Step Up For Kids

Each year Step Up for Kids brings together thousands of people to show widespread support for investments in children and families. Participants include child advocates, politicians, parents and kids. These non-partisan events across the states raise awareness among voters and political candidates alike of the issues American children in working families face, among them poverty; lack of access to high-quality affordable child care and early learning opportunities as well as after-school programs and affordable college. Spearheaded by Every Child Matters in Washington, D.C., Step Up for Kids will enter its ninth year in 2016.

Step Up events have ranged from rallies and family-friendly festivals to candidate forums and press conferences. They have included speakers who addressed the needs of children both nationwide and in their own states, including teachers, nurses, pediatricians, social workers, politicians and others. The idea is to inform those in attendance about the serious challenges so many American children face and how important it is that we work together to close the opportunity gap so that every child has a chance at success.

For more information about Step Up, see the Frequently Asked Questions.