Entitled "Doing Our First Works Over: The New State of America’s Children," this year’s forum arrives at a critical juncture. According to organizers, harmful political decisions at various levels of government are actively undermining the safety net systems designed to protect young people. The event will bring together a diverse coalition of national child advocates, policy experts, community leaders, and youth champions at Howard University’s Blackburn University Center to reflect on current challenges, strategize innovative solutions, and chart a determined path forward for America’s younger generations.
Throughout the two-day conference, keynote addresses and panel discussions will dive deep into pressing systemic issues. Central topics will include the current state of public education and public health systems, the systemic weakening of the Department of Education, and the mounting political and budgetary 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 provided a crucial buffer against poverty and instability. However, recent challenges to these programs have directly exacerbated crises in childhood food security, healthcare access, and early childhood support systems nationwide.
A major highlight of the forum will be the official unveiling of the highly anticipated 2026 State of America’s Children Report. This comprehensive publication provides an exhaustive overview of the status of children across the nation, examining a wide spectrum of well-being indicators. The report breaks down critical data concerning the national child population, child poverty rates, growing income and wealth inequality, the crisis of housing and housing instability, child hunger and nutritional access, overall child health outcomes, early childhood development, public education quality, youth justice systems, and the ongoing public health emergency of gun violence.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized that the discussions taking place in Washington will serve as an essential roadmap for future advocacy and policy formulation. She noted that while election cycles dominate public attention, the fundamental work of protecting children and youth must persist undiminished long after the ballots are cast.
"Election Day may be November 3, but the work for children and youth continues beyond that day," Packnett Cunningham stated. She added that the collaborative gathering will allow participants to examine the direct implications of the 2026 election results, explore the complex policy landscapes shaping health, education, and economic mobility, and successfully transition from a period of uncertainty into decisive, organized action.
Echoing these sentiments, Nick Vucic, CDF National Director of Public Affairs, stressed that the forum speaks directly to the reality that society must actively confront the pressures of a difficult political environment if the next generation is to thrive. Vucic pointed out that the core mission of the organization is centered on guaranteeing that every single child remains safe, supported, and provided with the resources needed to reach their full potential.
"At CDF, we work to ensure every child is safe and supported," Vucic remarked, pointing to the imperative of holding elected officials accountable so that legislative actions and public programs genuinely 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 prominent speakers, researchers, and organizational leaders representing a wide array of policy sectors. Among the scheduled presenters 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.
Additional expert voices contributing to the dialogue will 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.
The venue for the event, Howard University’s Blackburn University Center, is located at 2397 6th St NW in Washington, D.C. The choice of location underscores the intersection of child advocacy and civil rights, aligning with the broader mission of the host organization.
Founded in 1973, the Children’s Defense Fund has spent more than five decades envisioning and advocating for a nation where marginalized children are empowered to flourish. As the only national, multi-issue advocacy organization operating directly at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF works continuously on behalf of America’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 movements rooted deeply in marginalized communities, the organization builds sustained political power for child-centered public policy. These efforts are consistently informed by principles of racial equity and the direct, lived experiences of young people. Among its most recognized initiatives is the CDF Freedom Schools program, which operates educational and enrichment initiatives in nearly 100 cities spread across 30 states and territories, offering mentorship, literacy support, and community engagement to thousands of children each year.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the upcoming policy forum in Washington represents a critical focal point for advocates determined to safeguard the future of the nation’s youth, ensuring that public leaders remain focused on building a society where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
