Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Internships

The Children's Defense Fund runs the Cradle to Prison Pipeline^® Campaign, a national community crusade to engage families, youth, community leaders and policy makers in the development of healthy, safe and educated children. We advocate for policies that lift children out of poverty; ensure access to timely, quality health care, early childhood development and education programs; and improve the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Staff activities include:

• Building public awareness of the urgency to dismantle the pipeline to prison.
• Highlighting programs, particularly early childhood development and education programs, that work and create pathways for success for children and youth.
• Engaging key audiences in building a grassroots movement for children.
• Promoting national and state efforts to address children's needs from birth to early adulthood.

 Interns will:

• Identify and survey promising policies, practices and programs in states and communities that are designed to put children and youth on a path to success.
• Read and analyze reports and studies on relevant issues such as poverty, early childhood development, education, and juvenile justice.
• Track federal legislation relevant for CDF's policy agenda and monitor hearings and briefings on Capitol Hill.
• Participate in meetings and strategy sessions with advocacy groups on a variety of issues.

This work is ideal for students who are interested in:

• Public Policy or Public Administration (particularly early childhood development and education policy)
• Law

Strong consideration will be given to students who have experience with the needs of vulnerable children and families and/or strategies to address these needs.