Step Up for Kids Action Day
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
11:00 a.m.
The Pennsylvania Capitol Building
Main Rotunda
Harrisburg

The Step Up for Kids press conference held at the state Capitol on Sept. 16 was a great success. The purpose of the event - held in conjunction with PA Partnerships for Children, the PA State Council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), PA State Education Association (PSEA), and Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) – was to bring attention to every candidate for state and federal office to keep the focus on children and youth issues during this election year.

A statewide coalition of children’s advocates joined together as part of a nonpartisan nationwide call for action being held in 48 states to draw attention to the millions of children in this country who live in poverty, are abused or neglected, don’t have access to early education or quality child care, have no health insurance or have difficulty transitioning from youth to adulthood.

Child advocates, parents, child care providers, teachers, health care workers and children from across the Commonwealth also attended. Press conferences were held simultaneously at state capitols across the country. Speakers addressed the need for improvements to the child welfare system, child care, health care, education and afterschool programs. In 2007, there were more than 24,000 reports of suspected child abuse in PA, including 46 deaths – deaths that could have potentially been averted. More than 20,000 children are living in the foster care system and more than 133,000 children are uninsured.