Watch American Idol: Idol Gives Back, April 9, and Support CDF

CDF is excited to announce that we have been selected as an official Idol Gives Back 2008 beneficiary. Idol Gives Back is a special broadcast of American Idol that will air Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX Television. The music celebration will raise awareness and benefit various U.S. and international charities and will feature a number of musicians and actors including Academy Award^® winning actress and CDF Board Member Reese Witherspoon who will show the millions of American Idol viewers that every step we take to improve the lives of children improves the lives of all of us. As CDF turns 35 this year, we could not ask for a better birthday gift!

Learn more about how you can help celebrate and support this exciting event!

Just Released: CDF Report Finds Families Lose Billions to Predatory Commercial Tax Preparers

With the tax filing deadline fast approaching and millions of families expecting to receive economic stimulus payments later this year, a new CDF report warns low-income families against Refund Anticipation Loans whose high interest rates cause families to forfeit a significant percentage of their refunds in order to receive their money a little earlier. Low-income families lost billions in tax benefits during tax year 2005 to high-interest, short-term loans, tax preparation fees, and other financial products issued by commercial tax preparers — income that could lift children out of poverty and strengthen local economies. Find out how much money was lost in your state.

Learn more about the report and how individuals, communities and policymakers can step up and take action to help working families keep more of the money they've earned.

Become a Fan of CDF on Facebook

Are you on Facebook? Become a Fan of CDF today! As a Fan, you'll receive instant updates about CDF action alerts, news, events, photos and videos. Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to post questions and comments and meet others who care about the state of America’s children.

Remember to let your friends know you’re a Fan by clicking on the "Share with Friends" button at the top right corner of the page. See you on Facebook!

(If you're not on Facebook, sign up today and become a part of this incredibly popular online social network.)

The Fight Over Covering All Children Continues: Email Your Members of Congress Today!

While children's health coverage remains under attack by the Bush Administration's Medicaid regulations, CDF continues fighting to ensure all children are guaranteed access to affordable, seamless, comprehensive health coverage regardless of where they live through our Healthy Child Campaign. Last month, thousands of supporters like you joined CDF in this fight by telling Congress to prevent the Bush Administration from further limiting children's access to health coverage. Your voices are being heard! Recent Congressional action indicates that many legislators are committed to preventing these regulations from going into effect. However, we need to continue to build on this momentum. Every 41 seconds a child is born uninsured. America's children can't wait — Congress must act now.

Not only must something be done immediately to protect the health of our children, these regulations have a ripple effect that impacts our communities more broadly. Since most states will likely try to continue to offer the Medicaid services to those in need and be forced to absorb the increased costs caused by the regulations, other social service programs will suffer. Tell Congress not to overlook America's 9.4 million uninsured children and to pass legislation to stop the Bush Administration from further limiting children's access to health coverage.

Take Action to Help Keep Children Out of the Pipeline to Prison

CDF's Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign is a national call to action to stop the funneling of tens of thousands of youth, predominantly minorities, down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and, in some cases, death. Last year, CDF held a Summit to address the nationwide crisis and its devastating impact on children, youth and their families, particularly within the Black and Latino communities and released a report that provides an overview of the major factors behind the Pipeline. Now, we have action steps for individuals, families, communities, organizations and government agencies to help keep children out of the Pipeline —steps that not only will improve the lives of children, but strengthen our communities. Learn more about what steps you can take today!

Action Steps: A Role for Everyone

Listen to Three Young People Tell Their Stories of Overcoming Adversity

Each year, CDF honors exceptional young people from across the country who have overcome long odds to succeed in both school and life through the Beat the Odds^® scholarship program.

Earlier this month, three of the four CDF-MN 2008 honorees — Justin Haynes McKizzie, Maipacher Her and Fadumo Hassan — sat down with Minnesota Public Radio's Jeff Horwich to talk about their lives. You can listen to a podcast of this "In the Loop" story, see their pictures and read their stories on MPR's website.

CDF-Minnesota's "Working Family Initiative" Touting Economic Stability for State's Families

Today in Minnesota, too many working parents are finding it increasingly difficult to access quality child care, afford health coverage, and make ends meet while working full-time. To draw attention to these issues, CDF-MN has partnered with two other statewide organizations on the "Working Families Initiative" (WFI) project. CDF-MN, along with Child Care WORKS and the JOBS NOW Coalition, are promoting policies to increase access to health care, child care and family-supporting wages.

Learn more about the WFI project and its forums in communities across the state that allow for people to share their stories and for discussions on what can be done about the 152,000 Minnesota children living in poverty, the 92,000 going without health coverage and why more than one million jobs in Minnesota don't pay a family-supporting wage.

Early Bird Special for the Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry... Don't Miss Out!

Join CDF at the 14th Annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, July 14-18, at CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tennessee. This year's theme is "When Will We Hear? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Call to Justice and Peace." Register before May 1st and save $50 on registration.

New this year — the Joshua & Deborah Generation Track! Young adult leaders (ages 18-25) are invited to register for the new Joshua & Deborah Generation track within the Proctor Institute. Discover unique leadership styles and opportunities. Partial and full scholarships are available!

Be a Voice for Children — Work at CDF!

Our National office in Washington, D.C., is growing and we're looking for talented and motivated individuals who are dedicated to CDF's mission to join us. Learn more and apply today! Current job openings:

Religious Action Program Coordinator	Regional Field Organizers (3)
Chief Research Advisor/Asst. V.P. for Policy	Latino Outreach Coordinator
Recruiter	Program Assistant, Field
Policy Assistant, Child Welfare and Mental Health