01.24.2022 / Press Release

Families USA honors Dr. Laura Guerra-Cardus with the 2022 Health Justice Advocate of the Year award

Washington, D.C – Families USA has recognized Dr. Laura Guerra-Cardus, Deputy Director of Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, with the 2022 Health Justice Advocate of the Year award. Several of Dr. Guerra-Cardus’ peers nominated her for the award for her work championing better health and health care for children and families in Texas. She will be officially honored during Families USA’s virtual 2022 Health Action Conference: Health Justice Now being held January 25-26.

Children’s Defense Fund-Texas advocates for children and families and is a state affiliate of the Children’s Defense Fund national office. Dr. Guerra-Cardus oversees the execution of its policy initiatives, including the #SickOfItTX grassroots campaign for healthcare coverage. She is a leading member of Cover Texas Now, the Children’s Healthcare Coverage Coalition, and Southerners for Medicaid Expansion, coalitions that aim to ensure that all children have access to affordable, comprehensive health care coverage. She also advocates for the well-being of immigrant children.

“During this almost two years of reckoning on so many fronts, including health justice and lack of access to equitable care, we are honored to acknowledge Dr. Guerra-Cardus’ commitment to fighting for the most vulnerable children and families in Texas,” said Frederick Isasi, Families USA’s executive director. “She is laser-focused on equitably expanding coverage and access to health care for Texans. This year, she coordinated the effort between national partners and the Southerners for Medicaid Expansion coalition to ensure Congress includes a Medicaid coverage gap fix in the Build Back Better package.  And she is a leading member of multiple state coalitions that have connected over a million additional children to health coverage. She is exactly the type of advocate we need for Texas children who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves.”

“This award is truly a great honor of my life, and I am so grateful and humbled to have the support of the health advocacy community,” said Dr. Guerra-Cardus. “To do work of value and true impact is my greatest aspiration. I hope this award sends a clear message to my many partners that our work is important and making a meaningful difference. Thank you to all who have stood shoulder to shoulder with me in this long, ongoing fight for health justice.”

Each year during its Health Action Conference, Families USA honors exceptional health champions who lead the charge to create a nation where the best health and health care is accessible and affordable to all. Last year, Dr. Joia Crear-Perry, a nationally recognized health equity policy expert and thought leader and Founder and President of the National Birth Equity Collaborative, received the Health Equity Health Advocate of the Year award for her dedication to health equity and the reformation of maternal and child health policy.

###