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As a society, we are responsible for ensuring that young people have the resources they need to thrive physically, psychologically, and developmentally. Part of promoting young people’s future happiness, health, and dignity is providing health care that recognizes all aspects of their evolving identities, including their gender identity and gender expression, and supporting them as [...]

Children deserve to live and be nurtured in families and communities, and to have access to the culturally responsive supports and services that they need to be healthy, well, and thrive. Without timely access to necessary supports and services, children with behavioral health conditions suffer and their needs often intensify. In too many instances, appropriate, [...]

Chloe Medina, a mother of four in La Habra, California, published an op-ed in OtherWords that underscores the importance of public programs to support families and the positive impact of the expanded 2021 Child Tax Credit. In her op-ed, Chloe highlights how public programs such as Early Head Start, Head Start, and its Transition to [...]

Our mental health is deeply connected to every element of our lives. It impacts our overall health, relationships, success in school and at work, our ability to care for ourselves and others, and to pursue our goals. Mental health is also protective, helping us cope with stress, life transitions, and difficult times. As Gwen, a [...]

Kali Daugherty, a mother in Milwaukee, spoke with the New York Times about the positive impact of the expanded Child Tax Credit in 2021. With the Child Tax Credit expiring in 2022 and rising inflation costs, Kali discussed what an expanded Child Tax Credit under a Harris administration would mean for her and her family. [...]

As we look toward 2025, it is critical that we promote the well-being of young children and their families by investing in care. Every day, young children are nurtured by a wide range of caregivers in a variety of settings—including teachers, parents, grandparents, and other loved ones and community members. In order for young children [...]

It is time that policymakers adopt a radically different approach to investing in community supports for all families in the community. Both federal and state policymakers must accept a broader definition of evidence that includes evidence from the community and evaluate programs and funding proposals according to this expanded evidence standard. 

My name is Sando Zou-Capuzzi, and I am a young parent leader working with the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) for the last three years, to improve outcomes for young parents transitioning out of foster care with a particular focus on young fathers of color. I recently had the opportunity to present [...]

My name is Nathalea Sky. I'm a young mother of 6 children from New York City, and a young parent leader with experience in foster care. I am working with different organizations to advocate for better support for young people and young parents in my community. I am currently advocating with the Brighter Futures Workgroup [...]

In the words of one counselor CSSP interviewed who serves Native American youth, “On my team, I have three native clinicians from the local communities and [culture is] kind of weaved within the clinical approach… [Many young people] don’t have anybody who is knowledgeable about culture or in a position to teach them. Or maybe there’s [...]