Utah Children was founded in 1985 by a small group of individuals – Irene Fisher, Norma Matheson, and Lillian Garrett - concerned about improving the lives of children. In 2003, Utah Children became Voices for Utah Children. We are a member of Voices for America’s Children.

Voices for Utah Children is the only statewide, multi-issue child advocacy organization that speaks out on behalf of children. We are a credible, nonpartisan, and forceful voice for children and families. For more than twenty years, we have improved children’s lives by combining policy expertise with the power of strategic communications and advocacy to achieve real results.

WE COMMUNICATE the needs of children through research, publications, media campaigns and advocacy to ensure that children’s needs are known and met. One of our best-known, and most used, publications is the KIDS COUNT Measures of Child Well-Being book that is published annually. It is an important tool for planning and action by community leaders, policymakers, advocates and others working toward changes that will improve the quality of life for all children.

WE INFLUENCE policies and decisions to ensure that the best interest of children is our state’s priority. We work with state legislators as they make the decisions that effect how most services are administered. That includes providing them background and analysis on specific legislation. And on federal matters, we help educate our congressional delegations abut how their decisions impact children in Utah.

WE FOCUS ON BRINGING THE POWER OF A COMMUNITY TOGETHER through legislators, business executives, private funders, government agency representatives, nonprofit directors, and ordinary citizens to identify and resolve the tough problems facing children and youth.