Center’s advocacy on
children’s issues is growing
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The road to Jefferson City has become a familiar route for members of the Center’s staff this year. Sister Berta has testified twice before the Missouri General Assembly, and she has led several expeditions of staff, parents and volunteers to talk with legislators about children’s issues.
“Children can’t speak up for themselves at the state Capitol,” says Sister Berta. “We all have to help them.”
The primary issue affecting our families this session is Senate Bill 776 which would change the income eligibility guidelines for state childcare assistance, making aid available to more working-poor families. Missouri currently ranks 46th in the nation for income eligibility levels for childcare assistance.
“Our mothers are getting clobbered by Missouri’s antiquated income guidelines,” Sister Berta says. “Parents are turning down small pay raises at work because the state would stop paying for their childcare if they took them.”
Operation Breakthrough has recently formed an advocacy committee to monitor state and federal legislation and work on behalf of children’s issues, such as this one.
“Childcare is an economic investment,” says Jim Stacy, the committee chair. “When governments invest in early childhood education, they spend fewer dollars on special education, social welfare programs and the criminal justice system.”
Want to lend our children your voice? Visit our “Advocacy page ” for an up-to-date list of pending legislation and sample letters you can send to policymakers on behalf of our families. |
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