Let’s Finish the Job and Sign Children Up!

For the past three years, children enrolled in the CDF Freedom Schools® program have advocated for real health reform for children by exercising their civic voices through demonstration, writing letters to elected officials, and other means as part of the National Days of Social Action. These actions helped lead to the recent passage of landmark health reform legislation which provides an extraordinary opportunity to extend coverage to 95% of children. But one in every ten children – 8.1 million -- remain uninsured and two thirds of these children are eligible for CHIP and Medicaid but are not enrolled due to state barriers to coverage. Now it's time to finish the job by ensuring children who are eligible for coverage get signed up!

Throughout the month of July, CDF Freedom Schools sites across the country will host enrollment drives with the goal of breaking through the state imposed barriers preventing CDF Freedom Schools scholars and their siblings from being enrolled in health coverage. We will also be using the National Days of Social Action as an opportunity to help our young adult leaders who are working with the children in Freedom Schools learn more about how they can benefit from the new health legislation. Learn more about this year’s CDF Freedom Schools National Days of Social Action and what health reform means for young adults.

The State of America's Children: Education

American education, which used to be the envy of the world, is in dire straits. The U.S. ranks 21st among 25 developed countries on overall educational achievement for 15-year-olds. Many public school students, kindergarten through 12th grade, are struggling; minority children and poor children are struggling the most. Too often they fall behind in school and drop out, increasing their risk of entering the cradle to prison pipeline. Staying in school and receiving a quality education are the best deterrents to juvenile delinquency and the surest route towards responsible, productive adulthood. Learn more about our nation’s education system through The State of America's Children^® 2010 report.

Fostering Connections Kinship Toolkit

The Fostering Connections Resource Center provides information, training and tools related to implementation of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act so it will truly benefit children and youths. As Lead Partner for the Kinship/Guardianship Network of the Resource Center, CDF partnered with other organizations to create the Fostering Connections Kinship Toolkit. The Kinship Toolkit is designed to assist states in promoting family connections for children in foster care. It describes how to implement the identification and notice requirements of the law so relatives can connect with children early. It offers guidance to help states that are considering applying for and implementing the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP) funding. The Kinship Toolkit includes information on the fiscal impact of GAP funding, myths and facts about GAP, sample legislation, and checklists and other sample documents necessary for implementing both GAP and the identification and notice requirements. The toolkit also provides answers to questions regarding all of the provisions that will affect children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. Learn more about how to Foster Connections through Kin in your state by watching a webinar. You can also learn more about children in foster care and children being raised by kin in the section on Other Vulnerable Children and Youths in The State of America’s Children 2010 report.

Proctor Institute Workshops Now Online

It’s not too late to register for the 16th Annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, July 19-23 at CDF Haley Farm. Be inspired by our dynamic workshops and speakers for five days of spiritual renewal, networking, movement building, and continuing education about the urgent needs of children. Check out the full list of this year's workshops and speakers and register today.

Apply for a Fall Internship at CDF

CDF is now accepting internship applications for the Fall semester. Interns play a vital role at the National Headquarters of the Children's Defense Fund in Washington, DC throughout the year, helping CDF to fulfill its mission for children. Our current summer interns are hard at work—researching education, health, and child welfare policy, learning about messaging and outreach, and working with our field operations team on planning trainings for young adults and faith-based advocates. The CDF Internship program is a great opportunity to gain skills and knowledge in child advocacy. Learn more about the internship program and apply today!