Elected and other government officials—whether at the city, county, state, or federal level—are best suited to both initiate and benefit from child & youth impact assessments as they decide on new policies.
Tools for Government Officials
- Kids Impact Initiative’s fact sheet, Child & Youth Impact Assessments: Helping Elected Officials Improve the Lives of Children & Youth, outlines why and how elected and other government officials can start using CYIAs and provides examples of places using them today.
- Adapt this template ordinance to authorize use of child & youth impact assessments at any level of government.
Examples of Incorporating Child & Youth Impact Assessments into Government Practices
- Officials in Santa Clara County, California, Champion Use of Impact Assessments: This case study provides a good example of how a county elected official championed the creation of child impact statements and built support to pass a resolution instructing county agencies to use them.
- Government Officials in Scotland Use Impact Assessments as They Consider All Policies: In 2021, a bill in Scotland was passed to make the preparation and publishing of child rights and well-being impact assessments (CRWIAs) mandatory. This requirement is expected to go into effect in 2024.
For assistance in implementing impact assessments in your community, contact info@kidsimpact.org.