The Children’s Defense Fund is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all charitable donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

After the Storm
Hurricane Katrina devastated already fragile children, families and communities across the Gulf Coast region. Children have been distracted from the everyday business of growing up. Since the hurricane, an increased number of children have been faced with emotional or behavioral difficulties, such as feeling sad or depressed, being nervous or afraid, or having problems sleeping or getting along with others. In New Orleans thousands of child refugees live in FEMA trailer camps or the front yards of half-gutted homes. They suffer diagnosed chronic medical conditions at a rate two-thirds higher than that of the general pediatric population in the United States; they are more likely to suffer from asthma, behavioral or conduct problems, developmental delay or physical impairment, and learning disabilities; and they are unable to receive all of their prescribed medications because the cost is over twelve times higher than before Katrina.

This crisis of unmet health and mental health needs among children has been compounded by the tragically insufficient quality of education available to children who need it the most. This school year, 70 public schools in New Orleans remain closed, while hundreds of children returning to the city were turned away by an unprepared and complicated system that forces parents to navigate the confusing bureaucracies of three separate school systems. The largest high school in New Orleans opened this year with a shocking 20% of students living on their own, raising themselves. This is unacceptable in a city where half of all fourth and eighth grade students read below grade level.

A Winning Model
An evaluation conducted following the 2005-2006 CDF Freedom Schools^SM Emergency Katrina Projects in Mississippi and Louisiana verifies that a majority of children regarded as "unreachable" or "unteachable" with difficult attitudes and low self-esteem made great improvements. After participation in a CDF Freedom Schools program, over 80% of the children reported having a "good time" and three-quarters felt happy or "like something good is going to happen," despite great loss and trauma. Seventy percent of the children reported they were "just as good as other children," an increase of 13%. The Philliber Research Associates of New York indicate the model consistently improves attitudes and test scores of children performing lowest in their cohort. The CDF Freedom Schools program is a proven dynamic force impacting the home, school, social lives and health of children.

ESSENCE Readers Can Make a Difference!
Through this model, CDF Freedom Schools programs will improve the lives of children in New Orleans this summer, giving them the enriching educational experiences they need and deserve, while strengthening their families and communities. Almost 2,000 children will participate in our summer enrichment programs at 29 sites, and more than 200 college-aged youth will be trained as Servant Leaders. The impact of the CDF Freedom Schools summer programs is deepened and sustained when children have the opportunity to experience our after-school program. Your help and support could make this opportunity real for thousands of children attending school in New Orleans next year. Here's what your generosity could do:

$250	healthy meals for 35 children for one day
$500	books for instruction AND personal library for 6 children
$1,000	instructional supplies for one month for 25 children
$2,500	health services for 50 children for the summer program
$5,000	computers for instructional support AND instructional supplies for 50 children
$7,500	books for 100 children for the summer program
$10,000	healthy meals for 50 children for the summer program
$25,000	healthy meals AND mental heath services for 100 children
$50,000	Servant Leader Interns, mental health professional and art therapist stipends serving 100 children AND healthy meals for 50 children for the summer program.
$100,000	Two full CDF Freedom Schools summer programs providing healthy meals, books and instructional materials AND Servant Leader Interns and staff stipends AND health services AND compensation for an Art Therapist AND training and technical support AND computers for instructional support for 100 children.

Learn More About Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Programs