Sharing Web Resources

The Children's Defense Fund

I actually love this website because it contains so much important information that is vital to the well being of all children.  Since I am a preschool teacher I  always visit the sections on early childhood education.  Under Policy Priorities are subdivisions.  The subdivisions that interest me are Special Projects for Children in Need, Early Childhood Education and Care and Children's Budget Watch.

At this time I have not found any information on this website that I believe is controversial.  If anything the information on this site has made me aware of current issues and trends that I was unaware of.  For instance, the Be Careful What You Cut campaign is focused on what programs and funding maybe cut in the near future.  From my understanding a lot of programs that I know helps the community that I serve, maybe in jeopardy.  Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) gives a representation of what the sequestration cuts would be like for children if the budget gets passed. 

• Head Start will serve 96,179 fewer low-income children.
• 80,000 fewer children and their families will receive child care subsidies.
• 5 million fewer families will be served by the Maternal/Child Health Block Grant, which provides funding for prenatal care, well child services, infant mortality, injury & violence, oral healthcare, school-based health programs, and eliminating racial/ethnic disparities.
• 211,958 fewer children will be vaccinated.
• $270,790,425 less funding available for heating and cooling assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  Nearly half of the families receiving LIHEAP assistance have at least one child.
• Title I grants will serve 1.8 million fewer students.
• 26,949 fewer children will be served by early intervention special education grants.
• 350,327 fewer English Language Learner (ELL) students will be served by English Language Acquisition Grants.
• 1,133,981 fewer students will be served by grants for career and technical education.
• 51,577 fewer students will receive financial aid through the Federal Work Study program.
• 110,543 fewer students will receive aid through Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants
• 18,611 fewer youth will be served by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which provides training services to underemployed adults, and youth who have dropped out of high school and want to go back to school or enter the labor market.
• 4,350 fewer youth will receive education and training from Job Corps, which targets economically at-risk youth.    http://www.childrensdefense.org/policy-priorities/budget-watch/

This website is definitely an advocate for the well being of all children. It wants children to receive the best possible education, health care and resources to grow into productive adults. For my understanding it seems that some politicians might not be doing enough to keep funding for early childhood.  At least for the standpoint of urban inner city children that may not be receiving quality preschool education.