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Millions of Children's Lives Depend on REAL Child Health Reform NOW!
 Congress is currently debating health reform legislation that could leave millions of children worse rather than better off and fails to fix bureaucratic, unfair barriers to care. This must be changed now! We are demanding that Congress and the President support changes that provide comprehensive, affordable, accessible care for all children no matter where they live.
Be a Champion for Children's Health – Take Action Now!
1. Join a Stroller Brigade!
Join children, parents, grandparents and champions for children in a stroller brigade at the Nation’s Capitol on November 4 and in cities across the country from November 5 – 8.
2. Join in on the Virtual Stroller Brigade!
Can't join a stroller brigade in person or want to do more? You can join the stroller brigade online by sending an urgent message to Congress and helping us spread the word! Log on now to email, tweet and post a Facebook message to your Senators and to your friends.
Learn more about the Champions for Children's Health Stroller Brigade campaign!
Incredible Stories, Incredible Youth
 The CDF Beat the Odds® program identifies and rewards young people who have experienced great adversity in their lives and supports and trains them to become future adult leaders. Every year, CDF holds a special event to honor unique and inspiring individuals and award them with a scholarship. One of these individuals is Kia:
Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Kia’s mother fled with four-year-old Kia and her siblings to find a better life in the United States. Her abusive father refused to join them, so the family arrived in the new country without money or English skills, and hampered by limited opportunity and knowledge of the culture. Kia graduated near the top of her class with a 3.6 GPA and was involved in many activities outside of school including helping the homeless.
You can help send a clear message to today's youth that we care and we understand what it takes to succeed in school despite overwhelming obstacles, by attending this genuinely moving event that honors individuals like Kia.
2009 Beat the Odds Awards Dinner
November 10, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
W Hotel
Washington, DC
Buy Your Tickets and Register Now
You can help send a clear message to today’s youth that we care and we understand what it takes to succeed in school despite overwhelming obstacles, by attending this genuinely moving event that honors individuals like Kia.
2009 CDF-New York Beat the Odds Award Breakfast
November 17, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.
New York, NY
Buy Your Tickets and Register Now
You can help send a clear message to today’s youth that we care and we understand what it takes to succeed in school despite overwhelming obstacles, by attending this genuinely moving event that honors individuals like Kia.
19th Annual Los Angeles Beat the Odds Awards
December 3, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA
Buy Your Tickets and Register Now
Your $25.00 donation will keep more youths in school, off the streets and provide them with the means to succeed. CDF’s Beat the Odds program cannot exist without your support. This program sends a clear message to America’s youth that we care and we understand what it takes to succeed in school despite overwhelming obstacles.
Donate to the Children's Defense Fund and Support the Positive Potential of Young People.
Know the Facts about Children and Health Reform
Our website is full of new content on the effect of health care reform on children! Stay informed with our legislative update and check out our new state by state child health fact sheets, profiles of uninsured children (.pdf) and a clickable map to find out why health reform is an urgent need for children in your state. As this monumental legislation rolls toward the finish line, we must continue to demand that children are better off—not worse off—as a result of health reform.
Making Health and Education Connections in Early Childhood
Access to quality health and dental care is vital for the development our nation’s youngest children. Read the story of two year olds Michele and Jacob, whose educational development is hindered by a lack of access to quality dental care. Be sure to check our website frequently, as we’ll be highlighting more stories of early childhood development often.
Also, be sure to visit our Early Childhood Development Policy Legislative Update to read about the important step Congress has made with the Early Learning Challenge Fund.
 Are You on Facebook? Twitter?
Child advocates across the country are gathering together online on CDF's social networks, but we want to hear from you about which ones you use. Please complete this brief survey to tell us more about the social networks you are on and how you would like to connect with CDF on them.
Subscribe Today to Mrs. Edelman's Weekly Child Watch® Columns
 As a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Americans, CDF President Marian Wright Edelman has a strong prescription for ways we as a nation can work together to support policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure access to health coverageand quality education.
This week's Child Watch Column tells the story of two youths in Texas who became seriously ill and whose families did not have health insurance.
Subscribe today to Mrs. Edelman's Child Watch Column by email or RSS feed.
Do You Know How Children are Faring in Minnesota?
 The 2009 Minnesota KIDS COUNT Data Book, The Building Blocks for Successful Children (.pdf), reports that 140,000 Minnesota children lived in poverty in 2008. That is more than a 20 percent increase since 2000. While poverty numbers for 2008 were recently released, they do not capture the current full economic impact of the recession. In the Data Book, projections estimate that another 44,000 – 56,000 children could enter the ranks of poverty before the economy recovers.
Minnesota KIDS COUNT provides county-by-county data on the well-being of Minnesota's children and families as well as periodic reports and an annual data book to provide a statistical profile of Minnesota's children and suggestions for action on their behalf. More information can be found on the CDF-MN website. Learn more about the status of children in your area at a KIDS COUNT Coffee!
In an effort to help lift families out of poverty, CDF-MN also has a multi-state project called Bridge to Benefits aimed to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits.
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