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A Call to Action: Five Priorities to Advance Justice in 2025

Now more than ever, we must continue to advance our shared vision of a society that truly has health justice, economic justice, and family autonomy, so that all families can lead happy and healthy lives. Learn more about CSSP’s call to action for 2025 in our latest blog from President Leonard Burton.

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Young People Deserve Good Health Care

Part of promoting young people’s future happiness, health, and dignity is providing health care that recognizes all aspects of their evolving identities. Learn more in our blog from CSSP Senior Policy Analyst Esi Hutchful. 

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I Just Want to Be a Father

This brief spotlights systemic barriers faced by fathers who are themselves youth in New York City’s foster care system or who co-parent with a young parent in foster care when they try to exercise their rights to be with their children.

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Progress Report on New Mexico’s Child Welfare Reform Efforts

This report produced by the Co-Neutrals summarizes the Final Settlement Agreement reached in the Kevin S. v. Blalock and Scrase lawsuit and New Mexico’s mutual agreement to achieve its commitments and develop a trauma-informed system of care that meets the needs of New Mexico’s diverse children and youth and their families.

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Manifesto for Race Equity and Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems

Created by parents for parents, the brand-new parent edition of the Manifesto for Race Equity & Parent Leadership in Early Childhood Systems is a new version of the original Manifesto, released in 2019. It provides a platform for parents to address inequities and racism in early childhood agencies and systems through building awareness, advocating, and organizing.

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Designed By and With Families

Cultural identity is a source of strength, especially for people of color and others who have been marginalized. Services are therefore more effective when they are culturally tailored. Learn more about Five for 2025: CSSP’s Policy Priorities to Champion Economic Justice, Health Justice, and Family Autonomy.

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New Podcast

Season 4 of the New Neighborhood has arrived! Listen to episode one. 

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Who We Are

The Center for the Study of Social Policy works to achieve a racially, economically, and socially just society in which all children, youth, and families thrive. We translate ideas into action, promote public policies grounded in equity, and support strong and inclusive communities. We advocate with and for all children, youth, and families marginalized by public policies and institutional practices.

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Our Approach

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Systems Change

We draw on the latest research and work to make systems more responsive, accountable, and rooted in policies that ensure equity and inclusion for all children, youth, families, and communities.

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Community Outreach

We believe in the power of communities to shape their futures. We work with communities across the country and with local systems to impact policy and systems change.

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Policy

We work to influence public policy to create opportunity, advance equity, achieve impact, and scale results. We fight against inequitable policy proposals and promote policies that ensure equity and inclusion.