Connecticut Voices for Children advances its mission through high quality research and analysis, strategic communications, community education, and development of the next generation of advocates.  We are a research-based think tank that advocates for policies that benefit the state’s children and families through:

• Research, Policy Analysis, and Information Sharing.  To foster policy changes, Connecticut Voices conducts research and identifies policy solutions on a variety of challenges facing Connecticut children and families, including early care, K-12 and higher education, children’s health and mental health, foster care, juvenile justice, and state and federal tax and budget topics. Our research and policy reports are widely cited by the media and other organizations and are published on our website. Our communications initiatives include E-Notes, our electronic newsletter on our publications and events, as well as e-mail newsletters on health and federal budget issues. We host many informational forums that bring Connecticut and national leaders together to share “best practice” thinking on a variety of policy and budget issues.
   
• Partnerships.  A strong supporter of working through coalitions, Connecticut Voices for Children is a founding member of the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance, the CT Early Childhood Alliance, and Better Choices for CT. We also coordinate the Covering Connecticut’s Kids and Families Coalition. At the national level, Connecticut Voices is a state partner in the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Fiscal Analysis Initiative, the Economic Policy Institute’s Economic Analysis and Research Network, the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, First Focus’ Children in Focus initiative, the CFED Assets & Opportunities Network, the New England Consortium, the New England Alliance for Children’s Health, and Voices for America’s Children.  We also serve on the steering committees of a number of these groups.
   
• Leadership Development.  Connecticut Voices’ work actively fosters and relies on the next generation of policy leadership. Our policy fellowships offer full-time positions to exceptional recent college graduates with a strong interest in advancing public policy to benefit children and youth. Our innovative partnership with Yale Law School’s Legislative Advocacy Clinic provides Connecticut Voices with the able assistance of law students with an interest in policy. Connecticut Voices, in turn, provides these students with hands-on experience in the legislative and policy process. Students at the Yale School of Epidemiology and Public Health help to conduct research aimed at improving access to health care.  Talented college and graduate students who desire a range of experiences in policy analysis and advocacy have served as interns.  We celebrate the accomplishment and service of state and local leaders through our First for Kids Awards.
   
• Advocacy.  Because policy change is often possible only through legislation, Connecticut Voices works to advance — through the Connecticut General Assembly and state agencies — the sound policy and budget choices necessary for the health and well-being of our youngest residents and their families, and Connecticut’s future.

Learn more about our accomplishments in Sparking Reform: Highlights of Our Work, 2007 to 2012.