Children’s Health and Healing

Promise 

All young people enjoy regular, nourishing meals and active lives,
marked by positive social adjustment, sustainable environments, and
healthcare homes for their bodies and minds.

Problem

10.7 million young people live in food-insecure households. In 2021,
more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, 4.4 million children were uninsured in the United States.

Policy Path

In this zone, CDF will advocate for public policy related to: (1) Child Nutrition and Food Security, (2) Youth Mental Health and Social Emotional Wellness, (3) Healthcare coverage, and (4) Environmental justice.

Moonshot Generational Commitment

Ensure permanent, universal free school meals and children’s physical and mental health coverage.

Learn More

Related Updates

  • Immigration

    Tell Your State Representatives to Vote NO on H.B. 1554 and S.B. 1005 

    If passed, House Bill 1554 and Senate Bill 1005 would endanger children, separate families, and lead to violations of the right to due process by prohibiting public funding for legal services in immigration matters for people who are considered “unlawfully present.”…

  • 100 Days…and Counting

    Last week, the Trump Administration marked its first 100 days. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt, the first 100 days of a presidential administration have been measured as an indicator of either anxieties or celebrations to come for the country. As child advocates, we had little to celebrate.…

  • Immigration

    Oppose SB 8 and HB 5580: Protect Texas Children and Families

    Two harmful bills, Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 5580, are moving through the Texas Legislature. If passed, these bills would require sheriffs in counties with populations over 100,000 to request and accept agreements with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that authorize local officers to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in carrying out federal immigration enforcement.…

  • Child Poverty

    New York State must stand with children this year

    In one of the richest states in the U.S., 1 in 5 New York children are experiencing poverty. This is a policy choice, and this year’s state budget illustrates what is at stake for our children and families.…