Louisiana Partnership for Children and Families

Mission / History

MISSION

The mission of the Partnership is to improve the well-being of children and their families through public policy advocacy, communication, and the promotion of evidence-based programs.

HISTORY

In 2004, two statewide organizations, the You Who Coalition, which maintained a large membership, notable leadership and successful advocacy in the Juvenile Justice Reform movement, and the Louisiana Alliance for Children and Families, part of a nationwide organization that served and advocated for the rights of children, merged to form the Partnership.

In its first year of operation, the Partnership made early childhood (ages zero to five) a priority. We continue to work to educate the public and the state legislators and policymakers about just how crucial this stage of life is, and why BrightStart, the state's initiative to build a comprehensive system for children, is so critical. The Partnership has successfully led efforts to change public policy, resulting in the passage of much legislation including the creation of the School Readiness Tax Credits (supporting quality child care) and the expansion of pre-kindergarten, among others.