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 Take
Action for Kids
 At
Home
As a parent, guardian or individual, I:
- Listen to the young people around me and respect their opinions.
- Encourage young people to meet high expectations and to take
responsibility for their own actions.
- Attempt to be a positive adult role model to my own children
and other youth.
- Set rules and stick to them. I make it clear which behaviors
are acceptable and which are not.
- Stay in touch with my children's child care providers and teachers.
- Schedule family time every week: - have a family meal, turn
off the TV, play a game, talk, take a walk.
- Help my children be healthy by serving nutritious meals, and
by encouraging regular physical activity.
- Schedule and attend regular preventive medical and dental appointments
for my children.
- Know my children's friends and their parents. Talk with other
adults about my rules and expectations for my children.
- Tell my children repeatedly that, no matter what they do, I
will always love them.
In Neighborhoods
As a neighbor, I:
- Know my neighbors.
- Organize or participate in neighborhood activities such as a
clean-up day, neighborhood watch program or block party.
- Know the names of the young people in my neighborhood, and keep
a watchful eye on children in my neighborhood
- Participate in programs such as Safe Havens or Safe Rides that
help children avoid dangerous situations.
- Encourage local police to establish a positive relationship
with neighborhood youth by inviting officers to speak at schools,
churches and neighborhood activities.
- Get involved with my local recreation department such as coaching,
sponsoring a team, donating equipment.
- Offer to watch neighborhood children for parents in need.
- Understand local budgeting process and vote in local elections.
 In
Schools
As a parent, educator or individual, I:
- Take responsibility for understanding school board, levy and
bond issues--and vote.
- Attend local school board meetings and share my opinions.
- Donate one hour each week to read, tutor or assist teachers
at a nearby school.
- Know the principal of my school.
- Have invited a teacher or principal to speak at my neighborhood
or civic organization.
- Support keeping the library, gym or other facilities of my local
school open at night for neighborhood children and families.
- Am a member of my local PTA, PTO or PTSA.
- Participate in "Back to School Night" and similar
events.
- Continue to admire and reinforce the positive behaviors displayed
by young people at school.
- Work with my neighborhood school to develop ways parents can
be more involved in education.
- Encourage all students to reach their academic potential and
ensure that schools have the resources to educate every child.
- Encourage schools to work with non-profit organizations to provide
before- and after-school programs and care for children.
- Help my neighborhood school develop partnerships with businesses,
with senior citizens, and others.
 In
Health Care
As a health care professional, I:
- Have a streamlined check-in and check-out process for parents
and caregivers who bring children for appointments.
- Vary my office hours to help accommodate the needs of working
parents.
- Partner with local schools and/or community centers to provide
health care information.
- Encourage others to join me in volunteering my professional
services.
- Maintain referral information for a wide range of non-medical
services.
- Use well-child visits to talk to parents about safety issues,
such as car seats, bike helmets, child-proof storage of firearms,
etc.
- Talk to parents and older children about the health effects
of smoking and second-hand smoke.
- Encourage parents to read to their children.
- Have considered offering special hours, waiting areas or
services to adolescents.
In Worship
My place of worship:
- Conducts intergenerational worship services--working to bring
the adult congregation members and the children together.
- Helps members of the congregation with special needs by offering
to spend time with their children.
- Has considered starting a mentoring program.
- Dedicates a monthly sermon to children and the issues that affect
them.
- Has set aside a portion of funding for special youth related
activities.
- Includes information about children and youth issues in its
bulletin, newsletter or program. This information includes topics
such as finding top-quality child care, the importance of immunizations,
how to encourage healthy eating, etc.
- Provides after-school programs for the youth in the surrounding
neighborhoods.
- Encourages congregants to donate time, talent and treasure to
organizations that benefit children.
In Business
My place of business:
- Allows employees to use personal and/or sick days without losing
pay to stay home with an ill child.
- Offers flexible hours. Allows employees to take their lunch
at any time during the day to accommodate doctor's appointments,
school visits and other needs.
- Helps with child care dilemmas, e.g. provides child care on
site or facilitates child care placements.
- Provides internships, summer or part-time jobs for young people.
- Has set up a scholarship foundation for employees' children.
- Distributes paycheck stuffers on a various child-related topics.
- Participates in "bring your child to work" day.
- Forms partnerships with local schools.
- Has considered allowing employees an hour a week to volunteer
time with young people.
- Provides paid parental leave at the birth or adoption of a child.
- Offers a benefit to help offset the cost of adoption.
- Has formulated policies to help parents when schools close due
to inclement weather.
 Everywhere
As an individual, I:
- Educate myself on children's issues.
- Learn candidates' stands on children's issues--and vote.
- Write to newspapers and other media to encourage coverage of
children's issues.
- Financially support organizations that help children and youth.
- Learn how to be a more effective advocate for children's needs.
- Join with others to be a Voice for Children.
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