Abbie Malloy Director, Health, Environmental, and Nutrition Policy

Abbie Malloy is the Director of Health, Environmental, and Nutrition Policy at First Focus on Children. Abbie works on Medicaid and CHIP policy and leads the environmental health and nutrition portfolios. She also co-leads the Child & Student Nutrition Alliance, which convenes children’s health groups to advocate for the importance of adequate nutrition for kids’ health.
Prior to joining First Focus, Abbie spent her career in the climate sector. She previously worked for the Climate Reality Project and Climate Action Campaign, where she developed a deep passion for environmental justice and children’s health issues.
Abbie is originally from Philadelphia and holds a BA in Environmental Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She resides in DC with her rescue dog, Frankie, and is an avid equestrian in her spare time.
Continuous Eligibility ensures that children have access to the care they deserve
Abbie Malloy, Abuko Estrada | December 4, 2023 |
Every child deserves access to comprehensive and stable health care that helps them thrive. The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency barred state governments from disenrolling …
Fact Sheet: Early Childhood Continuous Eligibility
Abbie Malloy, Abuko Estrada | November 30, 2023 |
Ensuring Children Have Access to Health Care Coverage During the Most Critical Years: Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Eligibility Through Age 5 Children have unique …
Issue Brief: Heavy Metals in Baby Food
Abbie Malloy, Kaitlin Vu | November 15, 2023 |
The presence of heavy metals in baby foods is harmful to infant development and can impact a child’s health into adulthood. Recently, the publication …
New data shows WIC reached only 50% of eligible moms & children
Abbie Malloy, First Focus Campaign for Children | November 3, 2023 |
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) ensures that millions of children receive the food and nutrition education they need …
Cutting Kids: What a Shutdown Means for WIC Participants
Abbie Malloy | September 29, 2023 |
For more than 50 years, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, better known as WIC, has been one of the …
Fact Sheet: Toxic Pesticides and Children’s Health
Abbie Malloy, Sydney Kelley | August 30, 2023 |
Pesticides are intended to target pests in the agriculture industry but they can also cause severe harm to humans. These chemicals most commonly enter …
Kids sued their state over climate change and won: Here’s what that means for our future
Abbie Malloy | August 25, 2023 |
A Montana judge has ruled in favor of a powerful group of youth advocates fighting for the planet. It’s a major win for the …
Rationing Health Care to Our Kids: Why Medicaid Block Grants are a Bad Idea for the Nation’s Children
Abbie Malloy, Abuko Estrada | August 18, 2023 |
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) together provide comprehensive healthcare coverage to 42.1 million children in the United States. For the 80% …
What Do “Forever Chemicals” Mean for Our Children?
Abbie Malloy | July 26, 2023 |
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (otherwise known as PFAS or “forever chemicals”) exist in our soil, drinking water, and bodies. They’ve been used in all …
The climate crisis is not tomorrow’s problem
Abbie Malloy | April 19, 2023 |
Earth Day comes around this Saturday, April 22, and one thing is clear: The climate crisis is not tomorrow’s problem. Children today, in every …