Children’s Alliance chief recognized nationally

Maine’s leading child advocate has received national recognition for her work on behalf of the state’s children. Elinor Goldberg, president of the Maine Children’s Alliance, was presented the Florette Angel Memorial Award on Friday at the annual convention in Washington of Voices for America’s Children, a network of state child advocacy organizations.

The award is named in memory of a renowned child advocate from West Virginia.

Bill Bentley, president and chief executive officer of the Voices for America’s Children, lauded Goldberg’s “dynamic leadership” in improving the lives of children, and said the Maine Children’s Alliance enjoys a national reputation for excellence and “energetic advocacy,” according to a prepared statement.

A number of Maine policy leaders issued statements in praise of Goldberg’s work, including Gov. John Baldacci, first lady Karen Baldacci, House Speaker Glenn Cummings, Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell and Brenda Harvey, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. Karen Baldacci, chairwoman of the Maine Children’s Cabinet, called Goldberg “a national leader and a state treasure.”

Reached for comment Friday, Goldberg said she was “moderately embarrassed” by the recognition. “Lots of people do what I do,” she said. The award, she added, “is about being a relentless advocate to make the world a better place for kids.”

Goldberg, who founded the Maine Children’s Alliance in 1994, said Maine policymakers typically set aside political and philosophic debates when it comes to doing what’s best for children.

Since the Maine Children’s Alliance was established, the percentage of Maine children without health care coverage has fallen from 14 percent to 6 percent, quality standards have been set for child care programs, and organizations have compiled statistical information for the organization’s annual publication of the Maine Kids Count Data Book.

“It’s gratifying to have people putting out the data and then using the data to make better decisions about what they’re going to do in public policy,” Goldberg said.

Information about the Maine Children’s Alliance can be found at www.mekids.org.