Just and Caring Communities

Promise 

Our children will play freely in parks, walk safely to bus stops, and
learn in schools as sanctuaries, with neighbors and public servants as
guardians of their well-being.

Problem 

Both community and state-sponsored violence rob children of
peace and play. Guns are the leading cause of death for children and youth in America. Two-thirds of the young people in the juvenile justice system are children of color. Children are negatively impacted by immigration enforcement efforts, as 1 in 4 children in the United States have at least one foreign-born parent.

Policy Path

In this zone, CDF will advocate for public policy related to: (1) Gun safety and restrictions, (2) Public health approaches to public safety, (3) Youth justice reform, and (4) Immigration Reform.

Moonshot Generational Commitment

Eliminate youth jails and detention centers to deliver on CDF’s historic commitment to end the “criminalization of children.

Learn More

Related Updates

  • For Our Children: Building the Country Our Children Deserve

    May 5, 2026 – In May, we pause to observe National Foster Care Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Teacher Appreciation Week. Together, these bring into focus the systems, conditions, and communities that shape family stability and children’s well-being in the nation.…

  • For Our Children: Take Action for Our Children

    A call for protecting progress in education and child well-being amid rising costs and policy shifts. Learn how partners are urging action to strengthen supports for children and families and ways to help ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.…

  • Early Childhood

    The Truth About Youth Crime, Raise the Age

    I was 13 years old when New York decided my childhood was over. It wasn’t a weapon or a felony—it was a dollar. I bullied a classmate into giving it to me, and the state responded by sending me to jail.…

  • Women’s History Month: Celebrating CDF Legacy

    During March, we pause to recognize the visionary women whose leadership and courage have shaped a movement for children’s rights, equity, and social justice in honor of Women’s History Month.…