advocacy trainings. Collaboration: we recognize that we provide the strongest possible voice for children in Colorado when we work in concert with and value the perspective of diverse partners in the advocacy field. We are proud to serve in convening and leadership roles in many collaborations that focus on early childhood, Children's health, family economic prosperity, and youth education issues.

The Children's Campaign gathers and analyzes up-to-date and reliable data and research about children and Children's programs and we broadly share this information in easy-to-use formats, including our annual kids count in Colorado report. Our data products are used by journalists, non-profit organizations, policy makers and advocates across the state to assess the status of kids in Colorado and to inform efforts to improve child well- being. We also harness the power of data in our own work, setting our priorities and developing our positions based on what research tells us is in the best interests of children.