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Defending All of America’s Children | May 2018
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Harms
to Children from Executive Orders and Other Administration Actions
The Children’s Defense Fund joined CLASP (Center for Law and
Social Policy), The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and The
Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to brief legislative staff
earlier this month on Children Under Attack: Major Threats to Children’s
Safety and How Congress Can Respond. The briefing was a reminder of the
serious harms facing children as a result of executive actions that threaten
children in immigrant families and also display total disregard for other
vulnerable children and their families. Concerns include:
- The anticipated public charge rule that
would penalize non-citizen lawfully residing immigrants for using an expanded
group of public benefits for which they are eligible. Even talk of this
proposal is already resulting in families withdrawing or refusing to enroll in
important publicly-funded health and nutrition programs for their citizen
children.
- The forcible separation of children of
all ages from their parents along the U.S. Mexico Border, a practice affirmed
by the Attorney General Sessions this month. There is also evidence that
unaccompanied minors coming across the border alone are receiving harsh
treatment and may not be connected with appropriate caregivers in a timely
fashion.
- Actions by the federal Education Department to roll
back guidance protecting students from discrimination on the basis of race
and sexual orientation that will harm children.
Funding cuts, proposed by the President and
others in the Administration to help pay for the $1.6 trillion deficit caused
by the 2017 tax cuts bill, and disguised as work requirements threaten
children in Medicaid, SNAP and rental and other housing assistance.
While the children themselves will not be required to work, given the
unreasonableness of these requirements and the lack of supports to help parents
work, parents are likely to lose coverage and in turn children will be harmed
by the family’s loss of health care, food and a roof over their head.
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Register
to Vote
The right to vote is the most powerful tool we have in a
democratic society and we know you are a person who votes with the interest of
America’s children in mind. Click here
to make sure you are registered, receive election reminders and apply for your
absentee ballot today. Registration deadlines are coming up and our nation’s
children are counting on you.
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Learn Something New
to Improve the Lives of Children (and Your Own!)
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School's out for summer, but for
organizers, clergy, seminarians, campus chaplains, young activists and
faith-based advocates the best learning opportunities are
ahead! At CDF's Proctor
Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry at CDF Haley Farm July 16-20,
participants will engage in two dynamic small group sessions each
afternoon, learning new strategies, skills, models and approaches to make a
positive difference for children. These interactive
workshops are organized along
"tracks" that will examine: Nonviolent
Direct Action Community Organizing; Education for Emancipation;
Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline; Prophetic Word; 50 Years
of Progress--Where We've Been, Where We Are and What's Next; White
Supremacy, Trauma and Healing; Dreamers--Building Bridges, Dismantling Walls;
and Network of Mutuality: Intersecting Justice Movements. Late afternoon
sessions will explore movement-building through dance, song and visual arts,
engage participants in telling our stories of communities in
crisis, delve into the spirituality of Howard Thurman, introduce
somatic health for healing after trauma, invite reflections on the day
and facilitate intergenerational conversation. These
interactive, dynamic small group sessions are complemented by plenary
sessions with powerful preachers, profound theologians and inspiring
speakers, all in an interracial, intergenerational, ecumenical experience
of Beloved Community. You will leave refreshed, renewed and equipped to
make an even bigger difference for children. Learn
more and register
now to join us!
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CDF
Texas – Beat the Odds® Event
Children’s
Defense Fund Texas was pleased to honor and award five truly extraordinary high
school seniors with a Beat the Odds scholarship at our 19th annual awards
luncheon Tuesday, May 22. Hundreds of guests were present to celebrate Norberto
Pineda, Amber Ayala, Bianca Rodriguez, Asanthi Deras, and Indhira Mata as they
each received a $5,000 scholarship along with various college essentials,
including a laptop computer, complete dorm-room setup, and a round-trip ticket
donated by United Airlines. Martha and Israel “Izzy” Gomez were also honored as
Champions of Children for their work with Navidad En El Barrio, a nonprofit
Izzy started in 1987 that brings joy to thousands of low-income children and
senior adults. It was an incredibly uplifting event! Learn more about
CDF’s Beat the Odds Program.
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Sign
Up To Be An Advocate For Children
Are you ready to put your passion into practice? Sign up to be a Child
Defender Fellow. The Fellowship program is housed in a virtual learning
community with evening webinar sessions, taking place over the course of 5
months. During each training Fellows will deepen their understanding of child
advocacy practices, gain exposure to key policy issues impacting children and
families, and develop their skillset as nonviolent, community organizers.
If you have a passion for creating better
outcomes of all of America’s children and combating harmful policies and
practices, this program is for you! Apply today at www.childrensdefense.org/fellowship.
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