(May 29, 2026)
The National Child Policy Training Institute trains young leaders to teach almost 12,000 scholars at over 180 CDF Freedom Schools sites nationwide. A key focus for this summer’s program is supporting youth mental health.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
KNOXVILLE, TN—Next week, America’s leading child advocacy organization, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), will convene its annual National Child Policy Training Institute in Knoxville, Tennessee. The week-long event, which runs Wednesday through Saturday, equips young leaders from more than 180 CDF Freedom Schools® sites across the country to lead summer programming that focuses on curbing summer learning loss.
More than 1,300 participants will attend this year’s training, which features learning sessions at both the Knoxville Convention Center and CDF’s Alex Haley Farm, in Clinton, Tennessee. CDF Freedom Schools provide K–12 students and families with summer and after-school enrichment rooted in a research-backed, culturally responsive curriculum that fosters academic success and character development. In 2025, the program served nearly 11,500 students across Washington, D.C., and 26 states, including East Tennessee.
Learn more: CDF Hosts National Child Policy Training Institute (2025)
The training also prepares participants for CDF’s National Day of Social Action (NDSA) on July 15. This nationwide activation equips CDF Freedom Schools scholars to lead local civic efforts on issues directly impacting their lives and futures. This year, NDSA will focus on advancing the mental health and social-emotional wellness of young people. The initiative takes on heightened importance as the major healthcare and nutrition spending cuts from last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill now begin to impact communities across the country.
CDF Freedom Schools Managing Director Shaquité Pegues said that the Tennessee training will help site leaders from across the nation to deliver engaging, meaningful learning experiences. These efforts are designed not only to resonate with children but also to directly improve youth mental health outcomes during this critical time.
“At CDF, we believe that the mental health and social-emotional wellness of our children is foundational to their overall health and directly impacts their ability to thrive,” Pegues said. “For over three decades, CDF Freedom Schools have championed this holistic approach to youth development. We are thrilled to kick off another busy, impactful summer program, highlighting this work, next week in Knoxville.”
In previous years, participants in CDF Freedom Schools’ national training have participated in civic engagement in the Knoxville region by marching through downtown to protest nationwide book bans and strategizing ways to defend public education as a public good, countering a wave of targeted, harmful legislative efforts across the country to undermine it.
*Journalists interested in covering the training event or arranging an interview are encouraged to contact Media Relations Manager John Henry at 708-646-7679 for more information.