Promise the Children
The NJ UU Network for Promise the Children has grown in numbers and influence. The Unitarian Universal Service Committee supports the network, and as one of five state networks is now a leading participant in the nationwide advocacy in support of children'¹s issues.
Many congregations helped gather vital information on what is happening with Welfare Reform. With both the Association for Children of New Jersey and NJ Legal Services we¹ve worked to tell the personal stories of how these drastic changes affected the lives of over 50,000 families in our state. An interim report, in which we had a part, was published by the Work, Poverty and Welfare Evaluation Project in 1998. In that same year, the Network and our UU clergy sponsored a Sunday where the pulpit, in varying ways, addressed children's issues. For example, Charlie spoke about the continuing effort to have the US ratify the convention on the Rights of the Child. We supported these efforts through a petition.
In January 1999, SPAN (State Parents Advocacy Network) held an advocacy training session for Network participants. Under a grant from the Network we will continue to assist in its advocacy effort. Dianna Autin of our Church is the executive director of SPAN. The Network is also working with STEPS (Solutions to End Poverty Soon) so that our efforts are not in isolation but rather an on-going collaboration with other organizations concerned with children. We have initiated discussions with other religious denominations on how to coordinate our efforts to increase our effectiveness.
Thanks the support of our minister, our Church leaders, the board and members who have given unstintingly we have assumed leadership both internally and at the Township and State levels. We can continue to be a significant contributor in behalf of children so long as we work together.
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