WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation navigates a complex and increasingly fraught political environment, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is preparing to bring together leading child advocates, policy experts, researchers, and community leaders for a pivotal national gathering. In November 2026, the national youth advocacy organization will convene the American Youth Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., to examine and address the profound ways current political decisions are impacting the growth, security, and overall well-being of the 73 million children living across the United States.
Titled “Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children,” the forum is scheduled to take place on November 4 and 5, 2026, at the Blackburn University Center on the campus of Howard University. Coming immediately on the heels of the national elections, the convening is designed to serve as a vital space for stakeholders from across the country to reflect on the current state of youth welfare, strategize collectively, and chart a concrete path forward for the nation’s young people.
According to organizers, the event comes at a critical juncture when harmful political decisions and policy shifts are actively undermining the health, educational foundations, and economic stability of children and youth. Keynote addresses and panel discussions throughout the two-day forum will center heavily on pressing systemic issues, including the current state of public education and public health systems, the ongoing weakening of the Department of Education, and a series of concerted attacks on essential safety net programs. Programs such as Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Medicaid have long served as vital lifelines for vulnerable families. The erosion of these critical supports, organizers warn, has significantly worsened existing challenges related to food security, childhood health, and early childhood educational support.
A central highlight of the 2026 American Youth Policy Forum will be the official release of the newly published 2026 State of America’s Children Report. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth summary of the status of children across a wide spectrum of well-being indicators. The document covers critical areas including child population trends, child poverty rates, income and wealth inequality, housing instability and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, pediatric health, early childhood development, education access and quality, youth justice, and the escalating crisis of gun violence affecting young communities.
The convening will feature a distinguished roster of speakers and panelists representing diverse sectors of public policy, child welfare, economics, and social justice. Among the featured experts scheduled to address attendees are Rev. Leonard Burton, President and CEO of the Center for the Study of Social Policy; Annie Donovan, President and CEO of the Raza Development Fund; Dr. Daniel Eisenburg, Professor of Health Policy and Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, and co-author of "Investing in Children’s Mental Health"; and Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children.
The lineup also includes Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of the Children’s Defense Fund; Sharon Parrott, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Dr. Ramesh Raghavan, Professor of Social Work at New York University; Dr. Heidi Shierholz, President of the Economic Policy Institute; and Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham emphasized that the discussions taking place during the November forum will play a foundational role in guiding future advocacy efforts and shaping policies dedicated to children’s well-being nationwide. Noting that the timing of the conference immediately follows the national elections, Packnett Cunningham pointed out that the commitment to protecting America’s youth extends far beyond any single election cycle.
“Election Day may be November 3, but the work for children and youth continues beyond that day,” Packnett Cunningham stated. “Together, we’ll examine what the 2026 election results mean for children and youth, explore the policy issues shaping their health, education, economic mobility, and well-being, and identify strategies for moving from uncertainty to action.”
Nick Vucic, CDF National Director of Public Affairs, echoed these sentiments, stressing that the forum directly addresses the urgent reality that advocates must actively navigate and dismantle the obstacles of a difficult political climate if the next generation is to have a genuine opportunity to thrive. Vucic underscored the organization’s long-standing mission to ensure that every young person in the country is safe, protected, and adequately supported by society’s systems.
“At CDF, we work to ensure every child is safe and supported,” Vucic said. “This means holding our nation’s leaders accountable so their policies and programs truly serve young people. We cannot allow decades of progress to be undone. Therefore, we must come together to shape policies that protect children’s futures and improve their daily lives. We plan to do just that at the 2026 American Youth Policy Forum, Powered by CDF.”
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund has spent more than five decades working toward a national vision where marginalized children are empowered to flourish, where political and community leaders consistently prioritize their health and happiness, and where local communities possess the resources and power necessary to ensure young people succeed. As the nation’s premier multi-issue advocacy organization operating at the complex intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF works tirelessly on behalf of the nation’s most diverse generation—comprising the 73 million children and youth under the age of 18, alongside 30 million young adults under the age of 25.
Through grassroots organizing models rooted directly in marginalized communities, the organization builds sustained political power for child-centered public policies. These efforts are continually informed by a commitment to racial equity and the direct lived experiences of children and families. Among its signature initiatives is the renowned CDF Freedom Schools program, which currently operates educational and enrichment programs in nearly 100 cities spread across 30 states and territories.
As preparations for the November gathering continue, organizers note that registration and further details regarding the American Youth Policy Forum are being coordinated through the Children’s Defense Fund’s national headquarters. Through rigorous debate, expert analysis, and strategic coalition-building, the forum aims to re-energize the national movement for child advocacy at a time when the stakes for America’s youth could not be higher.
