White House Office on Children and Youth

Nemours Children’s Health System, Mental Health America , First Focus on Children , The Education Redesign Lab at Harvard University ,  Forum for Youth Investment  and Children's Funding Project  have called upon the incoming Biden-Harris Administration to establish a White House Office on Children and Youth and a federal Children’s Cabinet. Children are the future of our nation. Our economic and civic strength and prosperity rely on today’s investment in children and youth. At this critical inflection point for our nation’s future, we need to re-imagine our systems for optimal health, well-being and development for all children and youth.

Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States has a unique opportunity to build a prosperous future for children and youth, and our nation at-large. Please sign on to our letter (PDF) calling for federal leadership structure for children and youth.

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Sign-On Letters

Sign on to support cohesive, national leadership for children and youth. Learn More  

See who signed on to a letter to the transition team calling for national leadership for children and youth. Learn More (PDF) »

Briefing

Watch a Children’s Week briefing to learn how states have utilized children’s cabinets and other leadership structures, and how the federal government can act now to improve outcomes and promote equity for children and youth. Full Briefing (Video)  Highlights (Video)  

Executive Summary

Read a summary of the proposals to elevate an agenda for children and youth. Learn More (PDF)  

Press Release

Read the joint announcement from the organizing partners supporting national leadership for children and youth. Learn More

Rationale

See why a coordinated, national strategy and budget for children and youth, spearheaded by a new White House Office and Children’s Cabinet, is needed. Learn More (PDF) »

Charter

See how a White House Office on Children and Youth and federal Children’s Cabinet could be structured and what their core roles and functions would be. Learn More (PDF) »

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News and Views

Advocates Ramp Up Campaign For A White House Children 
By Dorothy Mills-Gregg | Inside Health Policy | June 22, 2021

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From Crisis to Opportunity: Creating a Future Where Children Can Thrive in America
By Daniella Gratale, Joshua Ogburn, Kara Odom Walker, Nathaniel Counts, Bruce Lesley, Elizabeth Gaines, Mary Ellen Wiggins and Jennifer Davis | Moving Health Care Upstream | May 3, 2021

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Young People Address the Nation (Video)
By Youth Action Hour | April 30, 2021

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Delaware's kids can get the services they need — if Biden leads. Here is why | Opinion
By Kara Odom Walker and Kirsten Olson | The News Journal | April 29, 2021

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Creating an Agenda for Children's Resiliency and Health
By Kara Odom Walker, Josh Rising and Daniella Gratale | Health Affairs | April 21, 2021

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Building Systems of Integrated Student Support: A Policy Brief for Federal Leaders | The Center for Optimized Student Support
By Boston College | February 2021

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Dear President Biden: We Need a White House Office on Children and Youth  
By Dr. Larry Moss and Bruce Lesley | Morning Consult | January 25, 2021

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Advice from two experts on how Biden and Harris can tackle America’s child-care crisis
By Valerie Strauss | The Washington Post | January 24, 2021

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An Issue That Can Unite the Country: Kids  
By Bruce Lesley | Inside Sources | January 19, 2021

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What America’s kids need now: Biden should marshal the nation to address the dire condition of U.S. children
By Norm Ornstein and James Harvey | New York Daily News | Decemebr 26, 2020

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Open letter to the incoming Biden administration on Next Generation Community Schools
By Rebecca Wintrop | The Brookings Institution | December 18, 2020

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The lack of a national policy agenda for children during Covid-19 — and beyond — causes grave harm  
By Stephen Patrick | STAT | August 31, 2020