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: Shaping “Good Mornings” for our Children

    Good mornings start with what we do today, so how you can take action to shape a brighter future for our children? Read the September issue of For Our Children to learn the latest on what’s at stake for children’s rights including threats to Head Start, upcoming events like our American Youth Policy Forum, and how you can vote for your children and with your children this November.…

  • For Our Children: It’s Time to Go Back to School

    (August 31, 2026) – Protect education and stand up for every child’s right to learn, grow, and thrive.…

  • For Our Children: The Conditions Our Children Inherit

    July 31, 2026 – As a new school year begins, children are returning to classrooms while facing growing challenges, from hunger and health care cuts to mental health needs and educational inequities. Explore why this moment calls for renewed commitment to every child’s well-being.…

  • New Public Charge Rule Threatens Children’s Access to Care and Essential Resources 

    July 23, 2026 – Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, supported, and free from unnecessary barriers to care. A new public charge rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), threatens that vision by creating new uncertainty for immigrant families and discouraging eligible children from accessing the resources they need to thrive. …