Children’s Health and Healing

Promise 

All young people enjoy regular, nourishing meals and active lives,
marked by positive social adjustment, sustainable environments, and
healthcare homes for their bodies and minds.

Problem

10.7 million young people live in food-insecure households. In 2021,
more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, 4.4 million children were uninsured in the United States.

Policy Path

In this zone, CDF will advocate for public policy related to: (1) Child Nutrition and Food Security, (2) Youth Mental Health and Social Emotional Wellness, (3) Healthcare coverage, and (4) Environmental justice.

Moonshot Generational Commitment

Ensure permanent, universal free school meals and children’s physical and mental health coverage.

Learn More

Related Updates

  • 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.…

  • 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.…

  • Immigration

    Marching to Free Children & Families: A Peace Walk in Solidarity with Families Detained in ICE Custody

    At Children’s Defense Fund-Texas, we work alongside advocates, faith leaders, and community members to protect children and families from harmful policies and systems. Our team also helps lead the National Coalition to End Family and Child Detention, a nationwide network working to end detention of children and families in immigration custody.…

  • 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.…