The #1 Question Campaign is about decision-making. It's about considering how the decisions we make will affect the children and youth in our lives and our community. It's about getting Greater Kansas City to put the needs of its children at the top of its priority list.

Whether it's a parent making plans for a Saturday night or a business considering whether to provide child care for employees, almost every decision we make in our lives affects our children in some way. The #1 Question Campaign, launched in April 1997, is an attempt to get every individual and organization to use the question -- "Is it good for the children?" -- as a litmus test for decisions. By encouraging Greater Kansas Citians to use this simple question, the Partnership for Children's goal is to improve the status of children and youth in the metro area.

Through the use of grassroots engagement and advertising, the Partnership for Children has been able to build general awareness of the #1 Question throughout our community. In fact, a recent poll shows that more than 70% of those surveyed in Greater Kansas City had heard of the #1 Question. Eighty percent of those polled said they would use the Question in their everyday lives. And more than half said they thought the #1 Question Campaign would improve the lives of children in the metro area.

Thousands of individuals and organizations have officially adopted the #1 Question, and have committed to asking "Is it good for the children?" before making decisions. People are using the Question when considering everything from where to live and work, to what television programs to watch.

Granted, the notion of every citizen using the #1 Question in all decision-making is ambitious. But just imagine what life would be like for our children and youth if their needs were considered before all others. By building a community where our children come first in all personal, business, and public policy decisions, we have a great opportunity to ensure all our children have safe and productive lives.

All this can be accomplished by asking one simple question -- "Is it good for the children?"