Priorities for Children
Priorities for Minnesota's Children
Ending Child Poverty & Stabilizing Families
About 11 percent (140,000) of Minnesota children lived in poverty in 2008, up almost one-third since 2000. For children under age 5, the 2008 poverty rate is 13 percent meaning 47,000 of the state's most vulnerable children lived below the poverty level. Our vision is to end child poverty.
Health Coverage For All Children Campaign
More than nine million children in America and 88,000 children in Minnesota are uninsured. Our vision is to guarantee every child and pregnant woman affordable, comprehensive health and mental health coverage and services.
CDF's 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 lead to arrest, conviction and incarceration. 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 Training (YALT®) 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.
Priorities for America's Children
The Children’s Defense Fund Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.