Only 9 Days Left to Register. Children Can't Vote. You Can.

Make this your Facebook cover photo and let everyone know where you stand

This is a year of stark political, economic and moral choices. Children under five are still our poorest age group. One in four infants, toddlers and preschoolers are poor during the years of greatest brain development. If you believe that our elected leaders have more just and sensible choices than to cut investments in children, now's the time to speak up. Join our Be Careful What You Cut campaign, help us spread the irrefutable economic case for why cutting children from the budget costs all of us more later, and most importantly, be sure to vote. Here's a handy list of questions you can ask candidates to see where they stand on issues important for children.

A nation that does not stand for its children does not stand for much, and will not stand tall in the future. So, get registered and give children a voice. Yours. The last day to register to vote is October 9.

Pat Smith, featured speaker at Dallas Beat the Odds® Awards Luncheon

Read more about Vanessa, Tej, Janeli, Rafif, and Laura

Some children’s nightmares come in the daytime. That's how Vanessa describes the day her mother - her only parent - died in a tragic bus accident. At the tender age of ten, Vanessa was frightened and alone, and this memory haunts her still. Tej spent the first sixteen years of his life in a South Asian refugee camp, lacking even the most basic necessities. When it rained, they had to hold down the plastic roof to keep it from breaking away. Every child's experience is unique, but what unifies our Beat the Odds scholarship winners is their determination, courage, and commitment to rise above and demonstrate academic success and leadership, despite life's biggest challenges.

Join CDF-Texas and event chair Kristen Jones Colby, in celebrating five extraordinary young people at the 2012 Dallas Beat the Odds® awards on November 16. We'll be honoring food industry executive, entrepreneur and CEO, Sarah Palisi Chapin, for her leadership as a Champion of Children, and we're thrilled to announce Pat Smith, Founder of "Treasure You" and President of the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, will be our featured guest speaker.

Register online to attend the 2012 Dallas Beat the Odds awards. See how the CDF Beat the Odds program is changing lives.

Communities Spotlight Summer and Out-of-School-Time Learning

CDF Freedom Schools® sites from across Texas celebrated the spirit of reading and showcased what more than 250 young scholars from Beaumont, Galveston, and Houston learned this Summer at the "I am Freedom Schools" Jubilee. Friends and family together witnessed the investments made by local groups partnered with CDF to stem summer learning loss in vulnerable communities. Each year, the CDF Freedom Schools program plays a critical role in keeping children safe, healthy, and engaged in learning during out of school time, while providing support to working parents.

Since Texas gutted billions from public schools last session and our national leaders continue to weigh massive cuts to investments in children and education, now's the perfect time to take action--stand up and say enough is enough. Community expressions of support for children and education are especially important now and throughout the lame-duck session of Congress.

See why the program has been so effective and get involved with a program near you.

Open a new CDF Freedom Schools® site

Start a CDF Freedom Schools program in your community next summer. You can be part of a growing movement—a unique and rewarding experience that teaches children to love to read, learn, grow and develop a positive self-image. 

If you're interested in bringing this program to your community, do these three things: share the vision and mission of CDF, find a sponsor, and fill out an application. Review our operating principles thoroughly before turning in your application. For more information about joining the family, visit our webpage and speak with CDF-Texas Youth Leadership Developement Director, Brandi Brown.

Applications are due October 19.

Tell Texas to Make the Right Choice about Health Reform

This Summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Affordable Care Act (ACA) constitutional which will make health insurance affordable for many more Texans than ever before. However, the court also left states to decide whether or not very low income adults (up to 138% of federal poverty level), who have no other coverage options, could be covered by Medicaid. While Governor Perry has already said he won't support extending Medicaid to 2.5 million Texans in this 'no-coverage ravine' we believe this important decision should not be his alone. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Georgetown Center for Children and Families have recently reported expanding coverage for parents helps children. And, Texas would stand to gain $100 billion in federal funding by embracing this solution. 

The upcoming Texas legislative session will include an intense focus on Medicaid and how our state chooses to move forward with implementing the new law. All of us must help our elected leaders make the right choices.

Sign up for our Texas Well and Healthy campaign action alerts and important updates and join the conversations on Facebook and Twitter. Join us in the fight to protect health care for Texas children and families.

2012 Children's Sabbath Manual

Lift up the children in your faith community and answer the call to pursue justice. The 2012 Children’s Sabbaths manual serves as a guide for you and your faith community to celebrate the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® weekend and engage in long-term child and family advocacy work that goes beyond just one weekend. The manual includes resources for Christian, Jewish, and other faiths to use in worship services or prayers, education programs, direct service activities, and social justice initiatives. The resources can be used within one's own faith community or in multi-faith events.

In Houston, we will be hosting a multi-faith Children's Sabbath celebration that is open to the public. Visit the upcoming events page of our website for details.

Changes in Child Health Outreach

CDF-Texas recently bid farewell to Rio Grande Valley Director, Luisa Saenz and Texas Outreach Director, Kelli King-Jackson. With a combined 20+ years experience in community outreach both were instrumental in helping to grow and gain national recognition for CDF's school-based child health outreach initiatives. We look to building on these successes as we continue to grow and strengthen school and community partnerships that connect children and families to coverage through established and newly available options under health reform.

One new outreach model we're especially proud of is our Student Health OUTreach for Teens (SHOUT-T) project that is integrating youth leadership development with our school-based outreach model to engage and mobilize high school students to advocate for their own health and that of their communities.  See how we're partnering with the Texas Association of School Administrators in this important work. And, if your school or district wants to get involved, send us an email!

Apply for an Internship with CDF-Texas

CDF-Texas Summer Interns 2012

Apply for an internship with CDF-Texas. About 10-15 upper-level undergraduate, graduate and recent graduates intern in our CDF-Texas offices each year. While a few of the internships give preference to certain majors, everyone with a strong interest in child advocacy is encouraged to apply. CDF interns gain knowledge, skills, and experience for a lifetime commitment as a child advocate and public policy leader. They also get an insider's view of non-profit advocacy. Additionally, former interns stay active in CDF's mission through the CDF Intern Alumni Action Network.

Internship opportunities range from Outreach and Community Organizing to Programs and Policy to Nonprofit Management. Visit the internships page of our website for more details.