Useful UVC Advocacy-Related Websites


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Introduction and Purpose

The purpose of this list is to provide useful sources of information for UVC child advocates, members and pastors of local congregations, and those persons who wish a better understanding of the issues affecting children and families.

Aside from the first three primary advocacy sources listed, UVC does not necessarily endorse the remaining advocacy-related links. We believe, however, it is important to furnish a wide spectrum of information and opinion on child advocacy issues. This provides a wider perspective to those seeking information.

Other sources of information include:

  • Data and research on poverty links;
  • Information on governmental and legislative websites;
  • Public policy websites;
  • Links to United Methodist organizations and services;
  • Links to children’s services such as early child care and after school programs, educational and child placement services.

    • For a UVC perspective on child advocacy issues, go to the Advocacy Action Alerts page.

    Information provided by
    Mason E. Scholl
    UVC Primary Child Advocacy Sources
    Additional Child Advocacy Sources
    Poverty
    Government & Legislative
    United Methodist
    Public Policy
    After-School
    Adoption, Foster Care, Placement
    Other Child-related Sites
    Miscellaneous
    Source
    Website

    Child Advocacy Sources (Primary UVC Advocacy Sources)
    Voices for Illinois Children
    www.voices4kids.org
    Best source of IL advocacy issues. Great links to other websites.
    Children’s Defense Fund
    www.childrensdefense.org
    Best source of national child advocacy information for faith-based advocates.
    Bishops Initiative on Children & Poverty
    www.umc.org/initiative
    Provides excellent United Methodist perspective to child advocacy.
    Additional Advocacy Sources
    Child Welfare League of America
    www.cwla.org
    Advocacy & program information on juvenile justice, foster care, and adoption issues.
    Coalition for America’s Children
    www.connectforkids.org
    Information source on children, youth, and family issues.
    Day Care Action Council of IL
    www.daycareaction.org
    Sources of information on Illinois child care issues.
    Ecumenical Child Care Network
    www.eccn.org
    Information on issues related to quality church-housed childcare. Links.
    Handsnet
    www.handsnet.org
    Source of information on children, welfare reform, and poverty.
    National Association of Child Advocates
    www.childadvocacy.org
    Supports child advocacy at the state and community levels. Links.
    NIC Mission Opportunities
    www.umcnic.org
    Click on Mission Opportunities for NIC mission and advocacy opportunities
    United Methodist Association
    www.umassociation.org
    Go to Government Affairs link. Information source on legislative issues.
    Websites on Poverty
    City University of New York
    http://web.gc.cuny.edu/dept/socio/resource/family/index.htm
    Links to other sites on poverty, family, and child advocacy issues.
    Institute for Children & Poverty
    http://www.homesforthehomeless.com/
    Source of data about children in poverty and homelessness.
    Joint Center for Poverty Research — Northwestern & U of Chicago
    http://www.jcpr.org/macro_conf.html
    Link to poverty research.
    National Center for Children in Poverty
    http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/nccp
    Source of data on children in poverty.
    National Center on Poverty Law
    www.povertylaw.org
    Information on poverty and public policy issues.
    Government & Legislative Websites
    Capital Advocate
    www.congress.org
    Information on legislative issues and a way to contact your legislators.
    Census Bureau
    www.census.gov/
    Detailed national and state data.
    Government Printing Office
    www.access.gpo.gov/
    Where to get govt. printed information.
    IL state legislature
    www.state.il.us./state/legis/
    Links to information on IL legislators.
    Links to all Illinois state depts.
    www.state.il.us
    A way to find Illinois state depts.
    National Center for Education Statistics
    http://nces.ed.gov
    Federal organization collects & analyzes date related to U.S. education.
    National Conference of State Legislators
    www.ncsl.org
    Communication on state legislation in any and all state legislatures.
    Network Links to Fed. Govt. Info
    www.nonprofit.gov/index.html
    Links to federal departments.
    Non-Profit Gateway
    www.nonprofit.gov
    A network of links to federal government services.
    Thomas Legislative information
    http://thomas.loc.gov
    U.S. Congress current legislation info.
    U.S. Department of Education
    www.ed.gov
    Information source on national and state education.
    U.S. House of Representatives
    www.house.gov
    Information on U.S. Representatives.
    U.S. Senate
    www.senate.gov
    Information on U.S. Senators.
    U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
    http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/news/
    Govt. information source. Admin. for Children & Family Services.
    White House
    www.whitehouse.gov
    Information on Executive Branch.
    United Methodist Sites
    Cokesbury
    www.cokesbury.com
    UM Publishing house information on books, materials, and supplies.
    InfoServ
    http://infoserv.umc.org
    Source of UM information.
    Northern Illinois Conference
    of the United Methodist Church
    www.umcnic.org
    Annual conference of the United Methodist Church in which United Voices for Children and its agencies are located. Also has information about child-serving activities and mission opportunities involving its more than 400 local churches.
    General Board of Church and Society
    www.umc-gbcs.org/
    Provides information on the implementation of social principles and policy statements regarding UM social justice concerns.
    General Board of Global Ministries
    http://gbgm-umc.org/
    Information on United Methodist global ministries.
    United Methodist Communications
    http://umc.org
    Links to all other UM organizations. Locator section for finding churches.
    United Methodist News Service
    http://umns.umc.org
    UM & other religious news.
    United Methodist Reporter
    www.umr.org
    National UM Reporter in Dallas.
    Public Policy Websites
    American Association of School Administrators
    www.aasa.org/Reform/
    Guide to school-wide educational reform.
    American Public Human Services Association
    www.aphsa.org/
    Reviews public policies on human services. Links are gateway to services.
    Annie E. Casey Foundation
    www.aecf.org/
    Reviews public policies on human services. Links are gateway to services.
    CATALYST- Voices of Chicago School Reform
    www.catalyst-chicago.org/
    Newsmagazine documenting efforts to improve Chicago Public Schools.
    Center for Law & Social Policy
    www.clasp.org/
    Focus on policies affecting the poor.
    Center on Budget & Policy Priorities
    www.cbpp.org/
    Website on government priorities.
    Chicago Panel on School Policy
    www.chicagopanel.org/
    Policy info on Chicago public schools.
    Common Cause
    www.commoncause.org/
    Lobbying organization promoting open, honest, and accountable government.
    Electronic Policy Network
    www.epn.org/
    Policy News from 80 policy organizations.
    Food Action & Research Center
    www.frac.org/
    Advocacy organization working to improve public policies toward eradicating hunger in the U.S.
    National Center for Education Statistics
    http://nces.ed.gov
    Govt. organization that collects & analyzes education data.
    Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
    www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/
    Provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency.
    Parents United for Responsible Education — Chicago
    www.pureparents.org/
    Website informs parents about educational issues.
    Speak Out
    www.speakout.com/
    Opportunity to speak out on issues.
    The Bureau for At-risk Youth
    www.at-risk.com/
    Resources for today's youth around important issues facing them.
    The Urban Institute
    www.urbaninstitute.org
    A nonpartisan economic and social policy research organization.
    Welfare Information Network
    www.welfareinfo.org/
    Inwwformation clearing house on policy analysis regarding Welfare Reform.
    Other Useful Websites:
    After-school Website Information
    After School Alliance
    www.afterschoolalliance.org
    After school program info.
    After School Government Website
    www.afterschool.gov
    Government after school website.
    Child Trends
    www.childtrends.org/HomePg.asp
    Website research studies on children, youth, and families.
    Coalition for Community Schools
    www.communityschools.org/
    Website focuses on helping students learn and strengthening their families and communities.
    Mentoring
    http://mentoring.org/index.adp
    Resource for information about mentoring initiatives.
    Mott Foundation website
    www.mott.org
    Features after-school program & funding information.
    National Center for Community Education
    www.nccenet.org/
    After-school program information.
    National School Age Care Alliance
    www.nsaca.org/
    Information network for after school professionals & volunteers.
    School Age Notes
    www.schoolagenotes.com/
    Resources for after school programs.
    Tutor Mentor Connection
    www.tutormentorconnection.org
    Information on after school, mentoring, and tutoring. Links.
    Adoption, Foster Care, Placement
    Adoption Network
    www.adoption.com
    Wide variety of adoption information.
    Foster Parent Home Page
    http://fostercare.org/FPHP
    Great website for those interested in foster care & adoption. Links.
    National Association of Adoptable Children
    www.nacac.org
    Adoption information.
    Other Useful Child-related Sites
    Child Trends
    www.childtrends.org/HomePg.asp
    Website research studies on children, youth, and families.
    Children Now
    www.childrennow.org/
    Research on the well being of children.
    Family Resource Coalition of America
    www.frca.org
    Family support programs. Check out policy & advocacy screens.
    I Am Your Child
    www.iamyourchild.org
    Information and resources for parents and their children.
    National Center for Education Statistics
    http://nces.ed.gov
    Collects & analyzes education data.
    National Child Care Information Center
    www.nccic.org/
    Childcare resource information to ensure access to high quality services.
    National Council of Churches
    www.ncccusa.org
    Source for ecumenical info.
    National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
    www.nspcc.org
    Resources available for prevention of child abuse.
    Packard Foundation website: The Future of Children
    www.futureofchildren.org/
    Information for shaping policies & programs to benefit children.
    The National Association for the Education of Young Children
    www.naeyc.org/
    Information supporting constructive education for all young children.
    Miscellaneous Websites
    Google
    www.google.com
    One of today’s best search engines.
    Information Technology Resource Center
    www.npo.net
    Information about internet, computers, training, & MIS.
    MAMMA, the Mother of all search engines
    www.mamma.com
    A fast comprehensive search engine.
    Some pictures on this page are by John Goodwin and are used courtesy of The United Methodist Church's ®General Board of Global Ministries, which holds the copyright.