Discover new ideas, research, and stories advancing social justice for children of immigrants and their families.

As fall settles in, we continue our work to build a more just and equitable future for all children. This season, we’re choosing to promote hope and community power through our new blog series and new strategic framework. Both reflect our deepening commitment to social justice for young children, research-informed policy, and equity in philanthropy.

In this newsletter, you will find:

Foundation Spotlight | SPARK Blog Series, Insights on pandemic-era funding, FCD’s new strategic framework, and an announcement from FCD's president
Featured Research | Key trends on U.S. unauthorized-immigrant communities
Resources and Events | Funder messaging webinar, A Love Letter to Immigrant Families, and more
Connect with Us | Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn

In September, the Foundation for Child Development launched a year-long blog series, SPARK (Stories of Power, Agency, Resilience, and Power), featuring authors from academia, advocacy, organizing, and beyond. Each month, a new blog shares what it means to meet this moment with courage, clarity, creativity, and conviction as the authors work to protect and support children in immigrant families.

In the first blog, series curators Vivian Tseng, FCD President and CEO, and Hirokazu Yoshikawa, University Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology at NYU Steinhardt, shared their vision and the motivation behind this series.

The second edition, authored by Mary Ignatius of Parent Voices California, and published in October, highlights the ways a grassroots organization focused on childcare advocacy has expanded its focus to serve the immediate needs of its community, providing information, services, and safe spaces for immigrant and families when they need it most.

Unequal Beginnings | Pandemic childcare funding is running out across the US

A recent article from the Guardian highlights how the expiration of pandemic-era childcare subsidies has pushed many early care providers to the brink of collapse, and public funding has failed to keep pace with the need. Programs serving low-income and minority communities are closing classrooms, reducing staff, and turning families away, deepening the divide between those who can afford quality care and those who cannot. Many advocates are calling for a shift from a market-based childcare system to one treated as a public good, similar to K–12 education.

This reality reflects the lessons outlined in the Foundation for Child Development’s policy paper, Cutting Child Poverty in Half and More: Pandemic-Era Lessons from Child and Family Advocates and Organizers. The paper shows how pandemic-era investments in families and care infrastructure led to historic reductions in child poverty and improved outcomes for both children and parents. To sustain those gains, the authors argue that the nation must build permanent, equitable systems that center families, strengthen the care workforce, and treat childcare as foundational to a thriving economy.

Reimagining Child Policy Through a Social Justice Lens

Two years ago, the Foundation for Child Development’s Board and staff embarked on a journey to explore what it means to advance social justice for young children. Through deep dialogue with grantees, researchers, organizers, and peer foundations, we have shaped a new strategic framework—one rooted in community and committed to justice.

This framework is not a static plan but a living commitment. As we deepen partnerships and continue to learn, our vision remains clear: a world where every child can thrive, and where families have the power to shape the systems that affect their lives. Read More.

FCD President and CEO joins the board at Grantmakers for Education

Vivian Tseng, President and CEO at the Foundation for Child Development, joins the board of Grantmakers for Education. Vivian is excited to bring her experiences working on behalf of immigrant communities to GFE's efforts to ensure that education is indeed for all students.

Learn more about Vivian’s background.

Changing Origins, Rising Numbers: Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States

This fact sheet, produced by the Migration Policy Institute, provides an accessible overview of demographic, employment, and geographic trends among the U.S. unauthorized-immigrant population as of mid-2023. It highlights long-term settlement patterns, family and community connections, and participation in key sectors of the labor force. The data offer a clear, evidence-based look at how these individuals contribute to and are embedded within communities across the country. Read more

Resources and events written in white over a teal box.

Webinar | Making the Case for Supporting Immigrants in your Grantmaking: A Messaging Toolkit for Funders

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 1-2 pm ET

GCIR has developed a new messaging toolkit (to be released ahead of the webinar) designed to support funders, especially those navigating hostile external environments, as they make the case to their leadership or peer communities for the value of supporting immigrants in their grantmaking strategies.

Join GCIR staff for a strategy session to:

Share compelling talking points linked to universal values and shared priorities.
Address common concerns foundation leaders may raise.
Offer concrete guidance on how to bring these messages into everyday philanthropic practice.

Cost: Free
Who may attend: Staff and board members of foundations, corporate-giving programs, philanthropic consultancies, affinity groups, and invited governmental grantmaking agencies

Learn more and register here.

Resource | Staying Whole: A Love Letter to Immigrant Parents

Recent attacks from the federal government have left a long-lasting impact on immigrant families and communities. During this difficult time, we acknowledge the mental toll immigrant parents are facing. In partnership with the National Parents Union and Little Justice Leaders, CTAN and fiercely passionate advocates have published “A Love Letter and Support Guide for Families Navigating Harmful Immigration Raids and Policies.” This guide was created for immigrant parents and shaped by the insights and experiences of families impacted by immigration enforcement throughout the country. The guide highlights their experiences and offers advice, providing parents with mental health resources for themselves and their children. This love letter to immigrant parents invites parents to reflect on their own mental health, guides them through safety planning, and offers tips on how to talk to and support their children.

This resource is available in both English and Spanish and will be translated into other languages in the coming months. Read More

Resource | Protecting & Supporting Immigrant Children & their Families in Early Learning Spaces

Mom's Rising Logo

The programs that millions of immigrant families and communities rely on are under attack.

Providers, advocates, and community members who support immigrant students and families can make a big difference through intentional, informed, and collective efforts. This resource, curated by Mom’s Rising, provides a list of trusted national resources to help create safe spaces and protect children and families.

Read more in English and in Spanish

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