History

1992

VOICES for Alabama’s Children was founded in 1992 in response to the need for a statewide, multi-issue child advocacy group to call attention to the needs of Alabama’s children.

1993

A four-year Kids Count grant was awarded to the Alabama Power Foundation with VOICES for Alabama’s Children as a supporting organization. The Children’s Hospital of Alabama provided space for the new organization and Lynn Sampson became the organization’s first Executive Director.

1994

The first Alabama Kids Count Data Book was published by the Alabama Power Foundation and distributed by VOICES for Alabama’s Children. Connie Wagnon also became the new Executive Director.

1995

Linda Tilly became VOICES for Alabama’s Children’s third Executive Director and the organization moved to the state’s capital, Montgomery.

1996

With a grant from the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, VOICES for Alabama’s Children began tracking legislation affecting children and families and holding bi-weekly United VOICES meetings to discuss legislative strategies.

1997

Played a key role in the establishment of the Statewide Child Death Review Process, resulting in a 22 percent decline in preventable child deaths after two years. The creation of and funding for ALL Kids was established, which provided access to health care for an average of 63,800 children a year.

1998

With support from the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, VOICES for Alabama’s Children was able to launch its long held concentration on early childhood.

2002

As VOICES for Alabama’s Children celebrated its 10^th Anniversary, the Graduated Teen Driver’s Licensing law passed and contributed to a 29 percent decrease in teen deaths following implementation

2004

Played a key role in passage of The Foster Parents Bill of Rights, which provides rights to foster parents in order to help them more effectively care for the children they bring into their homes.

2006

VOICES for Alabama’s Children celebrates the passage of the Child Passenger Safety law which helped reduce preventable child deaths by 23 percent. Additionally, VOICES for Alabama’s Children founded the Alabama School Readiness Alliance (ASRA) along with several partners including A+ Education, Alabama Giving and Alabama Partnership for Children.

2007

On January 23, 2007, Dr. Jim Dearth was honored by VOICES for Alabama’s Children with the Champion for Children Award for his strong commitment to children in Alabama. Dr. Dearth and the Alabama Power Foundation played key roles in the establishment of VOICES for Alabama’s Children.

2008

Played a key role in the Juvenile Justice Act of 2008 passage, which reduced the number of incarcerated youth for low-risk, non-violent offenses by 64 percent.

2011

VOICES for Alabama’s Children honored Governor Bob Riley and First Lady Patsy Riley, with the 2011 Champion for Children Award for their contributions to the well-being of children in Alabama.

2013

Melanie Bridgeforth appointed as new Executive Director of VOICES for Alabama’s Children.

2014

VOICES for Alabama’s Children launched the First Annual Child Advocacy Day, bringing together hundreds of advocates from across the state!

VOICES redesigned the Alabama Kids Count Data Book and created the County Data Profile in an effort to help users connect policy and data.

2015

In 2015, VOICES for Alabama’s Children led a 100-plus member coalition of state and local advocates in a successful advocacy campaign, resulting in Governor Robert Bentley signing the state’s Healthy Food Financing Act. The Act moves us one step closer to improving access to fresh, healthy food options for the 1.8 million Alabama residents – including nearly half a million children – with limited access to grocers and other fresh food retailers.

2016

VOICES for Alabama’s Children fought alongside business and philanthropic partners to secure an additional $16 million in funding for Alabama’s First Class Pre-K Program, which provided access to 2,800 more four-year-olds.

2017

VOICES for Alabama’s Children launched an historic legislative campaign in an attempt to regulate child care in Alabama.

2018

VOICES once again launched a legislative campaign to remove the exemption from child care centers. A version of this legislation, known as HB 76 – The Child Care Safety Act, passed and was a first step towards regulating the child care industry in Alabama and ensuring the safety of all children when in the care of a provider. In September 2018, Stephen Woerner was appointed as VOICES’ new executive director.

2019

VOICES hosted one of the largest events in our history with over 1000 kids gathering together at the state Capitol. Through coordinated efforts and hard work, a $1M line item was included in the Alabama Education Trust Fund for grassroots and community-based work ahead of the 2020 Census.

2020

VOICES for Alabama’s Children joined other businesses across the nation and the world to work from home as a pandemic known as COIVD-19 spread. Never in our lifetime have we experienced a health crisis of this magnitude. Alabama Kids Count data becomes even more important to document how well our children were doing prior to COVID. The impact this health crisis will have on our children and their families in both the short term and the long term will reveal itself in the years to come.

2021

VOICES for Alabama’s Children welcomed Collier Tynes as CEO in November 2021. VOICES’ staff continued to work from home but was still able to publish the 2021 Alabama Kids Count Data Book.

2022

In July 2022, VOICES welcomed back former Deputy Director/Alabama Kids Count Director, Rhonda Mann as Interim Executive Director. In October 2022, VOICES’ board named Mann as Executive Director.

2023

VOICES worked in collaboration with the Alabama Partnership for Children and the Alabama School Readiness Alliance to develop a Roadmap that would identify issues and recommended solutions as it relates to child care. The timing of this report worked well with the elevated discussion on workforce development and the link to child care. VOICES increased it’s staff with the hiring of Apreill Hartsfield as Policy/Data Analyst and Dawn Owens as Community Engagement/Birth to Eight Policy Specialist.