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-19 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 have called for and so desperately need—and we must continue to build upon this progress to truly protect the health and well-being of all our children.
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.
More on the American Rescue Plan from Our Team
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Child Health: CDF-Ohio's Dr. Tracy Nájera and Kelly Vyzral joined the PrognosisOhio podcast to discuss the need to prioritize infant and maternal health in state budget negotiations. Learn more.
Gun Violence Prevention: We condemned 25 years of Congressional inaction to protect children, not guns, after mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder once again forced us to ask, "when will this madness end?" Learn more.
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.
CDF Freedom Schools® Family Book Club Night
Our CDF Freedom Schools® community 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.
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.
Catch up on the rest of Marian Wright Edelman's recent Child Watch columns:
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