Every child deserves to be given a chance to be a child. Every child deserves a happy and safe childhood. Every child deserves an opportunity for a bright future. There are 16 million children living in poverty in the United States. Twenty children’s lives were lost in Newtown, CT recently. These children did not get a chance to become adults.
This generation’s children have to face challenges that children in the past never experienced. They live in fear, violence and poverty. These are a part of childhood in America today.
Save the Children endorses the President’s proposal to curb gun violence, as well as expanding mental health services, but this is just the beginning. The safety and well-being of all children need to be addressed. Nearly 1 in 4 children live in poverty. 1 in 4 children live in poverty.
1 in 4 children live in poverty.
Proactive policies are critical to our nations children– to their development, health and the stability of the country. Our children need protected.
In 1987, President Reagan formed the first National Commission on Children. This led to the the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the creation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, among other initiatives. It’s been 25 years since this first commission was formed, it is time for a new Commission to develop new and bold ideas to face the challenges children face in today’s world.
A petition has been launched by Save the Children, the Children’s Health Fund, Every Child Matters, First Focus, Harlem Children’s Zone, and Share Our Strength. This petition is urging the Obama Administration and Congress to establish a National Commission on Children. This petition is supported by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, Catholic Charities USA, Child Care Aware® of America, Girls, Inc., KaBOOM!, National Association of School Nurses, and the YMCA of the USA. Every day support continues to grow and more and more prominent organizations are joining the cause. These organizations are sending their signed call for action to the White House prior to the President’s State of the Union Address on February 12.
The new National Commission on Children should be tasked with creating a national policy on children and setting goals for reducing childhood poverty, obesity, illiteracy, and violence.
In its 100 year history, child protection has been a top priority for Save the Children. They focus on the needs of the most vulnerable children throughout the United States and across the globe. Their aim is to keep all children free from abuse, exploitation, and violence. Save the Children, headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, deployed staff to provide emotional support to the children and parents in the Newtown tragedy on December 14th.
The entire country– parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and neighbors must come together to discover and create bold, new ideas to ensure all of America’s children and safe and protected in today’s changing and challenging world.
We can do more. We must do more.
Save the Children are asking everyone to join our urgent call for a National Commission on Children by signing this petition today.
To sign the petition, visit http://www.savethechildren.org/protect or Text KIDS to 69866.
Please help spread the word. Today’s children are tomorrow’s future.
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I wrote this post as part of The Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.
Our Motto: Individually we are all powerful. Together we can change the world. We believe in the power of collective action to help others and believe in ourselves to make this world a better place for our children and the world’s children.
All information used with permission.
Julia is the divorced mom of twins, a blogger, a sometimes crafter, crazy snailmailer, and a corporate bean counter. In her "spare" time, she scrapbooks, travels, makes cards, blogs, designs jewelry, searches for missing cleats and pom poms, enjoys good dark chocolate, and sneaks naps.