WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the nation navigates a complex and fraught political climate, the national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is preparing to convene a major gathering of policy experts, community leaders, and advocates. Scheduled for November 4-5, 2026, the American Youth Policy Forum will take place at Howard University’s Blackburn University Center in Washington, D.C., bringing together prominent voices from across the United States to examine the current state of well-being for the nation’s 73 million children and youth.
Titled "Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children," this year’s forum arrives at a critical juncture. Organizers note that the event comes at a moment when harmful political decisions and shifting legislative priorities are actively undermining the growth, safety, and overall well-being of young people across the country. By gathering advocates, researchers, and policymakers, the organization aims to spark deep reflection, foster collaborative strategizing, and chart a clear, actionable path forward for America’s younger generations.
The discussions slated for the two-day event will cover a broad spectrum of systemic challenges. Keynote addresses and panel sessions will critically examine the current state of public education and public health systems, the ongoing weakening and restructuring of the federal Department of Education, and the widespread legislative 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 historically served as crucial buffers against poverty and instability. According to forum organizers, the erosion of these programs has directly exacerbated existing crises related to food insecurity, inadequate healthcare access, and a lack of sufficient early childhood support systems.
A central highlight of the 2026 forum will be the official release of the highly anticipated 2026 State of America’s Children® Report. This comprehensive document serves as an annual temperature check on child well-being in the United States. It synthesizes extensive data across a wide range of critical indicators, including the overall child population, rates of child poverty, widening income and wealth inequality, the crisis of housing stability and youth homelessness, child hunger and nutrition deficits, child health outcomes, early childhood education availability, developments in the youth justice system, and the devastating impacts of gun violence on young communities.
The gathering is designed not only to highlight these sobering statistics but also to translate data into strategic advocacy. Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized that the timing of the forum—occurring immediately following the November 3 national elections—underscores the continuous nature of the fight for children’s rights and protection.
"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."
Echoing this sense of urgency, Nick Vucic, CDF National Director of Public Affairs, pointed out that the forum addresses a harsh reality: current political conditions require aggressive navigation and persistent advocacy if young people are to have a genuine chance to thrive.
"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 agenda features an extensive lineup of nationally recognized experts, researchers, and organizational leaders. Among the scheduled speakers 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 UCLA and co-author of Investing in Children’s Mental Health; and Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus on Children.
Additional featured experts include 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. These leaders will lead dynamic discussions aimed at connecting macro-level economic and social policy shifts to the lived realities of children, teenagers, and young adults nationwide.
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund has spent over five decades championing policies that protect and uplift young people. As the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working precisely at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF focuses its efforts on advancing the interests of America’s most diverse generation—the 73 million children and youth under the age of 18, alongside 30 million young adults under the age of 25. Through grassroots organizing in marginalized communities, the organization builds sustained political and social power for child-centered public policies informed by racial equity and real-world experiences. Its signature initiatives, including the renowned CDF Freedom Schools® program, currently operate in nearly 100 cities across 30 states and territories, fostering educational enrichment and community leadership among youth.
As preparations for the November forum continue, organizers invite journalists, researchers, policymakers, and community advocates to participate in the discussions at Howard University. Further information regarding the event schedule, registration, and media access can be obtained through John Henry, CDF Media Relations Manager, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 708-646-7679. Additional resources and background materials are also accessible through the organization’s official website at www.childrensdefense.org, as well as across its digital and social media channels under the handle @childdefender1973 on Instagram and Threads, @childrensdefensefund on Facebook, @ChildDefender on X (formerly Twitter), and @cdf1973.bsky.social on Bluesky.
