Coalition Calls for Greater Investments in California’s Children and Youth to Help Prepare Them for School, Work and Life
Richmond, California – The Children’s Leadership Council (CLC) launched its “Invest in Children, Strengthen America” campaign in Richmond, California today. California’s launch event was one of 9 happening this week, with a national rollout in Washington, DC on Thursday, December 18, 2008. The CLC is a coalition of child advocates representing 36 leading national policy and advocacy organizations, with members in every state in the nation. These groups are working everyday to improve the health, education and well-being of children and youth in order to prepare them for school, work, and life. For the first time, there is a strong, unified group of organizations speaking with one voice to achieve a singular mission – building the public awareness and creating the political will necessary to make greater federal investments in America’s children and youth a reality.
In California alone, we are currently facing a budget deficit of approximately 15 billion. Sadly, the economic crisis and the cuts made to balance the budget will have a disproportionally negative impact on California’s children. As the job market falters and unemployment rises, more children and families face the risk of impoverishment, increased stress in coping with job loss and tighter budgets, increased food insecurity, the loss of health insurance, and instability in housing and child care.
The “Invest in Children, Strengthen America” campaign focuses on five specific areas of investment that are proven effective in improving the health, education and well-being of children across America. Those five investment areas for children and youth are:
· The prevention, early diagnosis and treatment for at-risk children, including those who are abused and neglected.
· Services for older children to ensure that they are safe and on a path to success such as those that reduce high school drop outs, mentoring for at risk youth and job training.
· Physical, dental and mental health care, prevention and treatment so that all children are healthy.
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