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WHAT: Capitol Hill briefing on “Children in the Fields: The Hidden Problem of Child Labor in America”WHEN: Monday, February 22 at 11:00amWHERE: 2103 Rayburn House Office BuildingWHO: Panelists will include:Norma Flores, project director for the Association of Farmworker OpportunityPrograms. Maria Mandujano, former child farmworker, college student, and activist withStudent Action for Farmworkers. U Roberto (Robin) Romano, award winning photographer, filmmaker and humanrights educator, currently filming farmworker children and their families for theupcoming documentary, The Harvest/La Cosecha. Zama Coursen-Neff, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Children’s RightsDivision. On February 22 at 11:00am, the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus and the...

Washington D.C. – Today, a coalition of more than 100 professors joined together to voice their strong support for reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), legislation that sets forth federal standards to protect children, youth, and families involved with the juvenile and criminal justice system.As researchers, teachers, and advocates focused on issues affecting youth, the professors stress the importance of this legislation which supports effective prevention programs and ensures that communities are kept safe. The coalition urges Congress to pass these much needed reforms this summer.The letter was spearheaded by the First Focus Campaign for Children and...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a Children’s Budget Summit hosted by the bi-partisan Campaign for Children.Senator Lincoln is one of only three Senators recognized at the event with this honor, marking her as one of the top leaders in Congress for federal investments that deliver for America’s children. First Focus cited, in particular, Senator Lincoln’s leadership on child nutrition, children’s health, and the Child Tax Credit – issues particularly important for Arkansas.“Senator Blanche Lincoln has raised the profile of children’s issues in Congress and served as a true...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a Children’s Budget Summit hosted by the bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus.Senator Lugar is one of only three Senators recognized at the event with this honor, marking him as one of the top leaders in Congress for federal investments that deliver for America’s children. First Focus cited, in particular, Senator Lugar’s leadership on children’s health and nutrition – issues particularly important for Indiana.“Senator Richard Lugar has raised the profile of children’s issues in Congress and served as a true leader on issues...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) will be honored as a Champion for Children at a summit today hosted by the First Focus Campaign for Children.“I have always believed that as an elected official it is my responsibility to advocate for those in the dawn of their lives and ensure that the well-being of children and families remains a priority,” said Senator Casey. “With that said, it is both humbling and a great honor to receive the Champion for Children Award from First Focus.”Senator Casey is one of only three Senators recognized with this honor at the event, marking...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new analysis released today uncovered startling facts about the number of homeless students in our nation’s schools. According to the brief, American schools have experienced drastic increases in the number of homeless students entering their classrooms since the beginning of the recession. The brief finds that 26 states collectively report a 50 percent increase in the number of homeless children attending school since the 2006-07 school year.In addition, the report finds that, during the 2007-2008 school year, school districts reported a 17 percent increase over the prior year in homeless students (679,724 homeless students enrolled during...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a sweeping overhaul of our nation’s health care system. The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the House for passing historic legislation that moves America closer to universal coverage for children. Specifically, the package preserves and extends the successful Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) through September 30, 2019 with full funding extended through fiscal year 2015. In addition, the legislation ensures that, starting immediately, no child can be denied health care coverage based on a pre-existing condition.First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley released...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Agriculture considers critical legislation that will reauthorize the federal Child Nutrition Program. The legislation, known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, was recently introduced by committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-AK).The First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC), a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the introduction of the legislation as vital to reducing childhood hunger, improving nutritional quality, and modernizing and simplifying existing nutrition programs.“Chairman Lincoln’s legislation proposes unprecedented investments to make our children healthier both inside and outside of the classroom. It expands the After School Meals Program to all 50...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, hundreds of youth participated in a mock graduation ceremony in our nation’s capitol to push for passage of the DREAM Act, legislation that would provide undocumented students brought to the United States as children with the opportunity to earn permanent legal status upon meeting certain requirements. For many of these students, high school graduation marks the final “normal” moment in their lives. Despite growing up in the United States and being educated in American schools, they face barriers in pursuing a college degree and are left unable to join the workforce due to their lack of...

Washington D.C. – Today, the United States Senate approved the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307), a bill that provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs, including school lunch. The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, praised the Senate for passing legislation that will ensure that more low-income children receive access to the meals they need.Bruce Lesley, president of the First Focus Campaign for Children, issued the following statement:“Now more than ever, providing children access to healthy food is critical. Nearly one in four American children are at-risk of...