(Oct. 16, 2026) – This year’s forum,“Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children,”comes at a moment when harmful political decisions are undermining the growth and well-being of children and youth across the United States.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In November, the national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) will convene the American Youth Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. to discuss how the current political landscape is impacting the growth and well-being of the 73 million children who live across the nation.
The forum, “Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children,” will bring together advocates from across the country to reflect, strategize, and chart a path forward for America’s young people. Keynote and panel topics at the forum will cover the state of public education and public health systems, the weakening of the Department of Education, and how attacks on essential safety net programs, such as Head Start, SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid, have worsened challenges in food security, health, and early childhood support.
The forum will also reveal the new 2026 State of America’s Children® Report, which summarizes the status of America’s children in areas across the spectrum of child well-being: child population, child poverty, income and wealth inequality, housing and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, child health, early childhood, education, youth justice, and gun violence.
What: 2026 American Youth Policy Forum, Powered by CDF
When: November 4-5, 2026
Where: Howard University, Blackburn University Center | 2397 6th St NW, Washington, DC 20059
Featured speakers at the forum include:
| Rev. Leonard Burton | President & CEO, Center for the Study of Social Policy |
| Annie Donovan | President & CEO, Raza Development Fund |
| Dr. Daniel Eisenburg | Professor of Health Policy and Management, UCLA; Co-Author, Investing in Children’s Mental Health |
| Bruce Lesley | President, First Focus on Children |
| Brittany Packnett Cunningham | Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Children’s Defense Fund |
| Sharon Parrott | President, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities |
| Ramesh Raghavan, MD, Ph.D. | Professor of Social Work, New York University |
| Heidi Shierholz, PhD | President, Economic Policy Institute |
| Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson | President & CEO, Children’s Defense Fund |
CDF Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Brittany Packnett Cunningham said the forum’s discussions will guide future advocacy and policies for children’s well-being nationwide.
“Election Day may be November 3, but the work for children and youth continues beyond that day,” Packnett Cunningham said. “Together, we’ll examine what the 2026 election results mean for children and youth, explore the policy issues shaping their health, education, economic mobility, and well-being, and identify strategies for moving from uncertainty to action.”
CDF National Director of Public Affairs Nick Vucic said the forum addresses today’s urgent reality that we must navigate and address the challenges of a fraught political climate so young people can truly thrive.
“At CDF, we work to ensure every child is safe and supported,” he said. “This means holding our nation’s leaders accountable so their policies and programs truly serve young people. We cannot allow decades of progress to be undone. Therefore, we must come together to shape policies that protect children’s futures and improve their daily lives. We plan to do just that at the 2026 American Youth Policy Forum, Powered by CDF.”
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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 73 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.