The upcoming gathering, officially titled “Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children,” comes at a critical juncture. Scheduled for November 4 and 5, 2026, at Howard University’s Blackburn University Center, the forum is designed to provide a space for deep reflection, strategic planning, and the charting of a concrete path forward. Organizers note that the event arrives precisely at a moment when recent political decisions and legislative shifts are actively threatening the growth, safety, and overall well-being of children and teenagers nationwide.
The consequences of these systemic pressures form the core of the forum’s agenda. Keynote addresses and panel discussions throughout the two-day event will focus heavily on the current state of public education and public health systems. Participants will examine the systemic weakening of the federal Department of Education and analyze how continuous political and budgetary attacks on essential safety net 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 severely exacerbated existing crises related to childhood food security, preventative healthcare, and early childhood support structures.
In tandem with the policy discussions, the forum will serve as the official launching pad for the highly anticipated 2026 State of America’s Children Report. This comprehensive document offers a sweeping overview of child well-being across a diverse spectrum of indicators. The report breaks down critical data regarding the national child population, child poverty rates, growing income and wealth inequality, the crisis of housing stability and youth homelessness, child hunger and nutrition levels, pediatric health metrics, early childhood education availability, developments within the youth justice system, and the ongoing public health crisis of gun violence.
The timing of the forum, occurring immediately following the national elections, underscores the urgency felt by advocates. Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized that the responsibilities of child advocates extend far beyond the ballot box.
“Election Day may be November 3, but the work for children and youth continues beyond that day,” Packnett Cunningham stated. She explained that the gathering will provide a crucial platform for stakeholders to dissect the practical implications of the 2026 election results for the younger generation. Attendees will explore the specific policy arenas shaping children’s health, educational equity, long-term economic mobility, and general welfare, while actively formulating strategies to pivot away from political uncertainty and toward decisive, protective action.
Nick Vucic, the CDF National Director of Public Affairs, echoed these sentiments, pointing to the stark reality that today’s political climate presents unprecedented hurdles for young people attempting to thrive in American society. Vucic stressed that safeguarding the future of the nation’s youth requires holding political leaders strictly accountable to ensure that public policies and institutional programs genuinely serve their intended beneficiaries.
“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.”
The forum’s comprehensive agenda will be driven by a diverse and distinguished lineup of speakers and panelists who are nationally recognized experts in social policy, public health, economic equity, and child welfare. Among the featured participants 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; and 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.
Additional prominent voices taking part in the discussions include Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children; Brittany Packnett Cunningham 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.
The choice of Howard University’s Blackburn University Center as the venue for the forum places the conversation squarely within an institution rich in history and academic leadership, located at 2397 6th Street NW in Washington, D.C. The historic backdrop is expected to inspire the collective mission of the attendees as they address systemic inequities and defend programs that disproportionately support marginalized youth.
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund has maintained a long-standing vision of creating a nation where marginalized children are empowered to flourish, where elected officials and community leaders prioritize child well-being as a primary mandate, and where communities possess the structural power to guarantee a thriving future for all youth. As the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization operating directly at the critical intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF continually champions the interests of America’s most diverse generation—encompassing the 73 million children and youth under the age of 18, alongside 30 million young adults under 25.
Through grassroots mobilization efforts rooted deeply in marginalized communities, CDF builds sustained political and social power to advance child-centered public policies. These initiatives are consistently informed by principles of racial equity and the authentic, lived experiences of young people themselves. A cornerstone of the organization’s ongoing outreach is its renowned CDF Freedom Schools program, which operates annually in nearly 100 cities spread across 30 states and territories, providing summer enrichment and academic support to countless children.
As November approaches, organizers of the American Youth Policy Forum are urging advocates, community leaders, and concerned citizens nationwide to engage with the upcoming discussions and the findings of the 2026 report. By uniting diverse perspectives and fostering collaborative strategies, the Children’s Defense Fund aims to forge a resilient path forward, ensuring that the fundamental rights, health, and futures of America’s children remain protected against shifting political tides.
