OUR ROOTS: WHO WE ARE

 This website was developed by volunteers. It grew from work by Charles Bruner and others in Iowa in a "Caucus for Kids" campaign,  to provide information during the 2020 primary on candidate positions, both Democrat and Republican, on key child policy concerns. 

This website also is owned and managed by Charlie. All labor has been donated and members of labor are among a diverse group of colleagues and volunteers that Charlie connects with in his work.

Charlie has over 40 years experience in child policy advocacy through three dubious backgrounds: as an academic studying politics and government; as a politician serving in the Iowa General Assembly; and as a founder of a child policy research and advocacy organization that lobbied on behalf of children to make sure that the systems designed to support them do not fail. Some of Charlie's thinking and work is found on: www.childequity.org.

For the last 6 Presidential elections, the Child and Family Policy Center (now Common Good Iowa), often collaborating with the Partnership for America's Children, Every Child Matters, and First Focus, have sought to focus Presidential candidate and press attention on children during the Iowa First in the Nation primary season.

While there often was not a great deal of press attention in 2020 nor questions raised in the debates, there was much more attention to and depth of response by candidates to child policies.

In fact, in many respects, "child policy came of age" during the 2020 election, including a very fulsome overall set of Plans from the Biden-Harris campaign on children -- what eventually some press reports would call a "transformational agenda" and a "New Deal" for America's children.

RESOURCES BELOW: Based upon ones for earlier elections, 20/20 Vision produced Securing America's Future that describes six key child policy issue areas, what government's role has been with respect to them, how voters think about them, and what questions candidates need to address in speaking to them. 20/20 Vision also produced a compilation and  Presidential Candidates' Website Analysis.

Public opinion polls over the decades have shown that voters care deeply about children and their families. At a very general level, they would like government to invest more and direct greater attention to children. While there is broad support for various specific child policies and investments (such as Head Start and child abuse prevention), there also are clear differences in how voters view the needs of children and the threats to their well-being. Understanding these is important to creating a dialogue to move forward on child policy.

RESOURCES BELOW: A 2019 poll conducted by Selzer & Associates of Iowa voters presents information showing voters wanting greater emphasis on children but having different views of what government's focus needs to be. To the Bottom of the Trump Vote, an analysis of public opinion polls after the 2016 election suggests the particular shift in voting among white, rural, less-educated voters in the Midwest and what that implies for future elections. 

Charlie Bruner has over 40 years experience in child policy advocacy through three dubious backgrounds: as an academic studying politics and government; as a politician serving in the Iowa General Assembly (from 1979 through 1990); and as a founder of a child policy research and advocacy organization and lobbyist on behalf of children. The mission of the Center Charlie founded was to "link research and policy on issues vital to children and families and advocate for policies and investments based upon evidence."

This career has involved work at the state, community, and national levels on a wide range of child and family issues, often working with foundations and other policy organizations with expertise and passion in promoting child well-being. Charlie views his current role as a FCPA (freelance child policy agitator). This website is one of his places for that agitation, but it really draws heavily on the work and expertise of those  other leaders and organizations working to improve policies and systems serving children and families. More information about Charlie and his writings on various topics is found on www.childequity.org.