Youth Justice

  • Child Health

    The Senate’s Proposal, the HEALS Act, Falls Far Short of Meeting the Needs of Children and Families in Crisis

    The Senate returned to work last week promising to unveil additional COVID-19 relief legislation that their Republican leadership said would focus on “making sure we take care of our kids” in the face of the unprecedented national economic and public health crisis. This week, they finally introduced their idea of relief—The HEALS Act—and it falls far short of the meeting the needs of children and families in this country.

    | National

  • Child Health

    The Senate Promised to Focus on Kids in the Next COVID-19 Relief Package. Here’s What They Should Do

    The Senate returned to work in Washington this week promising to act on additional COVID-19 relief legislation that their Republican leadership says will be focused on “bringing back jobs and making sure we take care of our kids.” But for more than two months, as children and families suffered, with Black families and other families of color disproportionately losing their lives and livelihoods to this crisis, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) “hit pause” on additional relief legislation and refused to take up the HEROES Act passed by the House of Representatives in mid-May, which builds on the groundwork laid by previous coronavirus relief packages to ease the damaging health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Senate considers additional relief legislation this week, they must prioritize the needs of children and families

    | National

  • Youth Justice

    We Must Protect Our Children in the Criminal Justice System Amid the Pandemic and Beyond

    The roughly 44,000 incarcerated children across the country are living in fear of COVID-19 and are facing solitary confinement as a form of social distancing, limited access to PPE, limited or no visitations or contact with loved ones, and limited educational and recreational activities. This is cruelty, not rehabilitation, and our nation’s leaders must take action to protect our children. 

    | National

  • Child Health

    Juneteenth: Celebrate Through Resistance

    As we commemorate Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, it’s impossible to not reflect on the history of this country and where we are today. Historically, America has refused to recognize Juneteenth as a national paid holiday.

    | National

  • Education

    CDF Endorses Agenda of Civil Rights Principles for Safe, Healthy, and Inclusive School Climates

    The tragedies that have occurred in schools across the country demand serious investments in evidence-based policies and practices that keep children and staff safe and do not exacerbate the school-to-prison pipeline, further criminalize marginalized children, or increase the over-policing of students in schools and communities. In order to ensure that students are learning in safe, healthy, and inclusive environments, we seek PK-12 school climate legislation that meets the following principles. We ask members of Congress to fulfill their role in helping educators and communities create and maintain safe schools that afford all students equal educational opportunities by incorporating these principles into all relevant legislation.

  • Youth Justice

    Why Ending Police Violence and Racist Policing is a Children’s Issue

    We will continue to urge our nation’s leaders – and our partners in the children’s advocacy field – to take decisive action to fight for systems and communities that protect and value Black children and their livelihoods mean just as much as white children. People of all walks of life are demanding urgent, effective, and transformative change. That starts with holding our police accountable and ending police violence, but it does not end there. Our children are watching. When will they see a change? 

    | National