Blog
Find our latest articles, reports, and weekly editions at Children's Defense Fund.
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Immigration
70 Child Advocacy Organizations Call on Texas Governor to Protect Migrant Children
Instead of doing more to address the trauma that unaccompanied children have experienced, Gov Abbott's order undermines the very systems that we have put in place to care for them. Harm to children should never be tolerated and our organizations will always speak up for any child in harm’s way.
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Child Poverty
Why the CTC and Baby Bonds are Smart Investments in our Children
Let’s correct the historical disinvestment and intentional harm done to our communities of color, and let’s invest in permanent Baby Bonds and an expanded CTC NOW. Congress must include both of these policies in the reconciliation package. It is, foremost, the right thing to do for our children and youth, and it is also smart economics for all.
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Child Poverty
New from CDF: Reflecting on and Reckoning with 25 Years of TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a key economic support program to help families with children who have very low incomes through a variety of services. TANF marks 25 years in August 2021, a landmark which invites both reflection and reckoning.
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Child Poverty
Universal Meals Are Essential for Advancing Racial Equity
If Congress does not act now to make universal school meals permanent, millions of children will soon be left behind--and children of color will be hit hardest. Download our infographic to learn more about the ways universal meals will advance racial equity and join us in telling Congress to make them permanent!
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Child Welfare
New Report on the Experiences and Perspectives of Young People who Lived in Congregate Care
With growing research on the harms of institutional placements and continued calls to action from young people who experienced these placements, we must ensure young people impacted by the child welfare system have the resources they need to thrive with their relatives or in a family-like setting.
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Child Health
August is National Immunization Month - We Must All Commit to Protecting Public Health
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Child Poverty
It’s Time for Congress to Extend the Eviction Moratorium
Roughly 15 million people in 6.5 million renter households are currently behind on their rent and face an increased risk of eviction. To protect these families and their children, Congress should extend the moratorium until the pandemic is over and all the emergency rental assistance provided in previous COVID-relief bills has reached renters in need.
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Child Poverty
Biden Administration Permanently Boosts Nutrition Assistance in Continued Effort to End Child Poverty
All 17 million children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to access nutritious meals—nearly a quarter of all children in America—will receive additional assistance starting in October. This week, the Biden administration approved an historic expansion of the program, permanently raising benefit levels for the first time in more than 45 years. It is a long-overdue expansion and a critical step towards ending child poverty, advancing racial equity, and improving child well-being.
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Child Welfare
New Policy Report from Young People with Experience in the Foster Care System
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Foster Youth Internship (FYI) Program® brings a cohort of young adults who have experienced the foster care system to intern in congressional offices on Capitol Hill and publish policy recommendations to best support young people impacted by the foster care system. After serving on a specialized COVID-19 Foster Youth Intern Pandemic Working Group, the 2021 Foster Youth Interns went on to intern for congressional offices this summer and have authored "Building the Path Forward for Change in the Child Welfare System" based on their experiences and expertise.
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Featured Blog Series
For Our Children
From the desk of President and CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, discover a new take on child well-being and advocacy. Read to learn more about shaping conversations, policies, and actions for improving the lives of our nation's children and youth.
Learn More