ICS Launches Strong Nation Initiative
The Strong Nation initiative will continue Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, and Mission: Readiness’ advocacy work to help kids succeed.
The launch of the Institute for Child Success’s (ICS) new Strong Nation initiative collaborates closely with staff and members of the former Council for a Strong America (CSA) to ensure that Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, and Mission: Readiness can continue to champion investments in evidence-based children’s programs that make our nation stronger. Through partnerships with state-based nonprofits that support children and families, these initiatives are currently operating at the state level in Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Washington. ReadyNation is operating nationwide through a partnership with a national non-profit, and ICS is working to strengthen Fight Crime: Invest in Kids and Mission: Readiness nationally.
Following almost thirty impactful years of mobilizing law enforcement, business, and retired military leaders to champion evidence-based policies that strengthen our nation by supporting children, CSA concluded its operations in late 2024. In light of this transition, ICS is committed to preserving the legacy of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, and Mission: Readiness by adding these initiatives to its existing portfolio of work to ensure the success of children.
These three national, bipartisan advocacy initiatives each advance the ICS mission in various arenas. They help children achieve success by leveraging the expertise of leaders such as police chiefs, sheriffs, and prosecutors (Fight Crime: Invest in Kids), business executives (ReadyNation), and retired admirals and generals (Mission: Readiness.) These leaders work to improve public safety, strengthen the workforce, and ensure children’s education and health.
The new ICS initiative will be headed by Jill Boxler, ICS Executive Vice President of Strong Nation. Boxler said, “Strong Nation is excited to combine its advocacy power with ICS’s innovative policy and research work in support of children and families. Over the years, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, and Mission Readiness’ reports and advocacy campaigns have been pivotal to progress on home visiting, child care, pre-K, child nutrition, afterschool, juvenile justice programs, and K-12 education at the state and federal levels.”
Boxler added, “This new partnership reflects our shared commitment to driving practical policy change that builds a stronger future for our country and the next generation.”
ICS Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Moon, stated, “ICS is thrilled to announce the seamless continuation of the vital children’s advocacy initiatives previously led by Council for a Strong America. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, ReadyNation, and Mission: Readiness are essential to the children’s advocacy landscape. Their influence has shaped numerous nationwide and state-level policies, helping ensure that children and families can achieve their full potential. ICS is honored to guide these well-respected advocacy initiatives into the future.”
For over a decade, ICS has partnered with the former CSA and is excited to carry forward its essential advocacy work through the new Strong Nation initiative. Strong Nation will enhance the mission of ICS, empowering the organization to ensure that even more young children and their families succeed and thrive, while continuing to mobilize the impactful voices of business, law enforcement, and retired military leaders.
To learn more about Strong Nation, please contact Jill Boxler at jboxler@strongnation.org or visit the Strong Nation webpage.