CDF-CA to Discuss Report Outlining Roadmap for Supporting Long Beach Young People, Families

(Sept. 30, 2026) – Event to feature community-led solutions and practical tools for building lasting political influence and systemic change.

Media Contact:  John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679  

LONG BEACH, CA—On Friday, Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) will host “Rising Together: A Parent and Community Advocacy Forum on the Long Beach Report.”

The free forum at the offices of the nonprofit organization, Long Beach Forward, invites local parents, caregivers, and community members to discuss the findings of CDF-CA’s new report, Rooted in Community, Rising Together: A Decade of Advocacy and Partnership in Long Beach. The report, which was released in July, documents more than a decade of education equity advocacy across the Long Beach Unified School District and aims to serve as a blueprint for residents across Southern California on how to achieve systemic reform to improve the well-being of youth.

What: Rising Together: A Parent and Community Advocacy Forum on the Long Beach Report

Who: Children’s Defense Fund-California

Where: Long Beach Forward | 2217 E 6th St, Long Beach, CA 90814

When: Friday, October 2, 2026, 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM PST

The forum will center around community participation rather than presentation. Attendees will hear an accessible walkthrough of the report’s findings on school discipline as well as learn more about achievement gaps, English learner outcomes, the Black Student Achievement Initiative, and the SaferLBUSD campaign.

COLUMBUS, OH — September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month. In recognition of this important month, the Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus will host a webinar tomorrow to discuss the state’s Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program and the state of Ohio’s doula professional community.

The program was created as part of House Bill 33 (Ohio’s FY 2024 and 2025 biennial budget). It is a strategy to address Ohio’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. Although Ohio has made progress on this issue, the state still struggles to prevent infant and maternal deaths.

In 2023, Ohio’s infant mortality rate ranked 48^th in the nation at 7.1 deaths out of every 1,000 births. The rate was even more dire for Black, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and multi-racial communities. Each group experienced an infant mortality rate above the national average for that year.
The mortality rate for Black infants, in particular, doubled the rate for white infants.
The maternal mortality rate was 24.5 deaths per 100,000 live births in Ohio, according to the March of Dimes.
Ohio’s overall infant mortality rate improved in 2025 to 6.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to recent data, but the maternal mortality rate was worse at 25.4 deaths per 100,000 live births.

There is still a lot of work required to save the lives of infants and mothers following childbirth in Ohio. The Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program is one of the key strategies to save more lives.

What: Ohio Legislative Children’s Caucus Webinar: Ohio Doula Medicaid Reimbursement Program

Where: This meeting will be on Zoom. Please register using this link.

When: 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Presenter: Elisabeth Burak, Senior Fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families

Panelists: Sharda Smith, Family Support Coordinator/Perinatal Support Doula, Birthing Beautiful Communities

Erica Gordon, Columbus Doula and Maternal and Infant Vitality Researcher, Wholistically Divine, LLC

Julie Gladney BS, LPN, IBCLC, Health Programs Coordinator Hocking Athens Perry Community Action and Appalachian Community Doula Training Program Coordinator

Nikki King RN, Board Certified Full Spectrum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Maternal Health Advocate, Founder of A Queen Empowering Queenz Inc and Safe and Sacred Care LLC

Logan Griffin, Birthworker/Owner & Director of Membership Enrichment, Guided Glory Doula Services & Blaq Birth Circle

Video recording will be made available for media upon request.

# # #

(Sept. 22, 2026) – Child Watch 2026 will bring together youth leaders and policy experts to explore bold solutions for children in Los Angeles County, addressing educational equity and the needs of youth impacted by the justice system.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679  

LOS ANGELES, CA—This Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund–California will host Child Watch 2026 at The Honeypot in Downtown Los Angeles. This annual event explores bold solutions to the issues facing children in Southern California.

CDF-CA will bring together young people, policymakers, and community leaders committed to improving outcomes for children and families. It is anchored by the first anniversary of the Education Justice Coalition’s report, Who Has the Power? Chronicling Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failures to Educate Incarcerated Youth. Participants will discuss the report’s findings and recommendations and reflect on progress made over the past year toward supporting incarcerated youth in Southern California.

Attendees will also hear directly from young people with lived experience, learn about new research and community reports from CDF-CA and its partners, such as the Long Beach report, and connect with leaders from across Los Angeles County working to advance educational equity.

What: Child Watch 2026

When: Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Where: The Honeypot | 212 W. 12th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Who: Children’s Defense Fund-California

Arnold Chandler, the president and co-founder of the organization, Forward Change, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Panelists will also include Public Counsel Staff Attorney Kelsey White, Vivian T. Wong, director of the Youth Justice Education Clinic at Loyola Law School, and Megan Stanton-Trehan, senior attorney of the Youth Practice Group at Disability Rights California.

“We hope Child Watch 2026 will show how working together across organizations, institutions, and communities can drive lasting change for children and youth throughout Southern California,” Children’s Defense Fund-California Director Jaren Sorkow said. “By combining youth storytelling, community dialogue, and policy conversations, we are proud to center young voices as we work toward a future where all children in our state can thrive.”

National host committee of business, nonprofit, and community leaders aims to support the upcoming Washington, D.C. event, lending their expertise to drive Children’s Defense Fund’s mission forward.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679

WASHINGTON, DC—In November, the national advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) will host A National Celebration of Joy, a gala established to honor changemakers and youth advocates and celebrate the partnerships that drive our work for children.

The event, which will take place at the Historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C., is made possible by a national host committee of business, nonprofit, and community leaders whose invaluable support drives CDF’s mission forward. Their leadership and philanthropic commitment directly fuel the organization’s capacity to expand programs and champion policies that protect youth. By lending their expertise and support, these champions ensure that the movement for child well-being continues to gain momentum.

What: National Celebration of Joy

When: Thursday, November 5, 2026 | Dinner and Program – 7:00 p.m. 

Where: The Historic Howard Theatre | 620 T Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Members of the National Celebration of Joy Host Committee include:

Annie Donovan – President & CEO, RDF, Washington, D.C.

Bryan Beasley – Business Insurance Consultant, MMA, North Carolina

Dakarai I. Aarons – Founder, Aarons Family Giving Fund, California (Co-Chair)

Dana Weston Graves – Market President, Sentara Health, Virginia

Daniel Welch – Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Washington, D.C.

Dan Kenney – Partner, Mitchell & Titus, LLP, Maryland

Rev. Dr. Don Darius Butler – Pastor, The Concord Fellowship, Alabama

Durecia Moorer – Managing Partner and CMO, ABCD & Company, Maryland

Gail and Michael R. Holmes – Chairman Emeritus, RX Outreach, Missouri

Lan Bentsen – Executive Producer, The Bentsen Blueprint, Texas

Drs. LaToya and Starsky Wilson – President & CEO, Children’s Defense Fund, Maryland

W. Clay Grubb – Chief Executive Officer, Grubb Properties, North Carolina

Zack Boyers – Chairman & CEO, U.S. Bank Impact Finance, Missouri (Co-Chair)

CDF extends its thanks to these dedicated leaders for their partnership and ongoing support.

“As we reflect on the progress we’ve made and recommit to the work ahead, we will honor the collective effort required to ensure every young person can grow up with dignity, hope, and joy,” the organization states. “We deeply appreciate the unwavering dedication of these leaders, whose partnership is vital to realizing our critical mission.”

(Sept. 10, 2026) – The event offers an evening of art, advocacy, and community connection to learn how harmful immigration enforcement practices impact all Austin residents.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679

AUSTIN, TX— On Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund-Texas (CDF-TX) and The Immigrant Services Network of Austin (ISNA), a workgroup of diverse community stakeholders and immigrant service providers, will hold a community meeting to discuss how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) kidnappings, detentions, and deportations are affecting Austin children and families.

The “Free Families” event will include presentations from organizers, advocates, and impacted individuals on how state-sponsored violence and anti-immigrant policies have affected daily life in Central Texas. Attendees will also have opportunities to participate in an art-as-advocacy campaign and connect with local organizations to find ways to engage through volunteering, mutual aid, and advocacy.

CDF-TX Senior Administrator of Policy and Advocacy Trudy Taylor Smith, Esq. said the Free Families event will serve as an opportunity for Austin residents to learn about the current threats facing immigrants and their families and explore how they can take meaningful action to support their immigrant neighbors.

What: Free Families

When: Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Where: SAFE Alliance, 4800 Manor Road, Building B | Austin, TX 78723

Who: Children’s Defense Fund–Texas and The Immigrant Services Network of Austin

“Every child in America deserves to grow up with dignity, hope, and joy,” Taylor Smith said. “Yet hundreds of thousands of young people across Texas are living in constant fear because so-called immigration ‘enforcement’ threatens to separate them from their families, lock them up in detention facilities where they are systematically abused and neglected, and deport them to countries where their lives are at risk. Through this event, our goal is to provide Austin residents with a clear understanding of how these cruel policies impact local communities, and to equip them with the relationships, information, and tools they need to support their immigrant neighbors.”

Since President Trump’s second term began, more than 6,200 children have been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while the parents of more than 146,000 U.S. citizen children have been detained across America. Hundreds of families have been detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, where young people and their parents are denied adequate food, clean drinking water, and medical care.

###

Instagram:	@childdefender1973
Facebook:	@childrensdefensefund
X/Twitter:	@ChildDefender
Threads:	@childdefender1973
Bluesky:	@cdf1973.bsky.social

About Children’s Defense Fund

Founded in 1973, Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF advances the well-being of America’s most diverse generation, the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25. CDF’s grassroots movements in marginalized communities build power for child-centered public policy, informed by racial equity and the lived experience of children and youth. Its renowned CDF Freedom Schools® program is conducted in nearly 100 cities across 30 states and territories. Learn more at www.childrensdefense.org.

(Sept. 8, 2026) – CDF-Ohio’s ‘A Celebration of Joy’ will recognize three Ohioans for their contributions to advancing the well-being of young people in the Buckeye State.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679

COLUMBUS, OH—On Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-OH), the local arm of the national child advocacy organization—will host “A Celebration of Joy,” honoring Ohio changemakers, while uplifting community and reflecting the spirit of hope, resilience, and collective action for young people.

The event, themed “A Hole in One for Hope,” will take place at the entertainment center Scene75 Columbus. At the event, CDF-OH will present its Advocate for Joy and Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service awards to three Ohio residents who have dedicated their lives to advancing the well-being of young people.

Ohio State Representative Dontavius L. Jarrells and Vanessa J. Butler, JD, Senior Director of Community Relations & Special Projects at Groundwork Ohio, will both receive CDF-OH’s Advocate for Joy award.

Jarrells has served three terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing House District 1, which include Bexley and multiple neighborhoods throughout Columbus. In his time at the statehouse, Jarrells has co-sponsored the bipartisan Fostering School Success Act. The act, which recently passed the Ohio House, is designed to strengthen educational stability, break down silos, and provide support for children and youth in foster care. He also helped change Ohio law to address the cost of replacing lead-contaminated water service lines to ensure children and young families do not fall victim to lead poisoning as he did during his youth.

Butler serves Groundwork Ohio in its mission to champion high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age five for children. In previous roles, including as president and CEO of The Center for Healthy Families, Butler helped guide major initiatives, including the Day of the Girl, which convenes almost 500 girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth across Central Ohio to be celebrated to engage in critical dialogue around mental health, justice, and education.

What: A Celebration of Joy – A Hole in One for Hope!

When: Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 5:45 p.m.-7 p.m.

Where: Scene75 Columbus | 5033 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Columbus, OH 43016

Who: Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio

The Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award will be presented to 22-year-old Cuyahoga Community College student Nezerae Hunt, of Cleveland. Hunt serves as the inaugural president of The Cleveland Freedom Project, a youth-led nonprofit organization focused on cultivating disruptors, dreamers, and drivers of social and economic justice. Under her leadership, the organization has centered youth voices in conversations around equity, mental health, and leadership development while helping to create empowering spaces where young people are encouraged not only to participate, but to lead.

This event will feature formal remarks from the leader of the organization, CDF-OH State Director Dr. John Stanford, and performances by young people from Central Ohio.

“Countless Ohioans dedicate themselves to advancing the well-being of all children and young people in our state,” Dr. Stanford said. “We take this time to recognize a select group of these champions to highlight the importance of their work and renew our shared commitment to ensuring every young person in Ohio thrives.”

August 28, 2026 – Vucic most recently served as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families.

Media Contact: John Henry, JHenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, @johnhenrydc, 708-646-7679

Washington, DC—Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, announces the appointment of Nick Vucic to its National Leadership Team.

Vucic will serve as CDF’s National Director of Public Affairs, leading the organization’s enterprise-wide efforts in policy, advocacy, strategic communications, and narrative building to advance its core mission and vision.

Previously, Vucic served as the Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. In that role, he directed congressional engagement and regulatory strategy for national programs supporting children, families, and communities.

He has also held leadership positions at the White House Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and several national advocacy organizations, where he worked to advance evidence-based policy and drive high-impact public initiatives.

Vucic will work alongside CDF Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brittany Packnett Cunningham. According to Packnett Cunningham, his addition will help the organization work toward its goal of helping all children and young people in America thrive.

“Nick comes with a deep wealth of experience as a leader with more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public policy, legislative affairs, and strategic communications,” Packnett Cunningham said. “Throughout his career, he has helped shape federal policy initiatives, build bipartisan stakeholder relationships, and lead high-performing teams addressing some of the nation’s most complex policy challenges. We are excited to welcome him to the CDF family and looking forward to all that his insight, experience, and commitment to children will bring to this movement.”

Vucic holds a Master of Arts in Social and Public Policy from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Richmond. He also completed executive education programs at Harvard Kennedy School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Georgetown University.

NickVucic — CDF National Public Affairs Director – Nick Vucic

August 25, 2026 – CDF encourages the public and lawmakers on Capitol Hill to speak out against this proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The public comment period ends tonight, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Media Contact: John Henry, JHenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, @johnhenrydc, 708-646-7679

Washington, DC—The national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) strongly opposes a proposal by President Donald Trump’s administration that would alter the nation’s unaccompanied child program, invite abuse of children in federal custody, and make it impossible for many children to reunite with their families.

The proposed rule, which was entered into the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement on June 26, would allow unvetted federal contractors to perform body searches on children in custody and make it significantly harder for unaccompanied children to reunite with safe family members due to new financial eligibility requirements and other complications to the process.

CDF believes the proposal, if approved, would amount to state-sanctioned child abuse. The organization stands in support of The Young Center for Immigrant Rights’ public comments that point out the proposal would also allow the government to keep children in federal custody longer, increasing the likelihood that they endure trauma.

The public has until tonight, August 25, at 11:59 p.m. EST, to file comment against the federal government’s proposal.

CDF President and CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson criticized the proposal, arguing that government policies should protect children and uphold their dignity instead of harming them. He encourages members of Congress to speak out against the proposed rule.

“Children’s Defense Fund refuses to accept family separation and neglect of our youngest neighbors as inevitable. As it stands, this proposal would keep unaccompanied children in federal custody longer and expose them to greater risks of abuse, including body searches by unvetted federal contractors. This is not acceptable for any child, especially those outside the care of their parents. Every child deserves to be treated with care and our government has legal and moral responsibility to protect children from harm.

“Parents across the country have just taken students for physical examinations in preparation for the first day of school. Just like these caring moments, any physical examination should be conducted by a licensed medical professional, follow rigorous safeguards to protect the child’s and parent’s consent, and ensure the young people’s privacy, dignity, and well-being are intact. Our partners from the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and First Focus on Children have documented how these choices are shaping children’s lives. America must place children at the center of its caring concerns and policy conversations. When we fail to do so, the consequences are felt first and worst by those already pushed to the margins. This moment demands clarity and courage.”

CDF-Texas State Director Dr. Brandy Taylor Dédé added that the proposal shows the Trump administration is using children and young people as a bargaining chip to advance its glaring anti-immigrant agenda.

“Every child deserves to live in safety, not fear,” said Dr. Taylor Dédé. “This proposal is profoundly harmful. Our leaders have both a legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from harm. At a time when we should be working to reunite unaccompanied children with their families as quickly and safely as possible, this proposal moves us in the wrong direction and risks causing further trauma to children who have already endured more than any child should.”

August 21, 2026 – CDF-Minnesota’s ‘A Celebration of Joy’ will recognize three Minnesotans for their contributions to advancing the well-being of young people in the Twin Cities area and across the state of Minnesota.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679

Minneapolis, MN—On Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN), the local arm of the national child advocacy organization—will host “A Celebration of Joy,” honoring Minnesota changemakers, while uplifting community and reflecting the spirit of hope, resilience, and collective action for young people.

The event, themed “Advocacy that Outlives Us,” will take place at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. At the event, CDF-MN will present its Advocate for Joy and Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service awards to three Minnesota residents who have dedicated their lives to advancing the well-being of young people.

Minnesota State Senator Alice Mann and Dr. Renaldo C. Blocker, Associate Professor at Mayo Clinic, will both receive CDF-MN’s Advocate for Joy award.

Mann also serves as a practicing Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine physician. She decided to run for elected office in 2018 after spending years working in a healthcare system that prioritizes profits over patient care. In St. Paul, Mann has focused her time in the legislature on crafting policies that bring down medical costs while ensuring children have access to nutrition and education. She is the chief author of Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which assists thousands of residents across the state.

Dr. Blocker co-founded “Why You?” Initiative, Inc.,” a support and mentoring organization that has successfully assisted more than 1,300 underrepresented high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and young professionals with achieving their academic and professional endeavors. In addition to his duties at the Mayo Clinic, he also works as an associate professor of Healthcare Systems Engineering and the associate director of Belonging in the Kern Center. Dr. Blocker has conducted research across multiple healthcare settings, including cardiovascular, family medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology, and orthopedic surgeries.

What: A Celebration of Joy – Advocacy that Outlives Us

When: Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Where: Capri Theater | 2027 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Who: Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota

The Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award will be presented to 19-year-old Twin Cities native Elliott Milton Williams, Jr. for his mentorship of young people in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region.

This event will feature formal remarks from the leader of the organization, CDF-MN State Director Alisha Porter, and performances by young people from the Twin Cities area.

“It is an honor to work side-by-side Minnesotans who are dedicated to advancing the well-being of all children and young people in our great state,” Porter said. “We must support and celebrate all the people who drive this important work as we remain committed to ensuring every child and young person in Minnesota thrives.”

###

Instagram:	@childdefender1973
Facebook:	@childrensdefensefund
X/Twitter:	@ChildDefender
Threads:	@childdefender1973
Bluesky:	@cdf1973.bsky.social

About Children’s Defense Fund

The national youth advocacy organization warns that scaling back the 61-year-old program will harm low-income children and families nationwide.

Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679

WASHINGTON, DC–The national youth advocacy organization, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), urges federal leaders to preserve and protect the landmark early learning and health services program, Head Start.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration introduced a proposal that would have devastating impacts to the Head Start Program. In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the federal register, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposes stripping away most of the quality standards that define what children and families actually receive, including the requirements that ensure children are safe and supported, that hold programs accountable to the families they serve, and that guarantee the comprehensive services children need to arrive at kindergarten ready to learn.

Read Here: The Trump administration’s proposed changes to Head Start

Since 1965, Head Start has supported over 40 million children and families across the United States. The federally funded program prepares children from low-income households, from infancy through age 5, for school by providing comprehensive services that support early learning, health, and family well-being.

Read Here: Our joint letter on how Head Start proposal could harm America’s youth

CDF and its partners, EdTrust, Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Urban League, The Arc, and UnidosUS detailed in a joint letter the impact scaling back Head Start could have on low-income households across the country.

Following the proposal’s announcement, CDF President & CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson released the following statement regarding the threat this proposal poses to the well-being of America’s children:

“At Children’s Defense Fund, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to grow up with dignity, hope, and joy. For more than six decades, Head Start has made that promise real for millions of children across our nation. That’s why we are greatly disappointed that the President and his administration are seeking to overhaul this effective program and undermine an approach that has worked for children for generations.

“In the face of repeated attacks by the Trump administration, CDF has worked to preserve and protect Head Start because it upholds the same ideals we value as an organization — that children learn best when their physical health, emotional well-being, family stability, and education are supported together.

“It must be noted that Head Start has made an impact in America not only as an education program, but as an anti-poverty strategy that strengthens children and communities at the same time. If we can reduce the early barriers created by poverty, discrimination, and unequal access, addressing these disparities before children ever enter a school building, young people and our country, as a whole, will benefit.

“We urge the President and his administration to reverse course on this proposal and work to strengthen Head Start, rather than weaken it, for the sake of all Americans.”

###

About Children’s Defense Fund