Press Release

Service Announcements

Starsky Wilson becomes First Black Chair of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

On Wednesday, January 29, Children’s Defense Fund President and Chief Executive Officer, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, assumed the gavel as chair of the Board of Trustees for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). He was elected to the role in July 2024, after serving as a trustee since January 2022. He chaired the Nominating and Governance Committee for the last year.

February 4, 2025 | National
Child Health

NEW: Georgetown University Study Shows Proposed Federal Medicaid Cuts Could Have Extreme Impact on Children in Rural Texas

The study found nearly one in three rural children in Texas depend on Medicaid. More than 239,000 children in Texas’ small towns rely on Medicaid/CHIP coverage.

January 16, 2025 | Texas
National Leaders join Children’s Defense Fund Board

Children’s Defense Fund, the nation’s premiere child advocacy organization, has elected five new members to its governing Board of Directors, beginning in January 2025.

January 16, 2025 | National
Children’s Defense Fund Appoints Khin Mai Aung New State Director for New York

The national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund has named Khin Mai Aung as its state director of the Children’s Defense Fund New York (CDF-NY) office.

January 15, 2025 | New York
Next Week: CDF-Texas to Honor ‘Advocate for Joy’ Recipients at ‘Celebration of Joy’ Ceremony in Weslaco

Next week, Children’s Defense Fund-Texas will hold its inaugural Celebration of Joy ceremony to honor Texans who are bringing joy to communities, youth, and families across the Lone Star State.

October 18, 2024 | Texas
Immigration

TODAY: U.S. Fifth Circuit Court to Hear Oral Arguments in Key Immigration Case that will Impact Hundreds of Thousands of Children

AUSTIN, TX—Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in two cases that will largely determine the futures of hundreds of thousands of children and their families in Texas.

October 10, 2024 | Texas
Children’s Defense Fund President & CEO Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson Joins 'Vote Our Future’ Bus Tour with Nuns on the Bus & Friends

Dr. Wilson is joining the “Vote Our Future” tour because he and Children’s Defense Fund share NETWORK Advocates’ vision of an inclusive, multiracial, multi-faith democracy that equips everyone to vote in the 2024 election and beyond.

September 30, 2024
Child Poverty

U.S. Census Data Shows Need for Increase in Social Support Investments as Child Poverty in America Continues to Increase; 1 out of 7 Children Still Impoverished

Significantly more Black and Brown families also continue to suffer from poverty compared to their White peers, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

September 11, 2024 | National
The passing of CDF Board Emeritus Leonard Riggio

Children’s Defense Fund mourns the passing of our dear friend and emeritus board member, Leonard Riggio.

September 6, 2024 | National
Child Poverty

Statement: Children’s Defense Fund’s Response to Senate Vote Rejecting the Child Tax Credit, Bipartisan Tax Package

The President and CEO of America’s largest child and youth advocacy organization said the Senate’s decision to vote against a bipartisan tax package, which included an expanded child tax credit, ‘failed our children.’

August 1, 2024 | National