How? Where? Who? How Many? Why? -- Essential Tools for Advocates for Children

How? Where? Who? How Many? Why?

Those are questions that advocates for any cause must be prepared to answer. Now in these Golden Google Days and Wonderful Wikipedia Nights, it's easy to find almost any statistic that you'd like to find. Sure it's easy, it's sexy (h/t to bullydoc), but is it credible? Are you sure? Really?

The best way to know that the information you're using is credible is to go to a reliable source. My mission today is to let you in on one of North Carolina's best kept secrets.

Since 1983, the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute (NCCAI) has served as a statewide nonprofit organization devoted to improving the well-being of North Carolina’s children and youth by using highly-credible research, data collection,advocacy and education to influence the knowledge, attitudes and actions of a broad cross-section of people across the state.

In 2006, NCCAI changed its name to something sexier. (Is it ok to say that about a children's advocacy organization, Frank? No, probably not. But it's all about marketing)

“NCCAI has a 23-year record of excellence in research and advocacy for issues affecting North Carolina's children. Under the new banner of Action for Children we will build on those successes by working to educate and engage people across the state on behalf of children and families.” —Bill Jamieson, Chair 2006, Action for Children Board of Directors

Though the Institute changed its name in 2006 to Action for Children, action and advocacy has always been at the core of its mission. Many of the gains in Early Education that NC is known for nationally, such as our star-rated child care license and the Smart Start Program, came about due in part because of the tireless work of the staff and board of Action for Children. (NCCAI).

Most recently, advocates have used Action for Children's data to win key victories in the last legislative session: a 3.5% refundable state earned income tax credit that will put $48.3 million into the pockets of low-wage working families across North Carolina; NC Kids’ Care Health Insurance for children in working families earning up to 300% of federal poverty level starting July 2008; and Medicaid health insurance for 18, 19 and 20 year old foster youth.

So what is this information, where is it, and what can be done with it? Funny you should ask. I have that information right here!

If you've ever listened to NPR (and since you're reading this site, you must be one of those socialists like Anglico, so you've listened to NPR), you've heard of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. One of the things that the Annie E. Casey Foundation funds besides NPR is the Kids Count databook. This is a series of 100 data indicators, measured every year since 1989. Action for Children is the NC grantee for the Kids Count Book. You can see how NC is doing in relation to other states. We're kind of in the middle; improving on some indicators, worsening on others. Or click here, you can click on your county, and get a snapshot of how your county measures up.

But that's not all!

If you're a big ole data geek (not that I'm looking at anyone here, Betsy), you might be interested in more than a snapshot of what your county looks like. For instance, you might want to know, oh, what the increase in enrollment in, and therefore the need for, NC Health Choice was, it would be pretty easy to pull out of CLIKS. I've already looked that got that, by the way. In the counties covered by Congressman Coble, the increase was 70.74% In the counties covered by Congressman Hayes, the increase was 76.33%. That was between 2000 and 2004. That's just an example of why you, too, need to know about this amazing tool.

But there are some of you who don't have the stamina or time to go through the trouble of going through the raw data to pull out numbers just to wheedle our favorite congressmen. And some of you spend a lot of time canvassing, staffing headquarters or community centers, or just hanging out with like minded people. But we all care about children and what happens to them - even at our most curmudgeonly. At least I hope we do! Don't worry - Action for Children doesn't leave you out. The fact sheets available on the website are by far the busy advocates best friend. They're available in the ever-present PDF format, and can be printed out as needed, and you are encouraged to share them at will.

"The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight
of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." - Hubert H. Humphrey

Organizations like Action for Children give citizens like you and me, as well as private organizations and government officials, the fuel we need to keep stoking the fires of progress, and make sure that we can meet the moral test that Humphrey set before us. If you can support them, I urge you to do so. If you can use their information to make a difference, even better!