The Children's Defense Fund

 

 

The Children's Defense Fund is an organization committed to ensuring that children have a voice and get what they need in order to be successful and happy in their life and education.
 
Their website is  http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/enewsletters/
 
I chose this website/resource because it not only addresses issues involving children but also keeps others informed about changing policies affecting children and resources and information to support issues affecting children.  For example:
 

• There is the monthly newsletter that focuses on a particular issue and how people can help become a voice for children.  
• There are also resources such as a Resource Library that contains an archive of previous articles and additional resources to support issues previously mentioned on the website. 
• There is also a Take Action resource that has suggestions and resources for people to engage in to help make a difference in children's lives.
• There is a page that is entitled Programs and Campaigns which lists organizations that the CDF collaborates with on a regular basis and information on how others can get involved with these programs to benefit children.
• There is also a section entitled Policy Priorities which is a generated list of policies that are the most important to the CDF and resources and articles keeping people updated on these policies.

 
One particular article I chose to read was in the section entitled Special Projects for Children in Need.  The article addresses issues and statistics surrounding children of Hurricane Katrina.  The CDF released a report published in April 2006 Katrina's Children: A Call to Conscience and Action.  The report notes that although a great deal of monetary and public support was sent to children and families of Katrina, not enough has been done to protect them from continued post-traumatic stress.  In an updated report Katrina's Children: Still Waiting published by the CDF in March 2007, the CDF reported:

• About 100,000 children still do not live where they did when the hurricane struck (CDF, 2007).
• Only 55 public schools were open in New Orleans (CDF, 2007).
• Before the hurricane, there were 3,200 physicians in Orleans Parish and surrounding parishes; CDF's report found only about 1,200 physicians there no (CDF, 2007).

Although these statistics are from 2007, the CDF has continued to update on conditions of children and adults in New Orleans.  The CDF website also had updated articles about displaced children and their families and how they are doing since Hurricane Katrina.  Two of the main concerns that stem from these articles are health care and mental health issues for the people of Katrina.

This article was of particular interest to me because I remember when Hurricane Katrina hit and could not imagine all of the lives turned upside down by this storm just from viewing media.  My heart went out to all of those people and still does.  Our nation still needs to financially step up and help these families and neighborhoods rebuild but also assist when these families have to live elsewhere and/or permanently relocate.

I am looking forward to reading more articles on the CDF site and how I can be involved in making a global change and a difference in children's lives.

References

Children's Defense Fund. (n.d.).  Retrieved from http://www.childrensdefense.org/newsroom/enewsletters/