Racial Equity
Since 2012, the majority of babies born in America have been of color, and today, the majority of children living in the United States are of color, yet racial disparities persist in outcomes for children, particularly in health, education, and poverty. First Focus on Children is committed to ensuring that every child in America has the same opportunity to grow and thrive, regardless of race or ethnicity. Through our focus on racial equity, we seek to develop and advocate for policies that address structural racism and promote equitable outcomes for all of our nation’s children.
Resources
The Child Welfare and Racial Equity (CWARE) Collaborative
| December 1, 2022 |
The Child Welfare and Racial Equity (CWARE) Collaborative brings together more than a dozen organizations dedicated to transforming the child welfare system. Under the …
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 …
Undoing the Racist Legacy of Cash Assistance in the South: Reimagining TANF Using the “Black Women Best” Framework
Ali Zane, Ife Finch Floyd | August 31, 2022 |
This paper is part of First Focus on Children’s upcoming series Big Ideas 2022: The American South Forward This report was written before the …
What’s at stake for kids if Congress doesn’t pass Build Back Better
Aubrey Edwards-Luce, Averi Pakulis, Cara Baldari, Carrie Fitzgerald (Former Staff), Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Elaine Dalpiaz, Haley Winter, Kathy Sacco, Michelle Dallafior, Miriam Abaya (Former Staff), Olivia Gomez (Former Staff), First Focus Campaign for Children | December 22, 2021 |
As negotiations have stalled and the fate of the Build Back Better Act hangs in the balance, children stand to lose access to monthly …
What’s next for the largest unvaxxed population (kids)?
Averi Pakulis, Conor Sasner (Former Staff), Tim Smith | August 25, 2021 |
Like many of you, we have been watching in dismay as children’s health is politicized by adults. Just as kids begin to head back …
Letter: Create a plan for getting children of all ages vaccinated against COVID-19
| August 19, 2021 |
First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joseph Biden, Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, and the White House …
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 …
This is Our Moment — an announcement.
Bruce Lesley, First Focus Campaign for Children | April 15, 2021 |
I firmly believe that this is our moment. I don’t need to explain to any of you how bad things have been — this past …
Statement: Democracy, Voting Rights, and Our Youngest Citizens
Michele Kayal | April 13, 2021 |
In response to laws passed by several U.S. states, Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children, issued the following statement: “In any democracy, …
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 …