Agenda for Children is Louisiana's statewide child advocacy agency.

MISSION

To make Louisiana a state in which all children can thrive, by ensuring that the basic needs of children and families are met; that our children are nurtured and well taught, beginning in the early years and continuing through adolescence; that they are protected from harm; and by acting in ways that combat racism and other forms of oppression.

STRATEGIES

Agenda for Children works to make government work better for Louisiana's children. This means we keep track of laws, policies, and decisions that affect children and families. This involves child protection, family economic security, child care, health care, child support, education, juvenile justice, housing, and other public services. Agenda for Children also works with individual children and families, organizations and institutions, service providers, and the media. We provide information, training, resources, and technical assistance. Sometimes we just get involved-as partners.

PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

The annual Kids Count Data Book on Louisiana's Children produced by Agenda for Children in cooperation with the Casey Foundation, presents a parish-by-parish profile of the indicators of child well being. The book is widely used by public agencies, universities, non-profit and volunteer organizations, the media, and others to help determine the most pressing needs of children and families.

The Louisiana Family Economic Self-Sufficiency (LA-FESS) Project is a joint initiative of Agenda for Children and Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW). The LA-FESS Standard estimates, based on a no-frills budget, income levels necessary for families in each of Louisiana's 64 parishes to meet their basic needs without subsidies. The Standard illustrates the necessity of subsidizing child care, transportation, health care and housing to enhance existing sub-standard wages for working families in Louisiana.

Child Care Resources, (CCR) works to expand the availability of quality affordable child care for young children and families. CCR offers:

• assistance for families looking for child care
• training for child care personnel
• parent education
• tools to increase public awareness of the importance and ingredients of affordable, quality child care

"Covering Kids and Families" is a statewide effort to ensure that all eligible families know about free health insurance available for their children through Medicaid and the Louisiana Children's Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP).

ANNUAL REPORT

Our 2006 Annual Report it is available here in PDF format: 2006 Annual Report.

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