Ian Leui, Jazmin de Luna, Manual Lopez, Samantha Galindo and Samarea Johnson were honored in December at our 28th annual CDF Beat the Odds® gala. They mingled with celebrities and enjoyed an evening where they were the center of attention, and their hard work – at school, home and in their community – was recognized. Now we are accepting applications for our next cohort of students to be a part of the CDF Beat the Odds family. Our online application portal is open through March 29. The program honors outstanding young people who demonstrate academic commitment, are involved in improving their community while overcoming adversity. Through a competitive review process, we will select five deserving high school freshmen from the greater Los Angeles area to receive academic support geared towards college enrollment and completion. In order to apply students must write a personal statement that describes their hardships and how they have overcome them and get a letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, casework or any other unrelated adult. Other requirements can be found online. Application deadline is March 29.
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Advocates Applaud Extension of Children’s Health Coverage and Urge State Lawmakers to Invest Funds in Children’s Health
SACRAMENTO, CA – Advocates for children and families in California today applauded the overwhelmingly bipartisan passage of H.R. 2 that extends funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP has a long history of bipartisan support, providing coverage for children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but don't have access to comprehensive, affordable health care. Together, CHIP and Medicaid have cut the rate of uninsured children in California by half over the last decade. Yesterday's CHIP funding extension will provide stability of coverage for more than a million California children who receive coverage through Medi-Cal. As a result of this bill's final passage, California will receive $450 - $550 million per year in additional federal CHIP funding, dollars that were not assumed by the Governor in his January budget proposal. "California lawmakers can make a significant difference in [...]
California Children’s Groups Urge Senate to Extend Funding for Children’s Health Insurance Program for Four Years
SACRAMENTO, CA — Recognizing the urgency of quick action to protect children's health, the U.S. House of Representatives voted today, with a strong show of bipartisan support, to approve the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The bill would, among other things, extend funding and current policy for the highly successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years, ensuring that children from low- and moderate-income working families can get the comprehensive, affordable health coverage they need to reach their full potential. More than 1 million children and pregnant women in California have health coverage funded by CHIP. While thanking the House members for taking timely action to extend CHIP, children's health care advocates in California urged the Senate to come together and build on the solid policy in the House bill by extending CHIP funding for four years. CHIP has [...]
Caliph Assagai Named Lobbyist for Children’s Defense Fund – California
Sacramento, CA – The Children's Defense Fund – California announced this week that Caliph Assagai, founder of the political consulting firm Public Interest Advocacy, has been selected to lead the organization's statewide lobbying efforts. In this role, Assagai will serve as CDF-CA's chief political strategist and spokesperson in the state Capitol, responsible for overseeing a policy agenda that includes legislation to reform juvenile solitary confinement policy, increase educational access, and reduce child poverty, among other critical issues facing children in the state. "Caliph Assagai is an exceedingly well-regarded and influential political advocate in Sacramento, and we are excited to welcome him as the newest member of our team," said Alex Johnson, Executive Director of CDF-CA. "Caliph's sterling reputation, demonstrated commitment to public service, and keen political insight will make him an invaluable partner in our efforts to level the playing field for children [...]
Governor’s Proposed Tax Credit for Working Poor Families is a Positive First Step to Reduce Child Poverty in California
In response to Governor Brown's May Revise budget proposal released today, Alex Johnson, Executive Director of Children's Defense Fund-California, issued this statement: "Governor Brown has taken a positive first step to reduce California's highest-in-the-nation child poverty rate by proposing a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) that will help working poor families make ends meet. We are pleased that Governor Brown is recognizing the urgency of addressing the state's child poverty crisis and proposing some relief for Californians who have not seen the benefits of the economic recovery. "Growing up poor negatively impacts the entire trajectory of a child's life and reinforces a generational cycle of poverty that steals hope and opportunity from our most vulnerable children. California needs a bold, comprehensive multi-year plan to end child poverty – and with state revenue surging, we have the resources to make a commitment [...]
How to Cut California Child Poverty by 58 Percent Right Now
Groundbreaking Report Released by Children's Defense FundLos Angeles, CA – Today, the Children's Defense Fund released a groundbreaking report entitled Ending Child Poverty Now Children's Defense Fund that details how the U.S. could substantially reduce child poverty immediately. Ending Child Poverty Now Children's Defense Fund–California If policymakers invested an additional 2 percent of the federal budget to expand existing federal programs and policies to increase employment and make work pay for parents and ensure children's basic needs are met, 60 percent of poor children across the country – and 58 percent of California's children – would be lifted out of poverty and 97 percent of all poor children would benefit.A California companion report by the Children's Defense Fund - California presents key state policy recommendations for how California can reduce child poverty by investing in programs that work: including enacting a refundable state [...]
1 in 4 children in California are poor
Child poverty is a moral and economic crisis that California cannot afford to ignore.