October 2026 Newsletter
Kansas Action for Children | October 30, 2026
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This Election, Vote for Kids
This election, different visions for Kansas kids and families are on the ballot. Every election reflects what everyday Kansans want for their communities, and this one is no different.
The choices voters make shape the kind of future we can build together. And those choices show up later in whether a child can see a doctor or a family can afford enough groceries for every meal.
Right now, tens of thousands of Kansas kids aren't getting what they need to thrive. Between August 2026 and September 2026, another 8,000 Kansans — including about 3,000 kids — lost their SNAP benefits. And new federal data shows that 61,000 Kansas kids didn't have access to health coverage in 2025.
These shifts are the result of deliberate policy choices, and they land hardest on families already struggling to make ends meet. How state leaders respond — and whether they make room in the state budget to help families — is something every Kansan should have a stake in.
This year, Kansas voters will elect a new U.S. Senator, U.S. House members, all statewide offices (including Governor), and all 125 members of the Kansas House of Representatives.
If you haven't voted already, now is your chance to weigh in on the future of our state. Look closely at the candidates on your ballot, and ask who has a concrete plan to make a better life for the next generation of Kansans.
Vote by Tuesday, November 3. Find your polling place or review your sample ballot on the Secretary of State's website.
New on the KAC Blog
Nutrition and Hunger Report — Earlier this month, we shared our 2026 KIDS COUNT® Report: Child Nutrition & Hunger in Kansas. We’re excited to provide this resource that highlights the primary data detailing child hunger and the programs that help fill the gap when families face tough times. As SNAP enrollment numbers continue to worsen, it’s more important than ever to learn what supports Kansas families can access to keep kids fed. Read the report.
Child Literacy — One of the strongest ways parents and caregivers can prepare their children for K-12 schooling is through reading consistently to them as young children. With October being National Book Month, we're highlighting some of the data around early child literacy – and tips for parents to instill a love of reading in their children early in life. Read here.
Property Tax Explainer — There has been no shortage of campaign promises this election season focused on lowering Kansans' property taxes. But this issue goes much deeper than simply reining in budgets and lowering rates. With property taxes making up a significant portion of local government budgets (which fund police, K-12 schools, and other community services), lawmakers have a hard challenge to make housing more affordable while providing local governments with taxing mechanisms that allow them to provide for their communities. Learn how property taxes work and recent legislation that has tried to address rising costs.
Federal Data — National data for 2025 came in from the U.S. Census Bureau, the federal agency governing much of the data that informs the issues advocates care about. On September 15, the U.S. Census Bureau released national income, health, and poverty data that showed little change from 2024 to 2025. While the number of uninsured children throughout the country slightly decreased from 6.1% (2024) to 5.8% (2025), medical expenses were one of the leading factors pushing kids into poverty in 2025. Read more of our analysis on this national data.
Special Committee Examines Public Assistance Systems — Late last month, the Special Committee on Application and Eligibility for Public Assistance Programs met for two days to look at the application process for support programs. As the committee learned, these programs are complex and the state needs to streamline and simplify the application process for Kansans and agency staff. The Committee's discussion ended with recognizing there is lots of room for bipartisan work to tackle issues Kansans are facing when it comes to these programs. Read our overview of their meetings.
Join the Team
We’re hiring a Fiscal Policy Analyst! The person in this role will dig into how tax and budget decisions affect everyday Kansas families, turn compelling data and complex policies into easy-to-understand information, and shape KAC’s policy priorities from a fiscal policy lens.
You (or someone you know) would be a great fit if you have strong research and writing skills, the ability to distill complex information, and past experience in fiscal or tax policy, economics, government research, or a related field.
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