Voices for Utah Children Articles

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: Was it Good for Kids?

    Utah has long branded itself as the best state for families. We celebrate our high birth rates, our focus on the future, and our “pro-family” values. But during this year's 2026 legislative session, one truth stands out: budgets are moral documents....

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Moe Hickey
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Keep Kids Safe: Support SB 124

    Urgent: Help Revive SB124 to Protect Utah’s Children We encourage you to reach out to your House Representatives today to support SB124: Child Welfare Modifications, sponsored by Sen. Escamilla and Rep. Watkins. This important bipartisan bill did not...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Laneta Fitisemanu
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • What’s happening in Juvenile Justice this Session?

    HB 188 Juvenile Justice Amendments: Trading Treatment for Punishment HB188 Juvenile Justice Amendments is sponsored by Representative Peck and has passed out of the Utah House of Representatives this week. It is now headed to the Senate for its...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Martín C. Muñoz
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Protect Utah Families: Vote NO to HB 88 (Now HB 386)

    Important Bill Update! On Friday, February 27, 2026 portions of Rep. Trevor Lee’s HB 88 substituted key parts of the bill into HB 386 after HB 88 stalled earlier in the week. While these provisions do not include all of HB 88’s original proposals, they...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Megan Neuf and Ciriac Alvarez Valle
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice

    This legislative session introduced several key proposals impacting Utah’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems, highlighting several important themes shaping policy. 1. Balancing Accountability and Diversion: House Bill 188 highlights the...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Martín C. Muñoz
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: Children's Health

    The 2026 session ended with generally positive outcomes for children's health policy, but the primary focus throughout, from the start to the end, was defense. Going into the session, we anticipated bills targeting the State CHIP program even beyond...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Megan Neuf
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: Immigrant Family Policies

    This year, we closely monitored and engaged on several bills throughout the Legislative Session. We started with three main priorities that guided our advocacy efforts on our immigrant family policies: protecting access to public programs, opposing...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Ciriac Alvarez Valle
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: K-12 Education and Child Care

    The 2026 legislative session brought both meaningful progress and missed opportunities for Utah’s children and families. Throughout the session, advocates, educators, and community partners worked to elevate issues impacting child care access, early...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jennifer Stout
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • 2026 Legislative Recap: Tax & Budget

    At the end of each legislative session, we’re often left sharing a discouraging update: year after year, lawmakers tend to pass the bills we oppose and stall the ones we support. This session, however, felt different. Of the priority bills we tracked,...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • Hands Holding Paper Family

    Salt Lake County’s Child Care Closures: Parents Seek Solutions

    In late October 2025, the Salt Lake County Council voted to begin closing four county-run child-care centers: in Kearns, Magna, Millcreek, and the Fair Park neighborhood of Salt Lake City. These centers have served hundreds of local families for...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jennifer Stout
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • mother and father holding young daughter

    Stay the Course: Protect What Works for Utah Kids

    According to the latest KIDS COUNT® Data Snapshot from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Utah’s child poverty rate is among the lowest in the country at just 6%. Only three other states share this achievement: Maine, Idaho, and Wyoming. Utah continues to...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Martín C. Muñoz
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • Rain falling on a window with people holding umbrellas blurred through the window.

    Now Is the Time to Use Our Rainy Day Funds

    It’s Raining in Utah: Why Now Is the Time to Use Our Rainy Day Funds As Utahns, we pride ourselves on planning ahead. We save for the future, invest in our communities, and build strong foundations for our families. The state has done the...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Moe Hickey
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • Child playing with a play tool set

    Employer Child Care Toolkit

    Over the past several years, as Utah employers have faced challenges in recruiting and retaining employees, many companies have begun reviewing options to best attract and retain talent. One of the strategies that employers can consider is related to...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jennifer Stout
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • Children posing in front of a step and repeat at the celebration event

    Voices Celebrates 40 Years!

    Earlier this month, we had the joy of celebrating 40 incredible years alongside friends, advocates, and community members. We’re deeply grateful for the support shared on such a fun and meaningful Friday. As part of the celebration, we honored 40...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Laneta Fitisemanu
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • How the 2025 Federal Reconciliation Bill Harms Utah’s Kids and Families

    Reality vs. Rhetoric As Utahns, we claim to value bold ideas and practical solutions. We believe in responsible budgets — but not at the expense of our children’s futures. The new Federal Reconciliation Bill of 2025—dubbed the “One Big Beautiful...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Moe Hickey
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Sticks and Stones: The Power of the Words We Use

    This month feels heavy. Because, well… it is. We celebrate Pride Month, a time to recognize and honor the LGBTQ+ community. But even as we celebrate, it’s impossible to ignore the challenges. This year, Utah became the first state in the country to ban...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Laneta Fitisemanu and Moana 'Ulu'ave
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Work Requirements Threaten Coverage for Thousands of Utahns on Medicaid 

    Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released its long-awaited Committee bill, and as we expected, cuts to Medicaid are on the table. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would cause 13.7 million Americans to lose their...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Thaiss Del Rio
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • How to Get Help Paying for Child Care in Utah

    Finding and affording quality child care is a challenge for many families in Utah. Fortunately, there are several programs designed to help, and the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is the most widely available and impactful. Apply for Child Care...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Healthcare Isn't the Only Thing at Risk

    Medicaid Cuts Don’t Just Hurt Health—They Weaken Utah’s Economy and Workforce Just days before Congress was set to go on recess, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the joint budget resolution (216–214), with all four members of Utah’s...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Thaiss Del Rio
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Children Facing Deportation Alone: The Crisis We Cannot Ignore

    Every year, thousands of children make the perilous journey to the United States alone, seeking safety and refuge. These children, known as unaccompanied minors, arrive at our borders without a parent or legal guardian. Many are fleeing violence, gang...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Liliana Bolaños
    • Category: Updates & Blog
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