Voices for Utah Children

I wanted to send a big thanks to PRB and the U.S. Census Bureau for letting us host the ACS on the Road event today. It was a great opportunity for data users to learn, connect, and share feedback. Special thanks to Director Santos, for joining us, and to our Utah Data User Panelists Heidi Prior, Chanel Flores, Martín C. Mu?oz, MPA, and Joshua Yost, AICP!

Exciting opportunity alert! ?? We're looking for a skilled policy analyst to join our team. Discover more about the role and apply today at https://lnkd.in/gCxQCu2p.

We just released an updated blog on Amendment A! Dive into the specifics of the amendment, discover how it impacts our state’s education funding, and find resources on how you can get involved. Check it out today! ???? https://lnkd.in/gfdapp4T

Congratulations to Stephanie L. Benally on this well-deserved award! We are deeply grateful for the amazing work she does to support Utah’s Native American children and families and we are so honored to have her on our board! ????

In partnership with Blue Mountain Hospital and Utah Department of Health and Human Services, we are excited to announce the Stronger Together Health & Community Medicaid Event in San Juan County on Saturday, October 12th! ?? Get help with Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and more! ? Meet Utah’s Medicaid Director & share your feedback ??? Prizes, resources, & lunch will be provided Come check it out at the Blanding Arts & Events Center. Don’t miss this chance to connect and make your voice heard! This event is free and open to the public. Register now at bit.ly/blandingst!

Check out this great opportunity to learn more about the proposed Constitutional Amendment A! Register for the discussion at: https://lu.ma/v586qwwm Over the summer, we broke down the details of the amendment. If you're interested in learning more before the discussion on September 18, visit: https://lnkd.in/gCCYTUHt

As part of Welcoming Week, we invite you to celebrate storytelling and preserving personal histories with us! We are excited to host this free, family-friendly event, with the Utah Historical Society and BelongInUtah! This is your chance to share your story—whether it’s about moving to a new place, finding love, achieving a goal, or passing down a family recipe. We’ll have booths where you can: ?? Record your story ? Write it down ?? Scan and save your photos, recipes, and other meaningful items Come connect with others and contribute to Utah’s rich history. We’d love to see you there! Sign up today! bit.ly/StoriesUT24 ?? Date: Saturday, September 14th ?? Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM ?? Location: Glendale Library, 1367 Concord St, Salt Lake City, UT 84104 ?? Food: We’ve got you covered! ?? RSVP: bit.ly/StoriesUT24

Today Better Utah Institute released a new report on the Utah income tax constitutional amendment. The amendment would do away with the mandate that earmark’s Utah’s income tax towards public education, giving lawmakers the power to redirect these funds at their discretion. This report offers a deeper look into why such a move would put our public education at risk. Be sure to check it out: https://buff.ly/3MmfE6z

If you’re in the Ogden area, we’d love to hear your thoughts on a community project we’re working on to launch a community center for K-12 children and families in the Ogden School District. Please take this quick 5-minute survey to share your input on the types of services and activities the center should offer.

Big changes could be coming to how Utah’s income tax revenue is allocated. Currently, this revenue is earmarked to fund public education. This November, Utah voters will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment (Amendment A) that would allow lawmakers to redirect this funding elsewhere, as they see fit. Our Director, Moe Hickey, recently shared why the outcome of this vote could have significant implications for the future of education and why it’s crucial to keep the earmark in place: “We’re asking schools to do so much more than they did even five or ten years ago… We need more counselors in schools. We need more mental health professionals in schools because we have growing demand. Our rural districts need more support—they don’t have a local property tax base to draw from to provide adequate coverage for these needs, and yet we’re not funding those things.” Check out the full article and learn more about the proposed amendment here: https://lnkd.in/gW9iTJfK