SDPC National Site

SPECIAL LINKS

AARP - www.aarp.org - boasts a membership of over 35 million individuals 50 and is known for providing a host of services to its membership. Its top advocacy priorities include important issues such as health, financial security, independence, long-term care and consumer protection. AARP maintains a daily watch on proposed federal legislation and also participates in coalitions with other national groups to support or oppose specific legislation. Its lobbying activities around proposed budgetary cuts and social security changes and its effect on the low-income population are significant. Their web site which includes extensive research and policy information around issues impacting African Americans is invaluable.

Africa Action - www.africaaction.com Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic and social justice in Africa through the provision of accessible information and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational institutions toward Africa. Africa Action produces a range of resources on African affairs and Africa policy. These resources analyze U.S. relations with Africa, particularly on key issues that impact Africa's challenges and support Africa's struggles for peace, development and human rights.

Annie E. Casey Foundation - www.aecf.org Since 1948, the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) has worked to build better futures for disadvantaged children and their families in the United States. A rich resource for data on African American families and children, the Foundation also provides grants to initiatives that have significant potential to demonstrate innovative policy, service delivery, and community support for children and families. Currently, their main focus is on the Making Connections Program, a ten-year investment by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to improve the outcomes for families and children in tough or isolated neighborhoods.

Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute - www.bcdvi.org The Institute's programs are designed to develop relationships among congregations and domestic violence agencies by garnering the support of clergy, advocates and law enforcement. By engaging churches, shelters and law enforcement in partnerships, battered women are not forced to choose between their faith and their safety. They provide culturally competent training for clergy and advocates emphasizing the empowerment and leadership development of religious leaders in the historic Black church in prevention and response to domestic violence.

Black Women's Health Imperative - www.blackwomenshealth.org Though this is a resource targeted for black women's health, it is one of the most comprehensive internet resources for information on health concerns and health related legislation within the African American communities in the United States and throughout the African Diaspora. Information provided includes sponsors, co-sponsors, and non-cosponsors of health legislation, status of health related bills, including alerts and updates and the voting record of Congressional members. This site also provides information on schedules for both house and senate and all committee hearings.

Bread for the World- www.bread.org Bread for the World is a nationwide Christian citizen's movement seeking justice for the world's hungry people by lobbying our nation's decision makers. The Bread for the World Institute collects facts on domestic and global hunger.

Center for Family Policy and Practice (CFFPP) - www.cffpp.org Formerly called the Center on Fathers, Families, and Public Policy (CFFPP) is a nationally-focused public policy organization conducting policy research, technical assistance, training, litigation and public education in order to focus attention on the barriers faced by never-married, low-income fathers and their families. The Center provides policy and legislative analysis, legal education, and program implementation evaluation, with particular attention to the areas of paternity establishment, incarceration issues, child support, employment; cross-trainings for fatherhood and child welfare staff; identification of fatherhood programs and services in local communities and other family and public support policies affecting low-income families. Monthly briefings are distributed nationwide by fax and email, and are also accessible through the Center's web site. The Center also provides national- and state-level analysis and advocacy on public support policies and legislation affecting low-income families, including such areas as welfare or TANF policy, child support policy, food stamp and Medicaid programs. It is one of the very few internet resources that address men's issues.

Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) - www.clasp.org The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) is a national non-profit that works to improve the lives of low-income people. CLASP conducts cutting-edge research, provides insightful policy analysis, advocates at the federal and state level, and offers information and technical assistance on a range of family policy and equal justice issues. They also publish fact sheets, policy briefs, and legislative analyses around issues of prisoner re-entry, youth, welfare policies, job displacement and education.

Child Welfare League of America- www.cwla.org Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. They provide training, consultation, conferences, and publications they formulate and promote public policies at every level that contribute to the well-being of children, youth, families, and neighborhoods.

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) - www.childrensdefense.org The nation's leading advocate for children's welfare, for more than 20 years, CDF has worked closely with national religious leaders and organizations, state and regional bodies, local congregations, leaders, and lay people. The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life.

Children Now - www.childrennow.org This site provides a great deal of information on government programs and policies that impact African American children and their families. Children Now is a research and action organization that is recognized for its expertise in media as a tool for change. Their activities include advocacy, communications strategies, analysis and research and nonpartisan policy positions to bring about change in government, business and partnerships with community organizations, parents, advocates, business and government.

Coalition on Human Needs - www.chn.org The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) is an alliance of national organizations including civil rights, religious, labor and professional organizations and those concerned with the well being of children, women, the elderly and people with disabilities working together to promote public policies which address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations. One of its most significant resources is a bi-monthly legislative newsletter, The Human Needs Report, which provides legislative analyses, issue briefs, fact sheets, and action alerts national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. It is published every other week while Congress is in session. CHN also an Advocates' Meetings every other Friday while Congress is in session to discuss the latest legislative developments. It is an excellent resource for obtaining timely updates on legislative activity.

Council for Opportunity in Education - www.trioprograms.org The Council for Opportunity in Education is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing and defending the ideal of equal educational opportunity in post-secondary education. As such, the focus of the Council is assuring that the least advantaged segments of the American population have a realistic chance to enter and graduate from a post-secondary institution. Through its numerous membership services, the Council works in conjunction with colleges, universities, and agencies that host TRIO Programs to specifically help low-income Americans enter college and graduate. These programs include Talent Search, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math Science, Veteran's Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, all of which help students to overcome class, social, academic and cultural barriers to higher education.

Human Rights Watch - www.hrw.org Human Rights Watch is an independent, non-governmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide and provides a wealth of information on national and international government and/or policies that discriminate or endanger the freedom of people around the world.

Interfaith Alliance - www.interfaithalliance.org A national non-partisan, interfaith advocacy voice representing more than 70 faith traditions that promotes interfaith cooperation around shared religious values to strengthen the public's commitment to civic participation, freedom of religion, diversity, and civility in public discourse and to encourage the active involvement of people of faith in the nation's political life. An excellent resource for explanations of pending legislation that affects the faith community. It is also a good source of sermons related to the issues of justice reform, government funded religion and hate crimes. Within each issue section, you will find an overview of The Interfaith Alliance's position on, relevant pending legislation and action alerts.

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies - www.jointcenter.org The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a national, nonprofit research and public policy institution and is recognized today as one of the nation's premier think tanks on a broad range of public policy issues of concern to African Americans and other communities of color. The principle areas of work now include political participation, economic advancement, and health policy. This is an excellent resource for up-to-date information on government policy.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - www.naacp.org The nation's oldest civil rights organization is one of the primary lobbyists in the nation's capital for civil rights. Annually providing a report card on the members of Congress and their voting records on key civil rights legislation, their activities include research and findings on the adverse effects of racial discrimination, seeking enactment and enforcement of federal, state and local laws securing civil rights and educating persons as to their constitutional rights.

National Community Action Foundation - www.ncaf.org The National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) is the Washington advocate and lobbyist for the nation's Community Action Agencies. Their work encompasses a broad range of issues and programs including: Community Services Block Grant, Head Start, Low-income Home Energy Assistance, Welfare Reform, Employment and Job Training, Housing and Shelter for the Homeless, Services for Older Americans, Health, Nutrition, Tax and Income Policy, and Energy Conservation Programs. They also provide research on national and state legislative and policy proposals affecting the poor as well as the impact of existing programs and policies. It is an excellent resource for pending bills in Congress and status of representative's votes and legislative updates.

National Urban League - www.nul.org The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. One of its main resources is its annual report on The State of Black America that addresses the issues central to African Americans. The report examines black progress in education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, health and other areas, forecasts certain social and political trends and proposes solutions to the community's and America's most pressing challenges.

National Women's Law Center - www.nwlc.org The Center's Family Economic Security Program advances laws and public policies to help economically vulnerable women -- including single mothers, women of color and older women - by promoting high-quality, affordable child and dependent care, meaningful income support programs, a strong Social Security system, and fair and fiscally responsible tax and budget policies. An excellent web site, it includes summaries and status information about key bills, including sponsors, co-sponsors, voting status, etc., key congressional roll call votes, and tips for communicating with Congressional members and key staffers and the legislative process.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - www.seiu.org The Service Employees International Union represents 1.8 million working people and 120,000 retirees in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Members include health care, building service, public and industrial workers and more. A majority of members are women and 20 percent are African American. A powerful advocacy and lobbying group, whose activities include fighting for quality, affordable health care for all Americans, quality public services, educational opportunities for all and the provision of livable wages.

The Sentencing Project - www.sentencingproject.org The Sentencing Project has become a national leader in the development of alternative sentencing programs and in research and advocacy on criminal justice policy. A recognized source of criminal justice policy analysis, data, and program information. Its reports, publications, and staff are relied upon by the public, policymakers and the media and has led to Congressional and state legislative hearings and fostered new programs designed to address the issues of racial and economic disparity in sentencing. They also provide leadership and training for defenders and others who work with the increasing number of juveniles being tried in adult court and the development of approaches to reducing racial disparity at each stage of the criminal justice system. This is one of the most informative web sites for information on the criminal justice system in America.

TransAfrica Forum - www.transafricaforum.org This is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the general public - particularly African Americans - on the economic, political and moral ramifications of U.S. foreign policy as it affects Africa and the Diaspora in the Caribbean and Latin America. They serve as a major research, educational, and organizing institution for the African-American community, sponsoring seminars, conferences, community awareness projects, and training programs that promote U.S. policies that are supportive of human rights, democracy, and sustainable economic development. It also offers constructive analyses of issues concerning U.S. policy as it affects Africa and the Diaspora in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Welfare Law Center - www.welfarelaw.org. The Welfare Law Center advances the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country. The Center engages in legal representation and policy advocacy around the country to improve the administration of cash assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Child Care. The Center is a recognized national leader in using litigation to improve welfare programs. They use a broad range of other strategies in our legal and policy work, including publication and dissemination of materials; communication with an extensive national network of legal and policy advocates; coalition building; training; and public and media education. In addition, the Center has expanded its outreach to the broader community through vastly increased dissemination of materials, a periodic newsletter on welfare reform issues, media contacts, and web pages for information on welfare legal developments and community organizing.