I know all too well the stress of living and building a life here without legal status. When I was 7 years old, my mother, who had advanced degrees and a coveted career, brought my brother and I to the U.S. to escape the violence of Rio de Janeiro, where I was born. The American dream is real, and I should know because I’m living it. Unfortunately, for millions of people, that dream has been deferred because of uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Archives: Voices
For immigrants, fear, confusion, and the chilling effect
The young 9-year-old Latina girl was terrified – worried that her parents would be deported from their North Carolina home while she was at school. She began experiencing recurring headaches, stomach pain and anxiety. She missed school days because of her fear and her health issues. Her parents were aware that she needed medical care but were scared to seek treatment for her for fear it would affect the family’s immigration status.
New report: Making WIC work better
A new report released this week finds that far too many pregnant women, new mothers and their young children are missing out on the nutrition they need. The report details a “shocking downward trend” in WIC participation. “Making WIC Work Better: Strategies to Reach More Women and Children and Strengthen Benefits,” released this week by the Food Research & Action Center, provides strategies to overcome barriers to WIC participation and effectively reach and serve more eligible pregnant women, mothers, and their young children.
The latest Human Needs Report: appropriations, disaster aid, bad news for asylum seekers, and more
CHN just released another edition of the Human Needs Report. Read on for the latest on Congress’s spending work, disaster aid for Puerto Rico and several states, a tougher path for asylum seekers, a rollback of payday lending protections, and more.
The enduring influence of Marian Wright Edelman
Children have been in the news a great deal lately—for terrible reasons like the administration’s policy of tearing children from their parents at the border, and for good reasons, like the historic federal investment in child care in 2018 and the exciting child care guarantee and paid family and medical leave proposals now being floated in Congress. With such a mix of threats and opportunities, it’s a high-stakes moment for the diverse generation of children and young people who represent the nation’s future.
Amid devastating disasters, advocates demand aid for states and territories
Advocates for disaster aid barnstormed senators’ offices Wednesday as a coalition pressed for funding to address what arguably has been the most costly and devastating series of natural disasters to hit both states and territories in the U.S. in modern history. Wednesday marked the first day of a National Week of Action for groups demanding aid for devastated areas. The groups kicked off their activities with a news conference on Capitol Hill.
Strolling Thunder storms the U.S. Capitol
A “storm” was brewing today on Capitol Hill for ZERO TO THREE’S third annual Strolling Thunder event. Families from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. strolled through the halls to urge their members of Congress to #ThinkBabies and prioritize early childhood policies. Parents – with babies in tow — emphasized quality, affordable child care, time for parents to bond with their babies, healthy emotional development, and strong physical health and nutrition.
CHN supporters share their payday lending stories
Tamara Fettes of Rice Lake, Wisconsin has her own payday lending story to share. Tamara is one of 1,078 CHN supporters from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. who have submitted comments in opposition to an effort by the Trump Administration to roll back an Obama-era rule that would protect consumers from predatory payday and car title lenders. The Trump Administration’s proposed rule is currently in its public comment period, which means anyone and everyone can submit comments.
Who’s hurt by payday lending?
It is well known that the payday lending industry targets the most vulnerable among us. Particularly vulnerable are African Americans, victims of domestic violence, and veterans as well as active members of the military. The Trump Administration is pushing to roll back an Obama-era rule that would protect consumers from predatory payday and car title lenders. Before they can do that, staff must take into account comments from the public. CHN and many of our allies are working to generate comments opposing this rollback.
We Need Tax Relief for Working Families, Not the 1%
Low-income American families are currently facing a host of financial challenges: wages are stagnant, child-care costs are soaring, rent in many cities is skyrocketing, and that’s only naming a few. As a result, 40 percent of Americans would be unable to cover a $400 emergency expense. On April 10th, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced the Working Families Tax Relief Act, a bill that would expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for adults with and without children, improve the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and establish a Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) for families with children under six years old.
Colleges Grapple with Student Food Insecurity
In the United States, nearly 13 percent of people are food insecure, living without reliable access to basic nutrition. But the problem is even more dramatic on college campuses, where a recent study found that 48% of students report food insecurity and live without regular access to food. One solution campuses across the country increasingly are employing is on-campus emergency food pantries. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), in September 2018, more than 650 colleges reported having a food pantry on campus.
The U.S. Supreme Court, the Census, and the citizenship question
This Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the Department of Commerce may include a citizenship question as part of next year’s U.S. Census. Experts say including this question would result in as many as 6.5 million people declining to fill out and return their Census forms, particularly among immigrant and people of color communities, with children disproportionately among those left out.