Victories for kids don’t happen by accident. For decades we’ve been racking up wins for Nebraska’s children

1988 – The first ever Legislative Advocacy Training Conference
1992 – The first Kids Count in Nebraska Report documenting the status of the Nebraska’s Children
1992 – Creation of the Nebraska Parenting Act provides parenting education and mediation for divorcing parents, ensuring that the safety and best interests of children are carefully considered when custody decisions are made, helping the more than 6,000 Nebraska children who are involved in divorce and custody proceedings every year.
1994 – The creation of the Office of Juvenile Services, improving conditions for the over 3,000 youth confined at state-run facilities providing mental health and addiction services and youth detention facilities. The advocacy of Voices for Children has also established programming that provides prevention, diversion, and intervention programs, keeping youth out of jail while keeping our communities safe.
1998 – The passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act in Nebraska, helping move more foster children into permanency more quickly. Record numbers of children finding permanent homes through adoption and subsidized guardianships. By 2003, 274 state wards were adopted; by 2008, that number had doubled to 572.
1999 – Years of advocacy pays of with the creation of Kids Connection. Kids Connection provides access to healthcare for nearly one-third of Nebraska’s children.
1999 – Stronger ties built between staff working in the domestic violence and child abuse fields, connecting the two disciplines and better addressing the needs of the 4,500 Nebraska children who witness domestic violence each year.
2004 – Partnering with child advocacy organizations around the country, Voices for Children produces Family Economic Security for Rural Americans highlighting rural families’ strengths and challenges.
2006 – The State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) created in 2006 and increased in 2008. This refundable tax credit helps 115,000 low-income families by putting more of their paycheck back in their pockets and $22 million back into the local economy every year.
2007 – The School Breakfast Program expansion serves 30,000 children a nutritious breakfast before school, helping them focus on what they are learning, not their hunger.
2009 – Increased eligibility for Kids Connection to 200% of the federal poverty level helps an estimated 8,000 more Nebraska children access health care.
2011 – Voices for Children marks the end of a era with the retirement of our founding Executive Director, Kathy Bigsby Moore. Carolyn Rooker takes the reigns as the new Executive Director.
2012 – Voices for Children celebrates its 25th birthday!
2015 – Voices for Children marks the end of an era with the retirement of Executive Director, Carolyn Rooker. Aubrey Mancuso takes over as the new Executive Director.