While most children live in secure environments and reach young adulthood healthy both emotionally and physically, we know that the opportunity to become productive members of society eludes thousands of Wyoming children.
We challenged you to Step Up for Children on September 16th at the Capital or at your local county courthouse and many of you did!
Wyoming Step Up for Kids Day Events
Albany County - Laramie
Estimated attendance: 150
Highlights:
- 4th and 5th grade students reading data about Wyoming Kids and asking "What are you going to do about it?"
- Senator Massie talking about introducing legislation to increase eligibility guidelines for Children's Health Insurance
- Jena Sanchez spoke about a families struggle to make ends meet with limited income
- 16 booths distributing information
- Face painting by students from Association of Student Social Workers
- Giant inflatable "bounce a roo slide"
- Food and drinks!
Fremont - Lander
Estimated attendance: 45-50
Speakers: Linda Barton, Keja Whiteman (county commissioner)
Highlights:
-
Bill of Rights read by children from Smart Start Academy
- one child cited that children have the right to have good food and a home to live in,
- another child wrote that children have the right to make things beautiful
- Booths from local agencies and organization
- Fremont County Clerk was on site to register six new voters and update addresses for others
- Entertainment by Lander High School Cheerleaders
Johnson County - Buffalo
Report pending
Laramie County - Cheyenne
Estimated Attendance 100
Highlights:
- First Lady Nancy Freudenthal read the Governor's Proclamation and spoke eloquently about our honoring children
- Carla Young spoke about moving from poverty to earning a living wage and being able to support her three sons
- Dr. Robert Prentice - spoke about the need to care for our children's health needs
- Theresa Thompson - spoke about the unique challenges of parenting a child with mental illness
- Laurie Hutchinson - an alumnus of the foster care system spoke about the challenges of transitioning out of foster care with limited support
- Kim Styvar - a parent of a child with special needs talked about the difficulty in holding the family together and obtaining necessary services for her child with special needs
- Retired District Court Judge Gary Hartman spoke about the need to find alternatives to incarceration for our youth
- East High Drum Line got the audience pumped up prior to the speakers
- Six current legislators in attendance as well as a few candidates
Natrona County - Casper
Estimated Attendance 200 +
- Children from Head Start, Child Development Center, St. Anthony's School and Woods Learning Center attended
- Performance by choir from Boys and Girls Club
- Welcome from Mayor Bergatolio
- Dominique Maetas and Ricky Valazquez from Boys and Girls Club spoke
- Pat Hans shared the perspective of a foster parent
- John Starnes spoke about adoption
- Dr. Granum spoke about immunization and how advocates helped to move the issue forward
- Call to action by emcee Bob Price to ask candidates to discuss children's issues
- Current policymakers and candidates were in attendance
Park County - Cody & Powell
Wear red to support children in our community
Highlights:
- Hundreds of people wore red in support of children and talked about it!
- City workers in Powell wore red
- Child care providers and children in the program wore red
- Powell High School included Step Up for Kids in their homecoming celebration
- Cody school district sent out an e-blast about Step Up for Kids
- A local radio station will do a program in early October to talk about children's issues
Sheridan County - Sheridan
Estimated attendance: 30 +
Highlights:
- Dr. Lissanna Follari - early care and education expert
- Jessica Cantrell
- School resource officer
- Mayor Dave Kinskey read proclamation
- Presentation of children's bill of rights
Sublette County - Pinedale
Estimated attendance: 70+
Highlights:
- Speakers spoke on a range of issues that impact children from education, to health care, to child care, to mental health needs
- Mayor closed the event with a proclamation
Sweetwater County - Green River
Estimated attendance: 30 +
Highlights:
- Performance by YWCA child care children
- Speakers from: United Way, Head Start, YWCA and Child Care Finder
- Refreshments provided by United Way
Teton County - Jackson
Estimated attendance: Around 20 children and 20 adults
Highlights: Our event was held on the lawn in front of the courthouse. Judy Montagne, the Executive Director of the Children’s Learning Center, introduced the event and the Mayor. The Mayor spoke about the importance of children’s issues and read the proclamation. A classroom of children from the Children’s Learning Center sang songs. After the speeches and activities everyone enjoyed a BBQ lunch. It was a beautiful day for a picnic.
Uinta County - Evanston
Estimated attendance: 150
Highlights:
- Mayor Will Davis, Council member Dave Crofts, Rep Owen Petersen and Rep Saundra Meyer all spoke about the importance of investing time and money into our children early and always
- Rep. Meyer spoke about how children are our future and if we don't step up and put money into them there will be no future
- Outstanding performance by children from the Evanston Child Development Center and friends
Weston County - Newcastle
Estimated attendance: 25-30
Highlights: The speakers were received very well, and there were lots of positive comments on what the speakers had to say.