New York

YouthNPower: Transforming Care

YouthNPower: Transforming Care is led by CDF-NY and its partners at the Public Science Project at the City University of New York. YouthNPower includes the first guaranteed income / direct cash transfer pilot for youth who have aged out of foster care designed and evaluated with young people who have experienced the child welfare system. The pilot includes 100 youth in New York City who received $1000 per month for 12-months and is now focused on producing research and organizing for permanent policy around unconditional cash support.

Child & Family Wellbeing Fund

CDF-NY serves on the Child & Family Wellbeing Fund Working Group, a statewide leadership team of advocates with lived experience in the child welfare system, service providers and policy experts, developing legislation to create a new state-wide fund, bringing public dollars to support community assets in neighborhoods that have experienced the highest levels of system contact and racial targeting.

Right2RemainSilent: Children’s Early Access to Counsel

CDF-NY serves on the campaign steering committee for the #Right2RemainSilent coalition, bringing young people and allies together to pass legislation that would ensure that all children and adolescents speak with an attorney before being questioned by police during a custodial interrogation.

Youth Justice & Opportunities Act

CDF-NY is a member of the Youth Justice & Opportunities Act campaign steering committee, a statewide coalition to advance legislation that would increase criminal legal system records protections, serve more emerging adults (through age 25) who are court-involved within their communities, and limit the incarceration of youth and young adults.

End Child Poverty

Children’s Defense Fund New-York is committed to reducing child poverty across the state, where nearly one in five children experience poverty, with even higher rates for children of color. CDF-NY is dedicated to creating better economic opportunities and outcomes for all children.

Racial Justice and Immigrant Rights

Policy decisions in New York State must promote equity, ensure institutional accountability, and empower communities by recognizing their experiences and amplifying their voices.

Health equity

CDF-NY champions and supports policy reforms to ensure equity in access to robust, high-quality healthcare for all New York children, regardless of race and economic status. We are active members of several coalitions that advocate for school-based Medicaid programs, early intervention initiatives, and the expansion and inclusivity of Medicaid for all, among other health related issues.