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CWLA 2009 Children's Legislative Agenda
Letter from the President
© Child Welfare League of America. The content of these publications may not be reproduced in any way, including posting on the Internet, without the permission of CWLA. For permission to use material from CWLA's website or publications, contact us using our website assistance form.
Dear Friend of Children:
CWLA believes that together we can make children and families a national priority.
The new Administration and Congress have the opportunity to realize this dream and
ensure every child is nurtured, protected, provided the chance to develop to his or her full
potential, and given opportunities to contribute to the common good.
In 2009, we challenge the President and Congress to affirm this responsibility and take
actions to strengthen our commitment to permanency and protection of America's children.
CWLA's top legislative priorities for 2009 are a call to reestablish the White House Conference
on Children and Youth, and providing that a significant share of the economic recovery plan
be for the benefit of vulnerable children and their families.
Five hundred thousand children are in foster care on any given day and three million
cases of abuse and neglect are reported every year in this country. As the economy weakens,
history and experience tell us the caseloads will increase. We can and must do better to
protect and provide a safe and promising future for these children. Our legislative priorities
appeal to the Administration and Congress to boldly affirm our national commitment to
children and families. Calling a White House Conference in 2010 will set in motion a set
of activities to engage communities throughout the nation to focus on and make recommendations
regarding the concerns and needs of the most vulnerable children and youth.
The economic recovery must include new reliable, flexible, guaranteed resources needed
to prevent child abuse and neglect; provide better supports for families in crisis; provide care
and treatment for children in foster care; provide support to foster parents, grandparents,
and other relatives caring for children; and strengthen adoptive families and the workforce
that supports this system of care.
CWLA's 2009 Children's Legislative Agenda outlines what Congress can do this year to
better the lives of children and families. By working together, we can live in an America
where no child is abused and neglected and every child achieves his or her full potential.
Christine James-Brown
President and CEO
Child Welfare League of America
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