HISTORY AND IMPACT
HISTORY
CCF was established in 1990 as a non-partisan political action committee (PAC) in Washington state. It grew out of the defeat of the Children's Initiative, a 1989 ballot measure that would have created a tax to ensure funding to support programs and policies for the well-being of children in Washington. Children's advocates recognized that the Initiative failed, in part, because children lacked an effective voice in the electoral process. Our founders agreed that it was essential for that to change -- and took action.
With a goal to raise and provide money to candidates for the Washington state legislature who would be champions for children, a total of $1,850 was donated to four candidates in CCF's first election cycle in 1990; in the 2022 election cycle, CCF staff and board members interviewed more than 100 candidates and contributed more than $52,000 to support their critical legislative races statewide. Today, we are proud to work with elected leaders and issue advocates to connect the dots between campaign commitments and policy outcomes for children, youth, and families across the state.
IMPACT
Since CCF's founding, the number of legislators who make children, youth, and families their priority has grown exponentially...and there's more work to do. We are the state’s longest-standing, non-partisan PAC dedicated to helping elect legislators who will fight for the health, safety, education, and welfare of the children of Washington state. We are one of only a handful of children’s PACs in the country, and the nation’s oldest statewide PAC for children.
In addition to helping elect legislative champions, CCF also supports select statewide races and ballot measures that directly impact the well-being of children and families.
CCF has played a unique and impactful role in the state, including:
-
Helping elect and support key leaders who have driven major policy changes on early learning, child welfare, basic needs (including health, housing, and nutrition), juvenile justice reform, and more.
-
Raising awareness and visibility of children and youth issues to candidates and elected officials running for the legislature.
-
Being instrumental in facilitating the creation of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
-
Engaging in significant legislative advocacy to advance early learning priorities and strengthen a broad legislative coalition supporting children’s issues.