Children’s Defense Fund Texas

CDF - TX, Houston Shifa Clinic, and Houston Community Health Center Announce Partenership

On Friday, February 26th, representatives of CDF - Texas, the Houston Shifa Clinic, and the Houston Community Health Center, Inc (Denver Harbor Clinic/Airline Clinic) came together to announce the new partnerships between the three groups, highlight upcoming outreach events, and detail the services offered by the clinics.

Speakers focused on the fact that even with the uncertainty surrounding health care at the national level, coverage is available now for many of Texas’ uninsured children, including US citizens, legal permanent residents, and children in the US under refugee status – all of whom are eligible for CHIP or Children’s Medicaid.

These new partnerships will be used to further the organizations' efforts to help families in underserved communities know that they have access to support services during the application and renewal processes for CHIP (renewed yearly) and Children’s Medicaid (renewed every 6 months). And they will allow the clinics to serve a wider range of patients - with the Shifa Clinic hoping to expand the utilization of its free medical care provided on Wednesdays and Sundays and its open-door policy for walk-ins.

To see more photos of the event, click here

CDF-TX Beat the Odds® Scholarship Program Awards Dinners in Dallas and Houston Coming Soon

This April, CDF-TX will honor six scholarship recipients in the Houston area and three in the Dallas area who have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve academic success and leadership in their communities. In addition, the Houston ceremony will honor Philamena and Arthur Baird as Champions of Children.

CDF's Beat the Odds scholarship program recognizes youth who have overcome significant obstacles to succeed in school and in life. For ten years, CDF-Texas has awarded college scholarships to more than fifty students who have gone on to pursue leadership positions in their communities. Students in Dallas ISD, Houston/Harris and Liberty counties are strongly encouraged to apply. Read more

Houston Faith Community Participates in National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Celebration

On October 18, Trinity East United Methodist Church in Houston joined churches, synagogues, mosques and temples across the nation in observance of the 18th annual CDF Children's Sabbath weekend of prayer and reflection. The local celebration included a play by local playwrights and artists and a children's service integrating the writings and poetry of Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund.

Read about CDF's Faith-based Programs for Child Advocacy.

CDF's Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign

Class XXV of the American Leadership Forum (Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter) released a new report Dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline in Houston and Texas: A Study of Solutions.

The report spotlights the innovative strategies of twelve local groups working to create a more positive future for young people and save taxpayers billions of dollars by avoiding the costs of juvenile detention and incarceration.

Sign on to CDF-TX's Campaign to Dismantle the Cradle to Prison Pipeline.

Partnership for Children's Healthcare Coverage

For more than ten years, CDF-TX has partnered with Fiesta supermarkets to enroll eligible uninsured children in affordable healthcare coverage through CHIP and Children's Medicaid.

Do you know an uninsured child?
He or she may qualify for low-cost or free health coverage through Medicaid or CHIP.

Call 713-664-4080 today to request an application or to receive assistance with your application.

Advocacy Updates from Texas Finish Line Campaign

During the 81st Texas legislative session, the Texas Finish Line Campaign -- which advocates health care coverage for every Texas child -- advanced the conversation for children's health coverage closer to the finish line than ever before.

Unfortunately, in the final days of session, Texas failed to pass critical legislation that would have reduced the number of uninsured children.

Until the next Texas legislative session in 2011, please join us in monitoring how national health care reform will impact Texas children.

Sign up for child health policy and action alerts.

CDF Freedom Schools® Youths Rally for Health Care During National Day of Social Action

More than 200 CDF Freedom Schools® youths from Beaumont, Galveston, and Houston marched and rallied to raise awareness about the need for affordable, comprehensive, and streamlined health coverage for all children as part of CDF's National Day of Social Action. The press event was held in Galveston to draw special attention to the region's unmet healthcare needs in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

As part of their social action training, each scholar recruited five adults in their community to call their members of Congress to insist that children remain a priority in national health care reform.

Read about CDF Freedom Schools National Day of Social Action.