Why use Child Impact Statements?
Children are disenfranchised.
Although children are recognized as citizens in their own right, since they cannot vote they are largely excluded from the political process. Child impact statements will help ensure that their best interests are promoted and protected.
Our government structures and processes can sometimes fail children.
Policies affecting children are frequently fragmented across a number of government departments and agencies, and their interests are often secondary to other more influential policy agendas. This low level of visibility and lack of coherence and coordination of policy can be addressed through the implementation of child impact statements.
Children are disproportionately affected by government policy and provision.
Many, if not all, of the issues that come before the Shelby County Board of Commissioners have a direct or indirect impact on the well-being of children and youth in our community. Given that children represent one of the largest groups in our community and are still in the process of growth and maturation, they are both quantitatively and qualitatively more vulnerable to the positive and negative effects of government activity.
Good policies which have a positive impact on children today are an investment in our future.
The financial and social costs of poor policy, resulting in a failure to secure children’s healthy development, are high. The implementation of child impact statements can have the opposite effect and help bring about policy changes for the betterment of children, the most vulnerable members of our community.