In my five years as editor of Connect for Kids, a lot has changed. As I prepare to take my leave -- this will be my last entry to this blog, as I head off for some new adventures with my family in Nairobi, Kenya -- it's fun to look back and see how far we've come.

This web site was created as an experiment, to see if the communications potential of the Internet could be used to elevate public awareness of the issues that affect children and families, and to encourage individuals and communities to take action on behalf of children.

We used to worry that site visitors' internet connections might be overwhelmed by too many pictures. Now we can confidently post video and audio on the site, without worrying about causing too many crashes. And we've come a long way in understanding how people use the Internet, and how to present information in ways that engage our audience.

One of the most exciting developments, and one that seems likely to continue, is the explosion in the quantity and quality of information that is becoming available on the well-being of children, most of it accessible through the Web. A prime example is the No Child Left Behind law -- whatever its flaws, and there are many, NCLB is generating mountains of information that educators and concerned citizens can use to push for the kinds of school reform that make a difference to kids.

Meanwhile, even small nonprofits operating on shoe-string budgets are often able to maintain websites that offer a window on their work to the entire world -- sharing their ideas, insights, and hard-earned lessons on how to be effective.

For an organization like CFK, the challenge these days is trying to stay on top of this flood of information. I look forward to gaining a new perspective on the work in the months ahead, as I become just another loyal CFK site visitor, counting on my colleagues to keep me informed about the children's issues I care so much about.

Keep up your good work, and keep us informed...
Susan