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Children's Defense Fund

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Children's Defense Fund
Monthly Newsletter

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35th Anniversary


Stop Regulations from Crippling Medicaid - Your Senators' Support is Critical

Healthy Child Campaign

Over the past few months, we've been telling you about the Bush Administration's backdoor rules and regulations that would significantly erode Medicaid, a program that provides critical health coverage to more than 28 million of our nation’s most vulnerable children — unless we act now. These regulations jeopardize states' ability to provide critical health services to millions of children, including low-income children, disabled children, children with special health needs, and foster youth. We can't afford to lose any ground as we work to guarantee comprehensive health coverage for all children through our Healthy Child Campaign.

Call Your Member of Congress

But there's good news thanks to you! Your past emails and calls to Congress have created tremendous momentum. Last week, members of the House of Representatives heard your voices and overwhelmingly passed legislation (H.R.5613) that would delay seven of these damaging regulations.

The Senate is planning to hold a vote as soon as this week that could stop the Bush Administration from putting these harmful regulations into effect, and we need your help! Please call your Senators today and ask them to vote in favor of a moratorium on these crippling regulations.  Every vote is critical!

Call Your Member of Congress


Help Raise Awareness during Cover the Uninsured Week

Cover the Uninsured WeekThis week is Cover the Uninsured Week, and there couldn't be a better time to raise awareness of the more than nine million uninsured children in America. Through our Healthy Child Campaign, we remain committed to ensuring all children have access to health coverage. Some child advocates have been using CDF’s resources this week to educate their community about this problem and how they can help solve it:

  • We heard from Heidi in Massachusetts who has been discussing the issue with all of her training classes for the Department of Youth Services and the Department of Corrections. "The classes have been very well received with participants saying they never realized the scope of these issues."
  • CDF student child advocates at Columbia University in New York tell us that they are hosting a community health fair on May 3 to educate the public on the uninsured and to help actively reduce the number of children and families without health coverage.
  • The CDF-LA office is working in collaboration with the LAChip state office going door-to-door in St. Bernard Parish to distribute health coverage information and to enroll children in LAChip.

Learn more about our Healthy Child Campaign during Cover the Uninsured Week and let us know about how you worked to spread the word on this critical issue.


Support Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children at GrandRally May 7

Third National Grand RallyThe Third National GrandRally for grandparents and other relatives raising children will take place at the U.S. Capitol on May 7. The GrandRally will highlight the role relative caregivers are playing for millions of children and the support they need. Those gathered will hear from grandparents, grandchildren, Members of Congress, and two singing stars, country music singer Kellie Pickler, who was raised by her grandparents, and Patti Page, who is now raising her granddaughters.

Learn more about the GrandRally and how to register.


Think You Know the Facts Behind Child Poverty? Take Our Quiz.

learn the facts behind child poverty CDF's Cradle to Prison Pipeline? Campaign is a national call to action to stop the funneling of tens of thousands of youth down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and even death. Poverty is the largest driving force behind the Pipeline crisis, exacerbated by race. Still, many of us are unaware of the facts behind child poverty in America. Did you know that a baby is born into poverty in America every 35 seconds? Did you know that almost 13 million — one out of every six — children in America live in poverty?

Test your knowledge about child poverty in America by taking our quiz!


CDF President Speaks Out to Improve Conditions for Incarcerated Juveniles

cradle to prison pipeline campaignThousands of incarcerated children and youth are abused each year. In order to challenge the conditions of their confinement and gain access to legal representation they must follow the complex and legal administrative processes that the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) requires. Enacted in 1996 to limit frivolous lawsuits by incarcerated adults and youth, the PLRA often requires youth to report abuse to their abusers or subordinates of their abusers and many fear or risk retaliation if they file an administrative complaint. Earlier this month, CDF President Marian Wright Edelman submitted Congressional testimony urging Congress to take the necessary actions to exclude children and youth from the PLRA. Ms. Edelman said that doing so would substantially improve federal and state juvenile justice policy and to improve conditions for incarcerated youth.


Sarah Jessica Parker Steps Up for CDF!

Sarah Jessica Parker and CDFWe are thrilled to announce that actress Sarah Jessica Parker has chosen the Children's Defense Fund as the beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds from sales of "Sex and The City The Movie" T-shirts and tank tops. This merchandise is part of Ms. Parker's BITTEN™ collection she developed for the national retail chain Steve & Barry's.

The money raised by the merchandise will enable CDF to sustain and expand our work to ensure a level playing field for all children by lifting them out of poverty, protecting them from abuse and neglect, and ensuring access to health care, quality education, and a moral and spiritual foundation to help them succeed.

Find a Steve & Barry's store near you and shop to support CDF! (Ms. Parker will also be on "Oprah" tomorrow, May 1, promoting the new movie and possibly mentioning her partnership with CDF — watch and see!)


CDF 35 AnniversaryCelebrating 35 Years
For 35 years, CDF has worked relentlessly to lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, ensure access to health care and quality education, and provide a moral and spiritual foundation to help them succeed with the support of caring adults and communities. CDF is able to be the nation’s strongest voice for all America’s children thanks to the support of caring people like you. Without you, none of our work would be possible. We are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished over the years and with your continued support, we’ll keep taking steps to improve the lives of children and improve the lives of all of us.


Are you a Fan of CDF on Facebook?

FacebookCDF's Facebook Page is proving to be an invaluable resource for activists and child advocates around the globe. Visit our page to see updates on initiatives, events, resources, and the state of America's children. The CDF Facebook Page is also an excellent way to demonstrate the sheer strength of the children's movement in the United States. In just a short amount of time, over 1,000 child advocates have become "fans" of CDF on Facebook.

If you haven't already done so, become a fan of CDF today and invite your friends to do the same by clicking on the "Share with Friends" button at the top right corner of the page. See you on Facebook!


Children's Defense Fund
25 E Street, NW - Washington, DC 20001

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