National

  • Child Poverty

    Access to Benefits Are Essential for Immigrant Children to Thrive

    Immigrant children and families—like all children and families—deserve public benefits and income supports that promote their healthy development and well-being. Yet the law’s cruel restrictions had ripple effects, chilled access to benefits even when immigrant families were eligible, and arguably paved the path for the Trump administration’s exclusionary policies and anti-immigrant, fear-fueling rhetoric.

    | National

  • Education

    New Research Confirms Suspensions Harm Students and Target Black Students and Students with Disabilities

    Harsh and exclusionary discipline practices have long-lasting, traumatizing, and potentially life-threatening consequences on students, disproportionately targeting and harming Black students and students with disabilities. As schools consider returning to in-person in the fall, we must ensure our students aren’t returning to a norm of criminalization and harm.

    | National

  • Child Poverty

    Frequently Asked Questions on the Child Tax Credit

    The American Rescue Plan includes a significant, one-year expansion to the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Millions of newly eligible children and their families will benefit from this major expansion, and successful implementation is now key to realizing a significant reduction in child poverty, building racial equity, and creating a public investment for the good of all children. Here’s what you need to know about the expanded CTC.

    | National

  • Child Poverty

    Understanding the Expanded Child Tax Credit

    The American Rescue Plan includes a significant, one-year expansion to the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Millions of newly eligible children and their families will benefit from this major expansion, and successful implementation is now key to realizing a significant reduction in child poverty, building racial equity, and creating a public investment for the good of all children. Here’s what you need to know about the expanded CTC.

  • Child Health

    It’s Time to Make CHIP Permanent

    More than 700,000 children lost health coverage between 2016 and 2019, even before our country began facing a devastating pandemic that has left more than 28 million Americans infected with COVID-19, including more than three million children. As we work to reverse course and get all eligible children covered, making CHIP permanent is critical so we can depend on it to always be there.

    | National

  • Education

    My CDF Freedom Schools experience

    A letter written to Children's Defense Fund supporters by by Keely Norris, Ed.S, educator and CDF Freedom Schools® Ella Baker Trainer alumna.

    | National

  • Child Health

    Congress Must Close America’s Coverage Gap

    CDF-Texas has worked tirelessly for the last decade to convince Texas legislators to expand Medicaid to low-wage Texans, to no avail. Without Congressional action, Americans living in the 12 non-expansion states could be waiting another decade or more for basic, life-saving care.

    | National