Child Abuse & Neglect

Preventing child abuse and neglect starts with investing in stronger families. And, when abuse or neglect happens, children need swift but thoughtful action that gives them the best possible chance to grow up in a safe, nurturing home and build successful, adult lives. The choices made by federal policymakers shape state decisions. We work with them to inform and advance the right choices.
Resources
SCOTUS could scuttle “gold standard” in child welfare
Michele Kayal | November 9, 2022 |
Indian Child Welfare Act prioritizes family reunification The case before the U.S. Supreme Court today challenging a 1978 law governing the welfare of Native …
How Congress can reduce economic hardship & stabilize families now
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Cara Baldari, First Focus Campaign for Children | October 19, 2022 |
We learned recently that improvements to the Child Tax Credit enacted in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan Act nearly cut our child poverty …
Issue Brief: The Case for a Cross-Agency Priority (CAP) on Child Well-being
Miriam Abaya | August 2, 2022 |
THE CHALLENGE The American people expect government policy to advance the best interests of children. Yet, the data shows that U.S. policy lacks the high-level …
Why Paris Hilton and I were at the Capitol yesterday
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, First Focus Campaign for Children | October 21, 2021 |
You may have heard that Paris Hilton made a visit to Congress yesterday. Social media certainly stood up and paid attention when they heard …
Administration’s approach to gender-based violence needs to consider children
Kathy Sacco, Miriam Abaya | July 9, 2021 |
President Biden recently announced the United States’ commitments to the Generation Equality Forum, a global initiative to achieve equality and opportunity for women and …
Statement: “Best interests of children” must govern policy
Michele Kayal | June 3, 2021 |
In response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order to revoke the licenses of facilities serving unaccompanied minors, First Focus on Children President Bruce Lesley …
Letter: The first — and next — 100 days
Bruce Lesley | May 4, 2021 |
First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating them on the achievements of their …
Fact Sheet: The REAL impact of COVID-19 on kids
| April 22, 2021 |
Way back at the beginning of this pandemic, a narrative took hold that kids are not affected. Now, more than a year in, it …
More than ever, we need Champions for Children — these are policymakers meeting the moment
Bruce Lesley, First Focus Campaign for Children | February 4, 2021 |
Our nation’s children face multiple challenges to their well-being stemming from years of a declining share of federal investments in their future, the COVID-19 …
Key Stats on the Effect of COVID-19 on Kids
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Christopher Towner (Former Staff), Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya, Olivia Gomez (Former Staff) | November 19, 2020 |
The COVID-19 pandemic is doing more than exposing the racial, ethnic, and economic disparities existing in our society; it is compounding them, and so …