July 13, 2026 – Under the theme, ‘Are the Children Well?’, 300+ local school-aged children will raise their voices to advocate for the mental health resources essential to their success.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
COLUMBUS, OHIO– On Wednesday, July 15, more than 300 CDF Freedom Schools scholars from across Central and Northeast Ohio will participate in the National Day of Social Action (NDSA) at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
This annual event, organized by the national child and youth advocacy organization, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), empowers CDF Freedom Schools scholars to lead collective action projects in their local communities. The CDF Freedom Schools program provides students and their families with summer enrichment rooted in a research-backed, culturally responsive curriculum that fosters academic success in more than 180 partner sites nationwide in 26 states, including Washington, D.C.
For this year’s NDSA, Ohio CDF Freedom Schools scholars will highlight the importance of mental health and social-emotional wellness under the theme, “Are the Children Well?”. Families, educators, advocates, and public leaders will gather to hear directly from young people about how mental health challenges impact Ohio’s youth and families. The event will also feature a rally and resource fair designed to connect young people with essential mental health support and resources.
WHAT: National Day of Social Action Public Rally & Resource Fair 2026
WHO: Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF-OH)
WHERE: Ohio Statehouse (West Lawn), 1 Capitol Sq, Columbus, OH 43215
WHEN: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 1:15 p.m-3:15 p.m.
This year’s NDSA takes place at a critical moment. Public schools have traditionally been the most accessible sites for students to receive essential services, including counseling, therapy, nutrition, and health screenings. However, these programs face growing pressure. Funding cuts to public schools and important basic needs programs, like Medicaid and SNAP, threaten to disproportionately affect young people living with disabilities as well as those in low-income families and rural areas.
CDF-Ohio State Director Dr. John Stanford said this year’s NDSA theme reflects CDF’s belief that mental health and social-emotional wellness are building blocks for health and have a major impact on the ability of children and young people to thrive.
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“For many students in Ohio, especially those in families struggling to make ends meet, students with disabilities, and those living in rural healthcare deserts, public schools are often the only source of essential services like counseling, therapy, and health screenings,” he said. “Unfortunately, ongoing funding challenges and resource shortages continue to strip these services away from the very campuses where Ohio students should be thriving. NDSA 2026 will serve as a space for our young people to share their experiences and demand the mental health resources they deserve throughout the Buckeye State.”
Local CDF Freedom Schools sites participating in this year’s NDSA will include Schealthness – Asbury North UMC and Community Development for All People- Siebert, of Columbus, the Southside Kingdom of Hope CDF Freedom School, of Pataskala, and the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, of Cleveland.
The CDF-Ohio National Day of Social Action is sponsored by the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, the Marguerite Doughty Conrath Foundation and the Robert Weiler Company in partnership with the African American Male Wellness Agency, the Ohio Association of School Nurses, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, the Center of Science and Industry, and the Columbus Kids’ Book Bank, and the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium.
*Journalists interested in covering CDF-Ohio’s National Day of Social Action are encouraged to contact Media Relations Manager John Henry at 708-646-7679 for more information.
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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.