Outdated religious exemptions across the United States are putting children at risk by allowing parents or guardians to deny life-saving medical care. These loopholes prevent intervention, shield neglect and leave vulnerable children without protection — even when effective treatment exists. The consequences are real and devastating: Most children who died under these circumstances could have been saved. The Children Have a Right to Medicine (CHARM) Act closes these dangerous gaps by ensuring every child has access to evidence-based care and equal protection under the law. It doesn’t restrict belief; it protects children.
Does your state have a CHARM Act?
A just society has a basic obligation: Protect its most vulnerable.
The CHARM Act affirms that:
As the Supreme Court has affirmed:
“The right to practice religion freely does not include liberty to expose the child to ill health or death.”
— Prince v. Massachusetts (1944)
Many of these exemptions trace back to the 1970s, when states were required to adopt them to receive federal funding. That requirement ended in 1983. But the laws remain.
Today, they:
It’s time to fix them.
You can take action right now:
We’ll give you the tools to make an impact.
No child should be denied life-saving care because of someone else’s beliefs.
A clear, plain-language overview of:
Follow us for updates and ways to take action:
This toolkit gives you ready-to-use language to help protect children’s right to medical care by passing the CHARM Act in your state.
Whether you’re contacting a legislator, a concerned citizen posting on social media, writing a letter to the editor or talking with your community, these tools make it easy to explain why no child should be denied life-saving care because of someone else’s beliefs.
Use them as written, personalize them or adapt them to your voice.
Every action helps protect a child.
Does your state have a CHARM Act?
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Calling is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard.
This short script helps you clearly explain your support for the CHARM Act in just a few minutes — no expertise required.
Hi, my name is [Name], and I’m a constituent from [City].
I’m calling to ask Representative or Senator [Name] to support the CHARM Act — Children Have a Right to Medicine.
Right now, religious exemptions in your state allow parents to deny children necessary medical care, even when their health or lives are at risk.
Most of the tragic deaths that have occurred would have been preventable.
The CHARM Act ensures every child has access to basic medical care and equal protection under the law.
Can I ask where the Representative [or Senator] stands on this issue?
Thank you for your time.
Use this email to contact your state legislator.
Personalizing it — even one sentence — can make it more impactful.
Subject: Protect Children’s Lives — Support the CHARM Act
Dear [Representative/Senator Name],
I’m writing as your constituent to urge you to support the CHARM Act (Children Have a Right to Medicine).
Current law allows religious exemptions that can deny children access to necessary, even life-saving medical care. These loopholes have led to preventable suffering and deaths.
Children cannot advocate for themselves. They rely on the law to protect them.
The CHARM Act closes these dangerous gaps by ensuring that our laws require medical care of children, including preventive and diagnostic measures, without exception for religious belief.
This legislation does not restrict religious freedom – it simply ensures that no belief can justify medical neglect.
Please support the CHARM Act and help protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Respectfully,
[Name]
Use your local voice to shape the conversation.
Short, values-based letters can influence both public opinion and lawmakers.
“No child should be denied life-saving care”
In [State], outdated religious exemptions still allow parents to deny children necessary medical treatment.
That means a child’s survival can depend on someone else’s beliefs.
These cases are often preventable. Research shows that most children who died after being denied care could have survived with treatment.
The CHARM Act would stop these tragedies by ensuring all children receive basic medical care and equal protection under the law.
This isn’t about restricting belief. It’s about protecting children.
Lawmakers should act now to pass the CHARM Act.
[Name]
[City]
Help spread the word.
Copy, paste, tweak or personalize — every share builds awareness and pressure.
Outdated laws still allow children to be denied life-saving medical care in the name of religion.
Most of these deaths are preventable.
The CHARM Act protects every child’s right to medical care — no exceptions.
This isn’t about belief. It’s about protecting kids.
Take action at ffrfaction.org/charm-act
#ProtectChildren #ChildSafety #PublicHealth #EqualProtection
Most states still allow religious exemptions that deny kids medical care.
That can mean preventable deaths.
The CHARM Act fixes this.
Protect children. Pass it now.
Did you know most states still allow parents to deny kids medical care for religious reasons?
That means children can die from treatable illnesses, simply because their parents have a religious objection to health care.
Most of these deaths are preventable. And unless the law changes, this type of medical neglect is legal.
The CHARM Act would ensure every child gets the care they need.
This isn’t about religion.
It’s about protecting kids.
Take action at ffrfaction.org/charm-act
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues.
