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Monthly Newsletter - July 2010
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Ensure Support for Critical Child Nutrition Programs!
 With 1 in 4 children at risk of hunger and 1 in 3 obese or overweight, the time for strong support for child nutrition programs is now! On July 15th, the House Education and Labor Committee passed bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Programs. But now the bill must be brought to the full Congress — and our children can’t wait! CDF has joined 127 other national organizations to support a robust Child Nutrition Reauthorization in this Congress. Passage of a bill this year is necessary to ensure support for programs that provide millions of low-income children improved access to the nutritious food they need in school, in out-of-school programs, and in child care. This bill will also improve the quality of the meals that millions of children depend on to keep them healthy, active and able to learn. A strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization this year will ensure significant movement towards the goals of ending child hunger by 2015 and dramatically reducing childhood obesity.
Call your Member of Congress at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to pass a robust Child Nutrition Reauthorization now in this Congress.
You can also learn more about child nutrition and the Child Nutrition Reauthorization here.
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New Resource for Faith Communities
 The National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® manual is a multi-faith resource for houses of worship to use as they confront the reality children in our nation and communities face and lift children up through worship and prayer and acting on their behalf. This year’s manual, “Blessed to Be a Blessing: Lifting Up the Next Generation,” focuses on how faith communities can address child poverty. This resource manual is now available for download and can be used as a year-round child advocacy resource or in preparation for planning a celebration during the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths weekend, October 15-17, when thousands of congregations will unite in a common commitment to children.
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Health Enrollment Drives
 CDF Freedom Schools® National Days of Social Action were in full force last month as Freedom Schools in 84 cities across 29 states partnered with other area organizations to link children who are eligible but not enrolled with health coverage. The Freedom Schools held health enrollment drives to link every child in the program to CHIP, Medicaid, or a local health care resource. Preliminary reports demonstrate an inspiring national effort to make national health reform work for children. Read more about the creative ways CDF Freedom Schools sites signed children up as part of the National Days of Social Action and about uninsured children in your state.
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New CDF Freedom Schools Video
 Freedom Schools Partners, a coalition of CDF Freedom Schools sites located in Charlotte, North Carolina, has produced a great new video about the impact Freedom Schools have on children and the history of the program. If you ever wanted to know what the all the excitement is around the CDF Freedom Schools program, look no further — watch the video!
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Early Childhood Programs Get a Boost from
Congressional Appropriators
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 In July 2010, both the House and Senate Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations included significant new resources for early care and education programs, like Head Start and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), in their 2011 appropriations bills.
The House bill includes an increase of $866 million for Head Start and $700 million for CCDBG. Subcommittee Chairman David Obey emphasized that the House bill put “the greatest emphasis on programs that help workers and families cope with hard times and that help set the stage for future economic recovery and growth.”
Similarly, the Senate bill includes an increase of $990.3 million for Head Start and $1 billion for CCDBG, recognizing the necessity of investments “in critical programs that help the neediest Americans — programs that… provide a safety net for those struggling just to make ends meet.” The Senate bill also includes $300 million for the Early Learning Challenge Fund, a new competitive grant program that will encourage states to develop comprehensive, high-quality early education systems. Final action on the 2011 appropriations bill is expected later this year.
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