It's About Our Kids - 2010 Iowa Elections
NEW!
(11/17/10) Executive Director of the Child and Family Policy Center Charlie Bruner's Op-Ed in the Des Moines Register reminds Iowans that among all the discussion of the economy, jobs, and budget, the impact of decisions on the well-being of Iowa's children should be a primary consideration.
Click on the link below to read the Op-Ed:
Guest Opinion: Iowa's Kids are Counting on You
Post-Election Statement Thank you to the thousands of Iowans who voted for our kids! The good news is that children were high on the political agenda when it came to candidates speaking about Iowa’s future. There was general consensus among candidates on the importance of investing in the education, health, and safety of Iowa’s children. Candidates stressed the importance of investing early and getting children off to the right start in life. This is the first time in history that both major party Gubernatorial candidates sponsored campaign ads spoke to the importance of preschool to Iowa’s future. |
Children are Iowa’s future. While parents and communities bear the major responsibility for raising children, both state government and the federal government play crucial roles as well – in health, education, and social development. 
Child policy issues, however, easily can be overshadowed in campaigns and don’t always receive the attention they deserve. Candidates may not be asked about or speak out on important child policy issues, and, when they do, their statements may attract little press or attention.
This itsaboutourkids.org website is designed to raise child policy issues to the prominence they deserve.
Statewide Candidate Voter Guides Candidates for Governor and the United States Senate provided their written views on child and family policy issues. The Voter’s Guide – Iowa Governor and the Voter’s Guide – U.S. Senator offer the unedited responses of these statewide candidates on these issues.
UPDATED: Gubernatorial and US Senate candidate responses to a series of questions asked them by the Des Moines Register, which include a few child and family policy questions.
Iowa Congressional, Legislative, and Political Party Information Contact information and links to their website issue statements on child and family policy issues are provided for all Congressional candidates in the state. Following these are links to party platforms and contact information for Iowa legislative candidates for office available through the Secretary of State’s office and through the political party websites.
UPDATED: Congressional candidate responses to a series of questions asked them by the Des Moines Register, which include a few child and family policy questions.
Child and Family Policy Advocacy and Research Organizations Information about and links to websites is provided for both national and Iowa organizations that address child and family policy issues. These organizations provide a spectrum of information, views, and positions on child policy issues.
Contacting Candidates and Expressing Views Information on ways to contact candidates, including participation in events and forums, and writing letters to editors.
Voting Information This section provides information on registering to vote, voting absentee, and Election Day registration and voting. This section also provides information on ways constituents can contact candidates and raise children’s issues during the election and be advocates for children.
NEW! Public Opinion and Child Policy. This section contains strategies on messaging and child policy issues, as well as questions voters can pose to candidates for office.
NEW! Presidential Perspectives on Child Policy. Read President Obama's responses to the 2008 Itsaboutourkids.org Presidential survey, President Hoover's Child's Bill of Rights, and an historical report from Every Child Matters on presidents helping children.
Children’s Policy Coalition Members The questions for the Voter’s Guides were developed by a consortium of sponsoring organizations, and links to their websites are provided.
