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

  • CDF Cares: Resource Assistance for Minnesota Children and Families 

    In the wake of the deadly Minneapolis shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 27, 2025—another tragic and preventable act of gun violence, Children’s Defense Fund–Minnesota (CDF-MN) grieves the lives of the young people lost and stands in heartfelt solidarity with their families and the 17 survivors. In moments like these, our collective care matters.  …

  • Child Health

    Medicaid Turns 60: Celebrate Coverage, Not Cuts 

    For six decades, Medicaid has served as a lifeline, protecting children’s health and strengthening communities. Now, as Medicaid marks this milestone, that promise has been broken.…

  • CDF Cares: Resource Assistance for Central Texas Flooding 

    Whether you’re seeking support or looking for ways to help, we’ve compiled a list of trusted resources and partners responding to this crisis across Central Texas. …

  • Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom. A Commitment to Justice.

    On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of more than 250,000 enslaved Black people.…