Children's Defense Fund
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Our Voice for Children
March 2021
What the American Rescue Plan Means for Children and Families
The American Rescue Plan is the $1.9 trillion COVID-10 relief package
that was signed into law this month, and it marks a critical step
forward in the fight for our children's future. We are particularly
thrilled about the one-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC)
included in this law, which creates a child allowance that will lift
millions of children out of poverty this year. This is a bigger,
bolder response to COVID-19 that families across the country has
called for and so desperately need.
By now you've probably heard about the American Rescue Plan, but you
may still have questions. Check out our helpful Q&A to learn more
about what it means for your family and your community.
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More on the American Rescue Plan from Our Team
Our President and CEO, the Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, on the Bakari
Sellers Podcast
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Policy team members Emma Mehrabi and Zach Tilly discuss the
poverty-fighting Child Tax Credit
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CDF-NY's Ben Anderson shares why we need to make the child allowance
permanent
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Support our ongoing work to ensure children and families will be
even stronger on the other side of this pandemic. Make a gift
today>
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Our Advocacy for Children
March brought forth some historic wins for America's children and also
reminded us how far we have to go before all children can feel safe
and welcome in their communities and have what they need to thrive.
Here are some of the ways we advocated for children and their families
this month:
Racial Justice: We called on our community to join us
in standing against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate
and white terrorism after the horrific scene of anti-Asian violence
that unfolded in Atlanta. Learn more.
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Youth Justice: CDF-New York demanded an end to the
use of chemical agents like pepper spray or tear gas on children after
a 9-year-old Black girl suffering a mental health crisis was
pepper-sprayed and handcuffed by Rochester, NY police. Learn more.
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Housing: We highlighted the need to guarantee a universal
housing voucher to every eligible family in order to dramatically
reduce child homelessness and cut child poverty. Learn more.
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Child Poverty: We joined hundreds of organizations in
calling for Congress to pass the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 as an
investment in our neighbors, our children, and our families-for
now and for the future. Learn more.
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Child Health: CDF-Ohio's Dr. Tracy Nájera and Kelly
Vyzral joined the Prognosis Ohio podcast to discuss the need to
prioritize infant and maternal health in state budget negotiations.
Learn more.
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Gun Violence Prevention: We condemned 25 years of
Congressional inaction to prevent children, not guns, after mass
shootings in Atlanta and Boulder once again forced us to ask, "when
will this madness end?" Learn more.
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Immigrant Families: We applauded the House passage of
two bills to improve the immigration system and create more pathways
to citizenship, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 and the
Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Learn more.
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CDF Freedom Schools® Family Book Club Night
Our CDF Freedom Schools® family came together once again for a
LIVE Family Book Club Night featuring lots of dancing, fun engagement
activities, and two fabulous books: Standing on Her Shoulders, read by
International Centennial President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.,
Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, and Miss Tizzy, read by some of your
favorite Ella Baker Trainers! Rewatch our March event and be sure
to join us again for Family Book Club Night on Wednesday, April 21, at
7:00 PM ET, live on Facebook.
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Child Watch Roundup
In a Child Watch column published this month, Marian Wright Edelman
kicked off Women's History Month by celebrating the diversity of
President Biden's cabinet picks, who reflect the more just and
inclusive United States of America that our children deserve. Read the
column.
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Catch up on the rest of Marian Wright Edelman's recent Child Watch
columns:
* The American Rescue Plan: Giant Strides Forward on Child Poverty
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* COVID-19 Vaccines: Finding the Right Facts
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Be sure to sign up to receive Marian Wright Edelman's Child Watch
column directly to your inbox every Friday
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