Kansas Action For Children Inc

KANSAS ACTION FOR CHILDREN, INC. IS A NONPARTISAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO SHAPING HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC POLICY THAT IMPROVES THE LIVES OF KANSAS CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

KAC IS A KEY SUPPORT TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORK IN KANSAS AND IS A CRITICAL CONNECTOR AND CONVENER FOR COALITIONS. KAC'S SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY THE ABILITY TO MAGNIFY OTHERS' WORK AND BUILD THE POWER NEEDED FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. KAC ADVOCATES FOR INVESTMENT IN EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE SYSTEMS, CHILDREN'S HEALTH PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID AND CHIP, AND ACCESS TO CRITICAL SUPPORTS INCLUDING FOOD ASSISTANCE, HOME VISITING, AND TIMELY IMMUNIZATIONS. KAC BRINGS TOGETHER OTHER ADVOCATES FOR POLICY ADVOCACY AND GRASSROOTS MOBILIZATION TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S CRITICAL EARLY YEARS.

KAC'S BUDGET AND REVENUE PROJECT CENTERS ON THE BELIEF THAT FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES IN KANSAS TO THRIVE, THE STATE MUST FINANCIALLY SUPPORT CRITICAL SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS. KAC RESEARCHES, ANALYZES, AND ADVOCATES FOR EQUITABLE TAX POLICY THAT REDUCES WEALTH INEQUALITY FOR KANSANS, ESPECIALLY FOR LOW-INCOME KANSANS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. KAC CREATES PUBLICATIONS AND FACILITATES EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS TO HELP KANSANS BETTER UNDERSTAND AND ADVOCATE FOR RESPONSIBLE TAX POLICY. KAC SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT BOLSTER FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY SUCH AS CASH, FOOD, AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, TAX CREDITS FOR WORKING KANSANS, AND OTHER PUBLIC INVESTMENTS THAT ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY.

KIDS COUNT PROVIDES LEGISLATORS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CHILD ADVOCATES WITH RELIABLE DATA, POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS AND TOOLS TO ADVANCE POLICIES THAT BENEFIT CHILDREN. AS KANSAS' KIDS COUNT PARTNER, KAC HAS COLLECTED INDICATORS FOR EARLY LEARNING, CHILDREN'S HEALTH, AND FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR DECADES. WHEN SHIFTS OCCUR, KAC EXPLORES THE CHANGES. WHEN POSSIBLE, KAC DISAGGREGATES DATA BY RACE AND ETHNICITY AND WORKS ALONGSIDE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR TO CONTEXTUALIZE THE FINDINGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND ANY DISPARITIES. KAC PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE TO SHARE COUNTY-BY-COUNTY KIDS COUNT INFORMATION AND COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND COUNTY-LEVEL DATA. THIS COLLABORATION ENHANCES THE ABILITY TO RECOMMEND POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ARE INFORMED BY THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF KANSANS AND THAT WILL IMPROVE CHILD WELL-BEING.

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE THE EDUCATION OF POLICYMAKERS AND CONSTITUENTS ON CHILD WELL-BEING, DEVELOPING STATE-LEVEL POLICY THAT BENEFITS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND BUILDING THE BASE OF CITIZENS ACROSS THE STATE WHO SPEAK OUT ON THEIR BEHALF.