. “Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness, of which 700,000 are unaccompanied minors, meaning they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. On any given night, approximately 41,000 unaccompanied youth ages 13-25 experience homelessness.” – National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) | Youth Homelessness Overview Though we often consider our society to be quite progressive, the statistics of homeless children and teenagers is a testament read more…
Each year Promise the Children focuses on a number of important issues that range from Child Poverty and Early Education to Limiting Out-of-School Suspensions, Advocating for Stronger Gun Laws and Ending the Detention of Immigrant Children. As a member of the PTC community, we value your feedback! Our current areas of focus include Public School Funding and Teacher Salaries, Child Care and Early Education, Gun Safety and Control, and the Supervision of Detention Centers Housing Immigrant Children Separated from Parents. read more…
. “School funding is a mix of federal, state, and local funding sources distributed through complex and ever-changing formulas, making it all too easy for elected leaders to use half-truths and lies to slash education budgets and divert taxpayer dollars from public schools. Pro-public education advocates can’t allow that to happen.” – National Education Association (NEA) | School Funding: Learn the Facts and How to Use Them As public schools begin to wind down for summer, now read more…
The current administration has proposed drastic changes to SNAP, our national food stamp program, that will leave some of our nation’s most vulnerable families without assistance to purchase food. Trump’s proposal would cut funding for SNAP by approximately $17.4 billion, or one-fifth of its current budget. Remember—this is a program that provides food aid to approximately 40 million people, the majority of whom are children and the elderly. According to federal documents, the new Budget proposes to increase SNAP work read more…
Access to quality early education and childcare varies enormously across income classes. Many times wealthier families have the money to spend on these services, but those with lower salaries do not. As a result, wealthier children are ready to learn in kindergarten and first grade while those lacking the experience of quality early childhood education, either in a classroom or at home, are not. Here is more information on the high cost of childcare in the United States. Sadly, falling behind in read more…
Supporters of Promise the Children would like to think that our country values all families and children, no matter what country they call home. During the holiday season, an image that is often in our minds is that of the birth of Jesus. It is during this time of year that The Three Kings are said to have followed the star of Bethlehem to visit The Holy Family. Perhaps the Magi came from nearby areas now known as Iraq, Iran read more…
Download Brochure Our Purpose The purpose of Promise the Children is to help our volunteers advocate for and with young people. We give special priority to initiatives that promote the wellbeing of low-income children and youth. Our Work Promise the Children’s main activities include: Researching policy issues and educating our members about legislative campaigns. Communicating with legislators through visits, phone calls, letters, emails and petitions from our volunteer advocates. Leading workshops, discussions and trainings at community centers and churches. Building read more…
Christmas is supposed to be about the beautiful birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem that inspires us to be generous, loving and forgiving. Jesus was born a refugee whose parents fled from Nazareth because the Roman King Herod threatened to kill all male newborns in the city. In an attempt to keep their family safe from harm, Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Bethlehem where they found refuge. Fortunately their family didn’t suffer the separation and detentions that are plaguing read more…
Many states across the U.S. currently have very flexible laws and minimal enforcement for gun licensing. Licensing laws are a simple way to make sure guns are purchased and used by responsible Americans, however the federal government—and too many states—have yet to put many of these smart gun laws in place. Gun licensing has been proven to reduce gun violence and trafficking, and it remains a necessary component to crafting comprehensive, effective gun laws. Another way to save lives is read more…
When Zero Tolerance Policies were instituted in public schools, the use of suspensions as a disciplinary measure increased. These zero tolerance policies were designed by school districts to increase school safety and were unusually strict. In one instance, an elementary school child was expelled from school because she had a small plastic knife in her lunch box. In another, a 12-year old was handcuffed, arrested, and detained at a New York City Police Department for writing on her desk. The read more…
Please sign up and join 500 other volunteer advocates who support the safety net for our nation's children. We send monthly emails suggesting ways to help. Too many parents are working for low wages that prevent them from paying for safe childcare, early education and adequate health care. They need support!
