Voices for Utah Children Articles

  • 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

  • 2025 Legislative Recap

    Was this year's legislative session good for kids? We answer this and more in our 2025 Legislative Recap! In this latest brief, we break down what happened during the legislative session, what we accomplished alongside our partners, and why staying...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • Rethinking Congress' Budget Proposals

    Invest in Communities, Not Deportation The latest budget proposals in Congress threaten to remove essential programs that support our communities while ramping up immigration enforcement. These decisions will have devastating consequences, particularly...

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

  • Property Taxes Fill the Gap

    When we cut income taxes, it's property taxes that help cover our schools. Utah’s public schools serve over 670,000 kids in more than 1,000 public schools. For a long time, Utah was praised for its fair school funding system, making sure high-poverty...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Taylor Throne, Jenna Williams
    • Category: Updates & Blog
  • A phone that has FAQs being answered on them.

    Voucher and School Privatization FAQs

    As part of our Vouchers and School Privatization in Utah Series, we’ve put together a list of frequently asked questions that may help to address key concerns—like why vouchers are so controversial and what’s really at stake. As parents and caregivers,...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Anna Thomas and Moana 'Ulu'ave
    • Category: Updates & Blog

  • How to Strengthen Utah's Child Tax Credit in 2025

    In 2023, Utah introduced its own child tax credit (CTC) marking a positive step forward. In 2024, the credit was slightly expanded. However, the credit's limited scope falls short of providing real assistance to families raising young children....

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

  • Preserve Medicaid for Utah Families: Vote NO on SB 257

    Senator Brammer's SB 257, Medicaid Accounts Amendments, seeks to introduce a broadly defined "Medicaid shortfall," which could trigger unnecessary budget cuts to essential healthcare services. Even though the existing budget processes already allow the...

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

  • How Proposed Federal Medicaid Cuts Could Harm Utah Families

    When Cuts Don’t Heal As the 119th Congress begins its new term, proposed cuts to Medicaid are once again a major point of discussion at the federal level. Republicans in Congress are preparing to introduce sweeping budget and policy changes through the...

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

  • Support HB 30 The Indian Family Preservation Act

    This legislative session, Utah has the opportunity to support Native children and families by passing HB 30, the Indian Family Preservation Act Amendments. This bill would allow tribes to establish foster home standards and oversee child custody cases,...

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

  • SB 221: Stand Up for Safe Child Care

    Utah lawmakers could do many things to alleviate the child care crisis families are facing. In fact, there are 33 expert-recommended ones right here, thanks to the state’s newest child care solutions study. Endangering kids' safety by lowering...

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

  • Protecting State CHIP: Vote NO on HB178

    37 ORGANIZATIONS, ENTITIES, AND BUSINESSES HAVE SIGNED ON TO PROTECT STATE CHIP The 37 undersigned organizations and entities dedicated to the health and well-being of children and 90 individuals are writing in response to the recently introduced HB178...

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

  • Tax Policy 101: State Child Tax Credit

    What is the State Child Tax Credit? Utah’s Child Tax Credit (CTC) allows eligible families to claim up to an additional $1,000 per qualifying child each year on their state taxes. Whether a parent stays home or both parents work, this tax credit can...

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

  • Another Year, Another Tax Cut: Who Benefits?

    Key Takeaways Minimal Savings, Major Loss: Another tax cut in 2025 will remove about $100M from essential services, pushing total cuts to about $1.3B annually—funds that could strengthen schools, childcare, and healthcare. Wealthy Win, Families Lose:...

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

  • What Happened With Child Care During the 2025 Legislative Session?

    This 2025 session, supporting families with young children remained a top policy priority of Voices for Utah Children. The urgent need to address families' critical child care needs remained at the forefront of our advocacy efforts. This session was...

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

  • Fellow Reflection: Alejandra Martinez

    Hello! My name is Alejandra Martinez. I am originally from Mexico and a mother of three beautiful children. I'm currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Economics at the University of Utah and will graduate this spring. I am deeply committed to giving...

    • Type: Article
    • Author: Alejandra Martinez
    • Category: Updates & Blog
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