Join the Majority
Most Americans put children first and want to protect federal investments that benefit children above all other programs according to a new poll released this week. The First Focus survey asked voters to weigh in on potential cuts to programs in the current Congressional budget debate. Key findings included:
- Voters believe children in America fare poorly. By almost a 3:1 margin, a majority of voters believe that the lives of children in America have gotten worse rather than better in the last ten years.
- Children’s programs are most important to voters relative to other potential program cuts. The least popular cuts all directly affect children, including cuts to federal child nutrition programs, Head Start, k-12 education, Children’s Health Insurance Program, among others.
- Voters strongly oppose the more than $750 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid and funding shortfall for the Children’s Health Insurance Program included in the House Budget Committee proposal for FY 2012.
Hundreds of you answered our call to write letters and to meet face-to-face with members of Congress to oppose the House approved budget with the simple, but powerful message, “Cut billionaires, not babies and choose children over corporations.” Thank you for standing for children and with the majority of Americans who turned up at town hall meetings around the country to protest the House’s FY2012 budget that would rob children of their future and reward the richest Americans and corporations.
Let’s keep the momentum going. Begin organizing your friends and family to fight for children when lawmakers return to Washington next week. Forward this newsletter throughout your network and encourage your friends and family and colleagues to join the majority in standing up for children by clicking on the link below to receive the next round of Budget Watch action alerts!
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If you want to organize your community to fight for children, contact CDF’s National Field Coordinator Chris Glaros at (877) 343-5251 or cglaros@childrensdefense.org.
CDF Needs Your Help Now
With the current Congress targeting crucial lifelines for poor children and families, CDF needs your financial support now more than ever. With your help, we will work tirelessly to continue our programs and campaigns, and to put forth the most accurate and pertinent data, reports and arguments which prove beyond a doubt there is no wiser investment our nation can make than to ensure all children a better 2011 and beyond. As a country we must move forward—not backwards—in preparing our young to compete in the global economy. Please take a moment to make a donation and consider making your gift in honor of your mother this Mother’s Day.
Join the Freedom Riders
Help us celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides - when more than 400 Black and White, mostly young people - risked their lives and freedom to face down segregation in the Deep South. On May 16th, join Marian Wright Edelman and some of the original Freedom Riders for this free special event to watch the premiere of the powerful PBS film “Freedom Riders”. Sign up to host a Watch Party. Today you don’t have to go to Mississippi to see injustice. Learn how you can Ride for Freedom in your own community.
Sex Trafficking in the United States
Did you know 100,000 to 300,000 children each year in America are in danger of being caught up in the multi-million dollar child sex trafficking industry? Malika Saar Saada, founder and Executive Director of the Rebecca Project for Human Rights, recently came to CDF’s national office to talk to staff about this growing menace to girls. Watch this video of Malika’s talk to learn more about this often invisible horror. We must expose what is happening to our girls in the darkest part of our society—name it, shame it and end it.
Child Care under Attack
Recently New York City Mayor Bloomberg announced a draconian cut to 17,000 child care slots that would hurt working families with children most. CDF—New York joined dozens of other organizations to form the Emergency Coalition to Save Children and issued this report to protest the Mayor’s drastic cuts. Late last week the coalition got the support of 45 of the 51 City Council members who sent a letter urging the mayor to restore these child care subsidies that have been cut primarily for working families. Read the report “When There is No Care: The Impact on NYC Children, Families and Economy When the Mayor Eliminates Child Care for 17,000 Children” and join the coalition in standing up for children and families.
Changing the Odds
The stars came out in Los Angeles this month for a Coach Event hosted by CDF board member Katie McGrath and her husband J.J. Abrams coordinated by CDF board member Ruth-Ann Huvane. Scarlett Johansen, Jennifer Garner, Amy Adams, Zoe Saldana and Christina Hendricks were among the guests who showed up to support CDF-California’s Beat the Odds® program. Check out the photos of the celebs.
Last week, CDF-Texas held their annual Beat the Odds ceremony in Dallas honoring seven extraordinary high school seniors who have overcome great challenges to find academic success while serving their community. Click here to read their stories. The inspirational luncheon put the spotlight on each scholarship recipient and featured CDF president Marian Wright Edelman.
Families Matters
As National Child Abuse Prevention Month comes to a close, here are some critical lessons Judge Patricia Martin, Presiding Judge of the Child Protection Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, shared with the Children’s Defense Fund’s Black Community Crusade for Children. Read Marian Wright Edelman’s most recent Child Watch® Column to learn why family matters particularly for children who are the victim of abuse and neglect.
