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

  • For Our Children: Shaping “Good Mornings” for our Children

    Good mornings start with what we do today, so how you can take action to shape a brighter future for our children? Read the September issue of For Our Children to learn the latest on what’s at stake for children’s rights including threats to Head Start, upcoming events like our American Youth Policy Forum, and how you can vote for your children and with your children this November.…

  • For Our Children: It’s Time to Go Back to School

    (August 31, 2026) – Protect education and stand up for every child’s right to learn, grow, and thrive.…

  • 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.…

  • 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. …