When America’s Children and Youth Win, We Win

December 2022

John, 

As 2022 comes to an end, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your continued support, which has helped us claim this year as a victory for children and youth across the U.S. Your contribution allows us to continue building a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. Below are just some of this year’s highlights, milestones, and wins for children and young people. 

During the pandemic, we continued to engage children and youth across the country in new and innovative ways. We built outdoor gardening and learning spaces to allow children to thrive in fresh learning environments. Scholars in both the summer school program and after-school program could also engage in activities virtually via the CDF Freedom ® Schools at Home project and CDF Freedom Schools ® on 10.  

We are proud to say that the CDF Freedom Schools® program is growing! This year over 10,000 scholars were served, (over 3,000 more than the previous year) with a projected 16,000 scholars in 2023.  

To learn more about how to sponsor a CDF Freedom Schools® site, visit the link below. 

CDF-TX has created YOUthTX, a channel for youth to have a say in policies that affect them. This year, YOUthTX and its network of young Texas advocates trained students to testify before the State Board of Education about the need for honest, accurate, and statewide civic education. If you know a young Texan who wants to join and share their voice, experiences, and stories, click here! 

CDF-MN's Bridge to Benefits (B2B) project continues to ensure that all Minnesota families have easy access to healthcare benefits. Between the summers of 2021 and 2022, B2B screened 13,256 Minnesota families and deemed over 50 percent of those families eligible for programs such as various tax credits, Medical Assistance, Energy Assistance, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Your continued support helps to ensure more families have easy, transparent access to these benefits.  

Learn more about CDF Minnesota’s B2B here. 

In May, our CDF-Ohio team was critical in passing a doula bill (HB142) in the Ohio House. Under this bill, doula caregivers, who provide guidance and support to mothers during pregnancies, would be covered under the Medicaid program. This is a huge step in the right direction for Ohio mothers, caregivers, and children. 

Click here to find out how you can further support the bill that is now in the Ohio Senate! 

The CDF team in our Southern Regional Office is ensuring that funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are equitably distributed amongst low-income communities. Over $3 billion from the ARPA will be distributed between Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. CDF-SRO ensures that marginalized communities in the region know how to access these funds and distribute them to their families, youth, and children. 

CDF-New York has had two major victories in the fight against child poverty in the state. First, CDF-NY was appointed to the New York State Child Poverty Reduction Act Council, which aims to codify into law a commitment to cut New York State’s child poverty rate in half within the next decade. Second, in 2022, CDF-NY successfully advocated for the largest investment ($2 billion) in childcare subsidies in New York state’s history.  

To learn more about how CDF-NY is fighting child poverty, visit the link below. 

In California, our state office assisted in defunding the school-based probation budget by over $4 million. This money was reallocated to the Ready to Rise program, which invests state funds into diversion and youth development.  

Learn more about how CDF-CA keeps America’s youth out of the juvenile justice system. 

Over the summer, CDF Haley Farm in Clinton, Tenn., hosted the annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute where faith leaders and activists came together to perform the sacred work of pursuing justice for children and ending child poverty.  

Click here to listen to this year’s featured speakers. 

In December, the farm hosted and relaunched its historic CDF Black Student Leadership Network (BSLN). BSLN acts as a pipeline for young Black college students to engage and become future servant leaders. The conference was a tremendous success, bringing in over 60 students from more than 10 colleges and universities together.  

To learn more about the revitalization of BSLN, click here. 

Thank you for making a positive impact in 2022! Together, we will continue to uplift the voices of children and youth in 2023. 

With gratitude,  

Children’s Defense Fund 

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View our Fall 2022 Newsletter here for additional information and highlights from this year.

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