2025 Hall-Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry
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We envision a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.
About Us
National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® October 19, 2025
Join places of worship, faith-based organizations, and child advocates across the country for the 2025 National Observance of Children's Sabbaths®, an annual celebration that brings together people of every faith to raise a moral voice for justice and hope for children.
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We Owe them Peace of Mind
I spent most of the month of May on the road. From community celebrations with our state office and civil rights partners in New York, to stops on the State of the People Tour in Newark, Detroit, and Richmond, to keynotes and commencement addresses in Chicago, Minneapolis, and Baltimore.
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Tell Congress Hands Off Basic Needs Programs Our Children Rely On
Children's Defense Fund is sounding the alarm as Congress considers devastating cuts to the very programs that keep young people and their families fed, housed, healthy, and safe. We need every advocate, caregiver, and concerned community member to take immediate action.
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Policy Brief: Expanded Child Tax Credit as a Key Anti-Poverty & Child Welfare Prevention Strategy
Children’s Defense Fund and Chapin Hall are collaborating to advance evidence-based strategies that strengthen child and family well-being. This brief focuses on the promise of making permanent the pandemic-era expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC).
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CDF Haley Farm
Named for author and activist Alex Haley, CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, TN, is a sacred and safe space for facilitating movement-building moments and training opportunities for prioritizing joy, pursuing justice, and promoting rest as resistance. Explore the rich history of Haley Farm and consider hosting your next event there!
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Young People Lead Podcast
The podcast aims to demonstrate how young people can and should lead by telling their stories of how youth are transforming policies for the better and examining research on the policies that most affect them.
Learn MoreRecent News
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Child Health
Children’s Defense Fund ‘Deeply Disturbed and Disappointed’ by H.R. 1 Passage
On Thursday, the United States House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation package that includes more than $1 trillion in funding tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. …
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Child Welfare
CDF Listening Tour to Stop in Allentown as President and CEO Starsky Wilson Listens to Families About Their Pressing Needs
On Tuesday, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, president and CEO of the national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), will visit Allentown to hear directly from children and families in the Lehigh Valley about the challenges they face, and the solutions they envision, amid continued uncertainty around the economy and essential education and health programs.…
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Child Welfare
CDF-Ohio’s Statement on State Budget Proposal: ‘This budget sends a clear message to Ohio’s children and families – you are not the priority’
On Monday, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine must sign or issue line-item vetoes on the state’s multibillion dollar budget proposal recently passed by the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate.…
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Child Poverty
Veto Requests for Ohio’s State Operating Budget FY2026-2027
This budget, as currently written, sends a stark and disheartening message: Ohio’s children and families are not a priority. At a time when families are struggling to access child care, health coverage, basic necessities, and safe housing, lawmakers have chosen to deliver massive tax breaks to the wealthy and handouts to stadium developers.…
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Find a CDF Freedom Schools® Site
At CDF Freedom Schools, we’re not just educating. We’re nurturing lifelong learners and advocates for progress. We’re sculpting a brighter tomorrow where we celebrate every young person’s potential, and affirming their impact on the world is profound. Find a CDF Freedom Schools site near you.
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Subscribe to “For Our Children”
Sign up to receive the weekly column by Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson.
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CDF’s President and CEO, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, shares insights, challenges, and hopes for the future in “For Our Children.”CDF’s President and CEO, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, offers a personal perspective on challenges, victories, and the path ahead in “For Our Children.” Delve into a unique narrative that guides our mission, celebrates milestones, and navigates the journey toward a brighter tomorrow. Explore now for an inside connection to our vision—where the story of our commitment to children and youth unfolds.
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