About CDF-Minnesota

Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for 35 years (since 1986 in Minnesota) to ensure a level playing field for all children.

Supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations, CDF-Minnesota advocates on behalf of children to ensure children are always a priority.

How We Do It

Research

CDF-Minnesota publishes and promotes information every year to let policy makers and citizens know how Minnesota-s children are faring, including the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book.  CDF-Minnesota holds hundreds of public events in communities across Minnesota to disseminate its research, including how state and national policies affect the well-being of children and their families.

Advocacy

CDF-Minnesota staff meet regularly with state and federal legislators and other policy makers to remind them how important children are to Minnesota-s future and to make children a priority in their decision-making.  CDF-MN also energizes thousands of citizens to contact their elected officials and urge them to continue to prioritize children and to hold their officials accountable.  The CDF Action Council publishes a Minnesota Legislative Scorecard that tracks lawmakers- votes on issues that affect children.

Outreach

CDF-Minnesota launched the Bridge to Benefits web tool to quickly, easily and confidentially let families know if they are eligible for benefits and connect them to applications and assistance in completing the paperwork.  Benefits such as energy assistance, health care, child care assistance, food supports and tax credits are all on the website www.bridgetobenefits.org.  The tool is free and available to everyone and helps families become more economically secure.

CDF-Minnesota Priorities

Ending Child Poverty

In 2009, 14 percent (174,000) of Minnesota children lived in poverty, a 53 percent increase since 2000. For children under age 5, the 2009 poverty rate was 16 percent, meaning nearly 66,000 of the state-s children lived below the federal poverty level.  Our vision is to end child poverty.

Health Coverage For All Children Campaign

More than eight million children in America and 76,000 children in Minnesota are uninsured. Our vision is to ensure that every child and pregnant woman have access to affordable, comprehensive health and mental health care coverage.

Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign

CDF-s Cradle to Prison Pipeline® Campaign is a national call to action to stop the funneling of tens of thousands of youth, predominantly minorities, down life paths that often lead to arrest, conviction, incarceration and, in some cases, death. Our vision is to reduce detention and incarceration by increasing preventive supports and services children need.

Developing the Next Generation of Young Leaders

Through our Beat the Odds® program, CDF Freedom Schools® program, and Youth Advocacy Leadership (YALTSM) program, our vision is to create a successor generation of servant-leaders who will drive community and national transformations and inspire and make long-term improvements for all children.