Wayne Ford began his journey in the inner-city of Washington, DC, and arrived in the Iowa Legislature as the tenth African American ever elected. Ford founded Urban Dreams, a Des Moines, Iowa, human service center, to help inner-city kids create and reach their own goals.

After years of beer and alcohol promotions using jack-o-lanterns, paper masks, glow-in-the-dark bottles, and trick-or-treat bags, child advocates started saying, Hands off Halloween! This national campaign, led by the Center on Alcohol Advertising (CAA), helps groups organize locally to take action against irresponsible alcohol advertising. Learn how one message to the Connect for Kids discussion group prompted adults to take action in their own communities.

Marianne Larned wanted to show kids the gift of giving, so she invited 100 friends to share their stories of working to make the world a better place. Stone Soup for the World, a celebration of compassion and community service, is the result.

Educator Eugene Williams helps more families learn together by getting them connected to the Internet at home.

President Bush and Congressional leaders have warned that domestic spending will be taking a hit in the federal budget for FY 2006. Connect for Kids advocacy director Jan Richter says we all need to learn more about how federal dollars work for kids and families in our communities, and what the proposed cuts will mean.

Millions of children rely on Social Security payments. What might reform of the system mean for them? Rob Capriccioso reports.

This tool was created by the Forum for Youth Investment group to help young people and adults develop a common language for talking about how to improve schools.

This Pathways to College Network toolbox helps state and school district leaders identify key steps to make the college-prep curriculum the standard program of study for all students.

The Human Services Policy Center (HSPC)'s mission is to improve the well-being of children, families and communities. We conduct policy and data analysis and provide training, technical assistance and consultation to further this mission.

The mission of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT is to improve the health, safety, education, economic security, and development of Rhode Island's children.