California: Healthcare for All Kids!
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GoogleMomsRising members feel strongly that every child should have access to healthcare and are deeply concerned that approximately 763,000 children in California are currently uninsured. In response, our members have taken more than 32,000 actions in the last year to call for healthcare coverage for all children in California.
Covering all kids in California protects children and makes economic sense. Our members' personal stories illustrate this reality. Here are few examples:
* Thanks to Medi-Cal, I didn't hesitate to seek medical attention as soon as I knew something was wrong – so Aubrey was able to get the most effective care before her condition worsened or became more expensive to treat. I am so, so grateful for that. – Anjie
* I try not to think about money when deciding whether or not to take him to the hospital, but I have to. We are a single income family and every dime counts. Help get health coverage for my son and his peers, please. – Usha
Learn more -- read our fact sheet and our members' personal stories.
Lights, Camera, Action!
This summer, we sponsored a summer video contest for kids and their parents to make short videos to raise the awareness of Californians that almost 800,000 kids in California have no healthcare. Despite the outcry from many Californians, the legislature just isn't getting the message all kids need healthcare coverage.
The results are in!
Congratulations to our grand prize winners Amos, Lucy & Zeke and to our runners-up Vladimir and Grace! We got lots of great video entries that you can watch here. We'll show the top three videos to legislators so they can witness the tremendous power of our kids and their common sense. Thanks to everyone who participated!
Campaign Highlights
In the last year, Momsrising.org members have taken more than 32,000 actions in support of healthcare coverage for all children in California.
Our legislators are taking note, here's what they are saying:
Assemblymember Loni Hancock -- "MomsRising is a unique organization that is mobilizing one of the most important constituent groups- mothers who are committed to improving the health of their families and their communities. As both a mother and a grandmother, I believe strongly in the power of mothers to catalyze long-term, community-centered social change and look forward to working together with the members of Mom's Rising on future campaigns."
Assemblymember Mark Leno -- "MomsRising is a rare gem among grassroots organizations because they have both the political sophistication of seasoned insiders and the passion of 50,000 concerned mothers. They are an unstoppable force."
Assemblymember Jean Fuller -- "I applaud MomsRising for giving a strong voice to mothers who care so much about the welfare of all children. Your voice matters and I greatly appreciate the input from my constituents."
Get Involved
Share your personal healthcare story
MomsBlogging on Healthcare for All Kids
Our voices were heard: No wait-list for Healthy Families!
Congratulations! Last week California MomsRising.org members sent over 3,600 letters to Governor Schwarzenegger and our legislators in Sacramento to oppose a proposed wait-list for kids' healthcare coverage. Our voices were heard!
Medi-Cal saved my daughter's life!
My daughter Ellie was born with reflux, a seemingly innocent condition that many children have and outgrow. But Ellie was different. She would choke and turn blue, she would become dehydrated from not being able to keep anything down, and she had pneumonia by the time she was 10 days old.
Healthy Families has been a health-saver, if not a life-saver, for my family.
Healthy Families has been a health-saver, if not a life-saver, for my family. I'm self-employed and have to provide my own insurance. Four years ago, my older daughter's school wanted her put on ADD meds to see if they would help with her learning disabilities.
Californian Children Need Your Help; Healthy Families Program May Close its Doors
More than 162,000 eligible children are at risk of falling through safety net and losing hope of needed health coverage.
The first day of school (with pink eye)
My two children have received excellent public health benefits in San Francisco since before they were born. I qualified for no-cost Medi-Cal during both pregnancies though my partner and I were both self-employed. After my children were born, this coverage has allowed me to focus on taking care of our kids - now ages 5 and 2.5 - rather than get a job just for the healthcare benefits.
The long term impact of my girls' year without healthcare
I moved back to Tustin, CA in December 2006 after leaving a man who had been abusive and a marriage that was falling apart. While I was looking for work, we were on Medi-Cal but I did not want to stay on for long because I felt others needed it more than me.
KidsRising? Your Kids' Voices Needed to Move CA Legislators
Right now, approximately 763,000 kids don't have healthcare coverage -- a number that is going up each year. In fact, now 1 in 8 kids nationwide don't have healthcare coverage, many more than just last year. Despite the outcry from many Californians, the legislature just isn't getting the message that all kids need healthcare coverage.
