Blog

Find our latest articles, reports, and weekly editions at Children's Defense Fund.

  • For Our Children: The Conditions Our Children Inherit

    July 31, 2026 – As a new school year begins, children are returning to classrooms while facing growing challenges, from hunger and health care cuts to mental health needs and educational inequities. Explore why this moment calls for renewed commitment to every child's well-being.

    | National

  • New Public Charge Rule Threatens Children's Access to Care and Essential Resources 

    July 23, 2026 - Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, supported, and free from unnecessary barriers to care. A new public charge rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), threatens that vision by creating new uncertainty for immigrant families and discouraging eligible children from accessing the resources they need to thrive.

    | Texas

  • For Our Children: Every Summer is #FreedomSummer for CDF

    June 18, 2026 – In June, we honor the spirit of Freedom Summer and the generations of organizers, educators, and advocates who have worked to expand justice and opportunity for children and families. This moment calls us to remember that lasting change is built through community, courage, and an unwavering commitment to child well-being.

    | National

  • For Our Children: Building the Country Our Children Deserve

    May 5, 2026 – In May, we pause to observe National Foster Care Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, and National Teacher Appreciation Week. Together, these bring into focus the systems, conditions, and communities that shape family stability and children’s well-being in the nation.

    | National

  • For Our Children: Take Action for Our Children

    A call for protecting progress in education and child well-being amid rising costs and policy shifts. Learn how partners are urging action to strengthen supports for children and families and ways to help ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

    | National

  • Early Childhood

    The Truth About Youth Crime, Raise the Age

    I was 13 years old when New York decided my childhood was over. It wasn’t a weapon or a felony—it was a dollar. I bullied a classmate into giving it to me, and the state responded by sending me to jail.

    | New York

  • Women’s History Month: Celebrating CDF Legacy

    During March, we pause to recognize the visionary women whose leadership and courage have shaped a movement for children’s rights, equity, and social justice in honor of Women’s History Month.

    | National

  • Student Leaders Turning Advocacy into Action

    Black Student Leadership Network students are turning advocacy into action on their campuses. From organizing around education justice to expanding voter awareness, two student leaders share how their campaigns are equipping peers with knowledge, strengthening civic participation, and building momentum for change.

Starsky Wilson stands at a podium in front of a crowd.

Featured Blog Series

For Our Children

From the desk of President and CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, discover a new take on child well-being and advocacy. Read to learn more about shaping conversations, policies, and actions for improving the lives of our nation's children and youth.

Learn More