It’s easy to get wrapped up in the inner-workings of your own home and forget there is a larger world out there. When you’re a parent, it’s almost an occupational hazard, this focus on what’s inside your own house. But another occupational hazard of motherhood is the growing empathy for all children, whether they’re yours or not.

1 in 4 children in this country live in poverty.

1 in 4.

That means, take my three, add my new niece and then pick one of them to be hungry, cold, without means for proper medical care or a stable home.

1 in 4.

In 1987, Republican President Ronald Reagan and Congress established the first National Commission on Children which ultimately led to the enactment of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the creation of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), among other important initiatives.  These were huge steps in protecting and encouraging our children.

Now, the challenges for this generation of America’s children are unlike any we’ve seen before. We cannot stand by and let fear, violence and poverty become pervasive parts of childhood in America.Twenty-five years later, it’s time for another Commission to develop bold, new ideas to tackle today’s challenges.

Child protection has been a top priority for Save the Children throughout its nearly 100-year history. The organization’s programs in the United States and across the globe focus on the needs of the most vulnerable children, while aiming to keep all children free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. Now they’re asking for our help.

It’s going to take the entire country coming together to find bold, new ideas to ensure all of America’s children are safe and protected. We can do more, and we must do more.

Please join Save the Children’s urgent call for a National Commission by signing this petition today. It’s as simple as a click of your mouse or a few taps on your phone keyboard. Aren’t our kids worth that much? To sign the petition, visit www.savethechildren.org/protect or Text KIDS to 69866.

I wrote this post as part of The Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving the global rights of women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health.

Our Motto: Individually we are all powerful. Together we can change the world.

We believe in the power of collective action to help others and believe in ourselves to make this world a better place for our children and the world’s children.

All information used with permission.