Two Ways to Keep the Momentum Going!

Your efforts are paying off! We're excited to report that momentum for real health reform—especially reform for children—is building, thanks to advocates like you who are stepping up and taking action. Your voices are being heard on Capitol Hill, but there’s more to be done!

In the next few weeks, the Congress will be introducing and debating health care reform legislation that will shape our nation's health care system. We are thrilled that Congress is listening to child advocates like you—preliminary reports indicate that the legislation they are drafting could strengthen children's health coverage in the United States significantly!

This is a strong step forward towards our goal of ensuring every child in America has comprehensive health coverage, but it is now more important than ever that your Members of Congress hear you loud and clear! As states are facing tough budget choices, programs for children—including child health coverage— are often on the chopping block. Just this week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed to address their state’s budget deficit in part by completely eliminating a program which provides more than 900,000 California children with health coverage—adding to the 700,000 children already without health coverage in the state.

There are two things you can do today to make sure Congress does the job right and includes child-appropriate health coverage for all children in health care reform, so that children aren't on the chopping block:

1. Email your Members of Congress and urge them to write an op-ed. Op-eds (opinion pieces in newspapers)—especially those written by Members of Congress are a great way to raise awareness about children's health coverage. Colorado Congresswoman Diane DeGette's recent op-ed in The Hill is a great example. Send an email to your Members of Congress today and urge them to write an op-ed for your local paper!

2. Host or attend a health care organizing kick-off. On June 6, in thousands of homes across the country, Organizing for America will gather to launch their grassroots campaign for health care. The events will include a live conference call with President Obama, discussing plans for winning health care reform and putting those plans into action. Join one of these events and be the voice for children! Learn more about the event and how you can host or find an event in your area.

Texas Study Offers Solutions to Dismantling the Pipeline in Prison

A recent report, Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Houston and Texas: A Study of Solutions, documents promising approaches that are effectively shutting down the pipeline to prison for poor and minority children by focusing on prevention and early intervention. These programs create a more positive future for young people and save taxpayers by avoiding the costs of incarceration.

The report and accompanying power point presentation, produced by the American Leadership Forum Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter, can be found on the American Leadership Forum's website.

Looking for a Graduation Gift or Good Summer Read?

CDF President Marian Wright Edelman's newest book, The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small: Charting a Course for the Next Generation, is an inspiring call to action for all Americans to address the urgent needs of the country’s youth. The book provides a great message of hope during this difficult economic time. This book is a great addition to your summer reading list or as a gift for a recent graduate.

Purchase your copy today at CDF's online store.

CDF's New Website: Tell Us What You Think!

By now, if you are a regular visitor to our website, you've noticed we've recently redesigned it. A year ago, with input from hundreds of website users like you, we began our redesign with the goal of creating a website that enabled visitors to easily learn about CDF's issue advocacy programs, products and what users can do to step forward and take action for all of America's children.

We hope this new website does just that.

However, websites are always evolving and we want to continue to make our website work for you. So, as we did at this time last year, we’d like to learn more about you, the user of our website, and what you think of the new redesigned site. Please tell us what you think by answering our short survey (it should take less than five minutes to complete).