Caucus for Kids

The Children’s Policy Coalition, a network of over 20 non-profit organizations, realized that there was a lack of children’s representation among the usual hot-button issues that rise to the top of candidate platforms. The Children’s Policy Coalition then formed the Caucus for Kids issue campaign to provide an electoral advocacy arm for the non-profits involved in the coalition.

SPPG supported the Caucus for Kids campaign by providing staff for the project. Our team of program managers created the campaign work plan and offered support in many ways, including meeting with presidential campaign staff, attending events across the state to connect with voters and caucus-goers, and hosting voter registration drives and debate watch parties with a focus on children’s issues. We also furthered advocacy efforts by writing and distributing opinion editorials and letters to the editor to statewide publications, conducting an analysis of primary debates, and drawing up press releases.

SPPG’s main focus for the Caucus for Kids campaign was to get as many presidential candidates on record about the issues that most impact Iowa’s children and families. We achieved this goal by attending candidate events and asking questions during live Q&A, as well as by inviting candidates to have facilitated conversations with advocates from the Children’s Policy Coalition. All of these candidate conversations and encounters were recorded and made readily available for Iowa voters, so that they could caucus with kids in mind.