As we face a new year, we are optimistic about the road ahead for children. We made progress in our 40th anniversary year. We were thrilled to see eight states take real steps to protect children instead of guns. We were thrilled to see major expansion of mental health services and treatment for children and adults in a number of states. We were thrilled to see bi-partisan support for new early childhood development and learning legislation. And we were thrilled to see more children have access to quality, affordable health care than ever before in America. We have worked really hard with coalition partners and with your support to protect children during these perilous budget-cutting times and help make these and other changes for children. Now it’s time to renew our commitment for the work ahead. In 2014, we need to sound the siren for children loud and clear. Just like the children at D.C. General Homeless Shelter’s Freedom School did, “Let’s pull together!”

Ending Child Poverty

Our work in 2014 will focus on ending child poverty. This is our most important work moving forward and is central for multiple advances for children. We will start by asking the question, “How far have we come since Lyndon Johnson called for a War on Poverty 50 years ago?”

The good news is that some children are thriving and federal government supports like the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP), Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have helped millions of children escape poverty. But 16.1 million children remain poor, 7.2 million extremely poor, living on incomes below half of the federal poverty level. We will release our annual The State of America’s Children report early in the New Year that will detail progress over these last 50 years in addressing child poverty and making other important investments in children. It will also detail how children are faring today and document their unmet needs including the pillars of support where investments are needed to establish a foundation of success for all children. With your help we will work to put in place that foundation, beginning with critical investments in quality early childhood development and learning that are pending in the House and Senate so all children can succeed and reach their God given potential. Prepare yourself for the important work ahead by reading Marian Wright Edelman’s recent Child Watch^® column and watching for State of America’s Children. Donate now to help us end child poverty.

Protecting Children in the Congress

Your voice and the many other voices calling on Congress to roll back sequestration and “Be Careful What You Cut” were heard, at least in part, by House and Senate budget negotiators and members of congress. Reductions in the sequester passed earlier this month will help prevent disastrous cuts to critical programs for children, including Head Start and other necessary early childhood programs, but House and Senate appropriators need to hear where important reinvestments must be made. Many children’s programs have seen deep cuts and need to be strengthened. Policymakers also must take action early in January to protect the frayed safety net, including SNAP benefits and extend emergency unemployment benefits for millions of people who are struggling to find work but are still unemployed. We must remain vigilant and continue to promote sound policies in early childhood and education that will prepare our children for jobs of the future and create public- and private-sector jobs now. Support CDF’s “Be Careful What You Cut” campaign.

Investing in the Early Years

The newly introduced Strong Start for America’s Children Act (H.R. 3461/ S. 1697) provides an important opportunity for our nation to invest in quality early childhood development and learning to help children succeed in school and in life. Investments in high quality early childhood programs have been proven to buffer the negative effects of poverty and provide lifelong benefits, especially for disadvantaged children. Children in these programs are more likely to graduate from high school, hold a job and make money and less likely to commit a crime than their peers who do not participate. Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman estimates a lifelong economic rate of return of 7 to 10 percent a year for each dollar invested in quality early childhood programs. We must work together in the coming year to give all children, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, a strong start in life. Support our work to ensure a strong start for all children!

Protecting Children, Not Guns

We all know the bad news — Congress was unable to pass even one common-sense gun safety law in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. But we must proceed with urgency and persistence. There is good news. New grassroots groups have sprung up and are determined to “Protect Children, Not Guns,” groups like Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America who we partnered with on a Valentine’s Day Press Conference and lobby day and numerous times throughout the year. Building on CDF’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry and our annual Children’s Sabbath celebrations, congregations around the country raised up a faithful call to protect children from gun violence and the violence of child poverty. Progress was made in eight states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Colorado, New York and California, which all passed common sense gun safety and violence prevention measures. The Obama Administration took action at the executive level to strengthen regulations and expand access to critically needed mental health services and treatment. Help us continue this push in 2014 and beyond. Donate to support our “Protect Children, Not Guns” campaign. 

CDF Freedom Schools: Making a Difference

We are most proud of the more than 12,600 children and young people who participated in the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools^® program last summer. Children and the college students we train to teach them were inspired with a love for public service, reading and learning at 185 sites in 91 cities in 29 states. The CDF Freedom Schools “I Can Make a Difference” theme empowers children to serve and make a difference in themselves, their families, schools, and communities with education and action. This year, we successfully piloted Freedom Schools in juvenile probation camps in La Verne and Malibu, California and launched new sites serving native Hawaiian children in Hawaii and immigrant children in the Latino community. Since 1995, more than 100,000 children in grades pre-K-12 have had the Freedom Schools experience. Donate to support the CDF Freedom Schools program and learn how you can start a CDF Freedom Schools in your community in 2014.

Ensuring a Healthy Start

Thanks in large part to Medicaid and CHIP, which together cover more than 44 million children under age 19, the number of uninsured children today is at a historic low. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) preserved and strengthened Medicaid and CHIP for children, gave states new tools to make it easier for children to get and keep coverage, and created new coverage options for parents. As more parents become insured through the new marketplace exchanges and the Medicaid expansion, in the 25 states and the District of Columbia that have chosen to take it, their children are also more likely to become insured. However, with nearly 70 percent of the 7.2 million uninsured children eligible but not enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, there is still important work to do. This year through a successful collaboration with The School Superintendents Association (AASA) CDF has worked with 12 school districts to promote child health outreach and enrollment through schools to help get uninsured children health coverage so they can be healthy and learn. We must also work to get CHIP reauthorized in 2014.  There is much to do in the year ahead. Please support our work, donate now.

Youth Spotlight: She Never Gives Up

Born to a teen mother and abusive, alcoholic father, Alezaihvia Melendez spent her elementary school years concerned about food, shelter and safety. Determined to succeed despite the challenges she faced at home Alezaihvia focused on school. When she brought home her first high school report card with straight As, her mother was empowered to leave her abusive husband to provide a better, safer life for Alezaihvia and her siblings. That hope of a better life has kept Alezaihvia going as her single-parent family struggled to find a place to call home and keep food on the table. Alezaihvia dreams of becoming a doctor so she can provide quality medical care to those who need it most in poor communities. She was one of the five extraordinary high school seniors to receive a Children’s Defense Fund Beat the Odds® scholarship and leadership development award in Los Angeles earlier this month. If you want to be inspired, take a moment and watch her video.

She had her moment on the red carpet along with all the Hollywood stars who had come out to support her and the other extraordinary high school seniors. CDF Board member Reese Witherspoon hosted the event, and Jennifer Garner, Conan O’Brien, and other stars introduced the young leaders and presented their awards.  The CDF Beat the Odds® scholarship and leadership development program has helped more than 800 low-income high school students go to college to realize their dreams. Many have gone on to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, professors, engineers and peace corp volunteers. There will be three Beat the Odds awards ceremonies in March 2014, in Ohio, Minnesota and New York. Donate now to support these young scholars, and help us make their dreams come true.