Speak Now for Kids

Families across the United States are being asked to make their voices heard in a battle taking place in the nation’s capital. Advocates say the services sick children depend on have become a casualty of political budget battles and that action by the U.S. Senate could address one critical area of need. Families, advocates and the pediatric community are all being asked to join the Speak Now for Kids campaign to improve access to care for all children.

The U.S. Senate allowed the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program to expire, eliminating the nation’s sole federal program in support of training pediatricians and pediatric specialists at children’s hospitals. In September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the program. The nation’s freestanding teaching children’s hospitals train 40 percent of all pediatricians and 43 percent of pediatric specialists — physicians that are already in short supply. There are also threats of cutting medicaid, 1/3 of all U.S. children are on Medicaid, including my own. Without Medicaid these children would have no access to healthcare.

There are easy ways for you to get involved:

1. Learn more at the Speak Now Twitter Party Wednesday, November 16th 2:00-3:00pm EST follow #dontcutkids and @speaknowforkids.
2. Send a Twitter DM to the members of Congress. you can find their Twitter handles here.
3. Use this form to quickly and easily send an email to all of your congressional representatives.
4. Print this poster have your child color it and then mail it to your member of congress.
5. Post this on Twiiter and Facebook Speak Now for Kids! Make your voice heard & send a message to lawmakers today! http”//www.speaknowforkids.org