The Public Policy Committee (PPC) was formed to ease the suffering of children through advocacy and education. Committee membership is open to any Everychild member who wishes to join and has an interest in learning more about advocacy or policy associated with the needs of the children. No prior advocacy or policy experience is required. There are no term limits or caps on committee membership and there are many different ways to participate on the committee. The committee meets once a month for 2 hours. Workshops and other events are scheduled separately.

The PPC offers the opportunity for Everychild members to educate themselves on specific children’s issues, receive advocacy training and act as a voice on behalf of at-risk local children by advocating for systemic or legislative changes which improve their lives. Committee members are offered access to policy workshops and advocacy training in selected children’s policy issues areas as well as given opportunities to participate in community forums and workshops.

Trained committee members may offer policy research and support to the other Everychild committees, and can play an important role in monitoring policy impacts on Everychild potential and current grantees.

The PPC  considers pending state and local legislation that impact children and may provide reports summarizing pending legislation or implementation efforts which impacts local children or issue e-alerts to members when more immediate action is required.

Beginning in 2012, the Committee will assume responsibility for the Everychild Policy Committee webpages, and an Everychild Policy Blog, both aimed at increasing the Committee’s ability to educate members about local children’s policy issues.

Be a Voice for Children: Committee members are encouraged to learn how to write editorials, opinion pieces or summaries of children’s policy news, conferences or events for the membership.

Become an Issue Expert: Committee members may chose to undertake responsibility for a selected committee-adopted Focus Area. Current Committee Focus Areas are: Foster Care, Infants and Toddlers Ages 0-3, Homeless Children & Youth, and Children in the Juvenile Justice System.

Become a Community Thought Leader: Trained committee members are often invited to join with other funders and child advocates to raise awareness about needs of local children, or to educate local legislators on children’s policy concerns, and may work with local leaders on practical and legislative policy solutions.