ABOUT US
Children’s Alliance is a statewide, nonpartisan child advocacy organization serving Washington State. For over 40 years, we have helped people tap into their personal political power so they can advocate for change in their communities. We partner with families, lawmakers, community leaders, service providers, and policy experts to develop antiracist policy solutions that improve the lives of Washington kids and build a better shared future for all of us.
Mission: Children’s Alliance strives to place racial justice at the heart of Washington’s laws and budget priorities so that every child can thrive.
Vision: Our vision is that all of Washington's children will have an abundance of what they need to grow up to be the people they dream of becoming.
At Children’s Alliance, our work is grounded in the acknowledgement that racism is deeply entrenched in our society and is the root cause of the disparities that affect many children who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color. These disparities are unjust, and they imperil our shared future.
Racist policymaking has long been used as a tool to sustain White supremacy and create barriers to power and wellbeing for communities of color. We have the ability to demand something better for our kids. Together, we can transform the systems and policies that profoundly impact our children’s lives, so that instead of upholding racism, they promote equity and bring us closer to achieving a multiracial democracy where every child thrives.
Our Five Tools of Advocacy
This systemic change requires persistent action, centered around the voices of the children and families who are most impacted by racism and poverty. It also requires a strategic approach that leverages the proven tools of advocacy to advance bold, antiracist policy change.
Lobbying: We inform and influence policymakers through relationships, testimony, and activism. Our team and advocates meet with legislators throughout the year, and participate in workgroups and bill hearings to uplift the impacts of policies for Washington’s kids and families.
Research and Analysis: We gather and analyze the best emerging data on how kids are doing in our state to craft effective policies. By pairing hard data with personal stories from community members, we can help policymakers recognize and remove the barriers to opportunity that many of our state’s children face. Learn more about our data and research projects.
Coalitions: We lead and participate with advocates and communities to identify policy priorities and galvanize support for them. Children’s Alliance convenes the Early Learning Action Alliance, a broad coalition of organizations united by the belief that all children in Washington state deserve to have the opportunities and support they need in their first five years of life to be prepared for school and a bright future. We are also active members of the Balance Our Tax Code Coalition, the Health Coalition for Children Youth, and the Health Care is a Human Right coalition.
Communications: We inform our partners and the public about challenges faced by children and the opportunities for change. Join our mailing list to learn about the issues impacting Washington kids and families, and opportunities to take action. Check out our media page for a digest of our media coverage.
Mobilization: We prepare advocates to use their voices powerfully and persuasively for children. Through programs like Advocacy Camp and events like Have a Heart for Kids Day, we help community members use their power to advocate for the change they want to see.