Safety

Keeping our children safe from harm is one our most fundamental responsibilities. But in the United States, preventable injuries are the leading cause of death among children. First Focus advocates for strong policies to protect our kids from injuries, accidents, and poisonings because every child deserves to be safe at home and in their community.
Resources
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 …
Statement: Our nation’s children deserve a commitment to change
| May 26, 2022 |
Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children, released the following statement in response to the horrific deaths of 19 children and two adults …
Watch: Pandemic opportunities — and missteps — in child welfare and youth justice
| March 31, 2022 |
The COVID-19 pandemic offered golden opportunities — and inflicted new missteps — on the country’s child welfare and youth justice systems, experts and advocates …
A Healthy Digital Environment for Children Means More than Protection
Jonathan Todres, Joseph Wright | August 4, 2021 |
For young people, the digital environment is a modern-day playground or park. It is where they hang out, socialize, and learn. But ask any …
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 …
As vaccine rollout ramps up, kids ask, “what about us?”
Averi Pakulis | April 22, 2021 |
Last week as I excitedly told my 6- and 3-year-old daughters that my husband and I had been able to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments …
Biden Administration to send much-needed Disaster Response Team to Central America
Kathy Sacco, Miriam Abaya | April 8, 2021 |
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that it will activate a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs …
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 …
New Research Supports Investing in the Needs of Young People in Foster Care During the Pandemic
Aubrey Edwards-Luce | October 21, 2020 |
Adulting is hard, but for the 20,000 youth who “age out” of foster care each year, suddenly required to be self-sufficient, it is downright …