Voices for Utah Children Articles

  • 2026 Legislative Updates: Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice

    Voices for Utah Children aims to make our juvenile justice and child welfare systems fairer and more equitable for everyone. It’s exciting to see the incredible progress we’ve achieved over the past five years. Thanks to the dedication of lawmakers and...

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

  • 2026 Legislative Updates: Children's Health

    After a tumultuous year in the political landscape for immigrants, families, and human services more broadly, our goals for the session include defending wins we have achieved in recent years and preventing further erosion of services. As the sessions...

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

  • 2026 Legislative Updates: Immigrant Family Policies

    More than 300,000 immigrants call Utah home, and more than 41,500 U.S. citizen children live with at least one undocumented parent. We recognize that policies targeting any immigrant demographic can affect all immigrants across the state. Therefore, we...

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

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

    As Utah enters the 2026 legislative session, we are watching child care policy with both urgency and optimism. Families across the state continue to face rising costs, limited availability, and persistent workforce shortages that strain providers and...

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

  • 2026 Legislative Updates: Tax & Budget

    The 2026 Utah Legislative Session is expected to advance additional income tax cuts and fiscal policies that reduce long-term state revenue, disproportionately benefit high-income earners, and shift costs to local governments and families. These...

    • 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

  • 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
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