LINC joined several other community partnership and groups to participate in Child Advocacy Day at the Missouri State Capitol on April 1.

LINC is one of 21 community partnership in the state of Missouri and used the opportunity to promote their new involvement with Missouri Kids Count - a venerable effort supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation through its national Kids Count.

LINC used the opportunity to visit with area state representatives and senators and to share some of LINC's work through a compilation of infographics related to various LINC initiatives.

Over 400 people attended the 33rd Annual Missouri Child Advocacy Day in Jefferson City, MO on April 1, 2015 sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for Children, Youth and Families. 

LINC was represented by the LINCWorks Director and Caring Communities Site Coordinators from Garcia, Hartman, Richardson, Bryant and Procter.

LINC was one of several community partners present from the Family and Community Trust (FACT). The FACT delegation was promoting Missouri Kids Count, which provides reliable statewide data to spark collaboration, inform policy making, and make sound investments.

Missouri Kids Count and its members and partners were recognized during the Missouri House Of Representatives session by Rep. Kathryn Swan from Cape Girardeau, who serves as the chair of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.

LINC staff also participated in the planned march to the capital and rally for children. The march to the capital began at the entrance to the Truman Building and led into the first floor rotunda where Child Advocacy Day attendees, which included teachers, youth workers, and child advocates heard from lawmakers on child welfare initiatives being undertaking in Jefferson City.

State representatives and senators opened their doors after the rally and took the time to meet with youth advocate workers in their districts.

LINC staff had the opportunity to meet with the representatives from their district to provide information on their communities.

Child Advocacy Day was an excellent opportunity for youth advocates and child care workers as well as legislators to come together and share experiences and show that the work done for children at the local levels has full support from the capital.