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History

Under the leadership of Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the Rainbow Board of Trustees, the Coalition for Greater Cleveland’s Children was formed in 1996 to fill a void in advocacy and research relating specifically to children’s issues.

In the fall of 1996, the Coalition engaged 30 non-profit organizations and corporate sponsors to hold its first program, a Voter Education Forum. Child-serving agencies, parents and the general public came together to learn about the candidates for State office and hear their positions on issues affecting children. The program’s success led to the Coalition’s ongoing role as an advocacy arm for child-serving agencies.

In early 2004, The Coalition for Greater Cleveland’s Children incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) under a new name, Voices for Children of Greater Cleveland, and became Ohio’s affiliate of Voices for America’s Children, an elite national network of child advocates. This partnership has allowed for active and effective participation in national policy initiatives as well as opportunities to develop best practices for child advocacy organizations through the Essential Elements process.

In January 2007, Voices became Voices for Ohio’s Children. Our mission – to promote improvements in the well-being of children and families – remains unchanged. However, because issues that affect children are increasingly decided in Columbus and Washington, we now work throughout Ohio to make change for children.

Voices’ success and policy agenda depends on our Public Policy Partners, who are child-serving agencies, faith-based organizations, health care institutions, physicians, corporations and individuals that care about and advocate for improving the well-being of children. We use their vast range of expertise to educate lawmakers, community leaders and interested individuals about public policy that is cost-effective, has proven results and maximizes the economic advantages of investing in children.

We accomplish our goals through:

• Analysis of research that impacts public policy on children’s issues;
• Direct communications and provision of educational materials for policy partners;
• Partnering with other organizations to raise their respective voices;
• Meeting with elected and appointed officials to impact change for children; and
• Raising media awareness.