Community Network Member:

Philadelphia Children's Commission

Established in 2000 by executive order by Mayor John Street, the Philadelphia Children's Commission is committed to improving the health, safety, well-being and development of the children and youth of Philadelphia, and to ensuring the implementation of sustained policy that recognizes that attention to the needs of children and youth as a city priority. The Commission is an independent body comprised of leaders from the city's public, private, corporate and philanthropic communities.

The Commission's purpose is three-fold:

1.) to act as a champion for the children of Philadelphia by focusing on priority issues that most impact the city's children and youth

2.) to provide leadership on issues affecting children and strategies to improve their well-being including the implementation and use of data, the identification of best-practice solutions and the promotion of proven interventions

3.) to engage high-level stakeholders together with all citizens in this vital endeavor.

PCC's Top 3 Issues:

1. EVERY child in Philadelphia should be CONNECTED to one or more caring adults and should live in a safe, stable and supportive family with parents and caregivers who have the necessary supports, learning opportunities and tools. Neighborhoods must also have the tools to help children grow up free from exposure to or involvement in violence and develop a sense of vision and hope for their own future
2. EVERY child in Philadelphia should be born healthy, thrive developmentally, and have the opportunity benefit from their education. This is accomplished in part by assuring that the city sustains and increases its investments in quality early childhood programs, after school programs and public education at all levels.
3. EVERY policy and budget decision in Philadelphia should be considered in the context of a “child impact statement” that assesses the impact that policy or budget action will make on the city’s children and youth. Philadelphia should use relevant and meaningful data, in real time, to guide these important policy and budget decisions.

PCC's "Big Question" for the candidates:

“And How are the Children?” How would you answer that question, in regards to Philadelphia’s children today, and how would you like the answer to change/improve during your administration - and what specific steps, strategies and investments will you make to ensure that outcomes for ALL of the city’s children improve under your watch?

Programs/Initiatives/Services provides by PCC for the community:

Community Report Cards, providing data about the health and well being of the city’s children at the neighborhood/community level.

Leadership: Ensuring that the needs, voices and concerns of the city’s children and youth are heard at all levels of city leadership both in and out of government. Bringing corporate, academic, civic, foundation, faith-based and other leaders to the table with the specific agenda of re-framing the conversation to ensure that children’s issues get the attention they need and deserve in public and private arenas.