Mission

The Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) is the state office of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF); a national child advocacy organization founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman. Our 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.

What We Do

By championing policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to healthcare and quality education; CDF-CA is leveling the playing field–changing the odds–for California’s children. CDF-CA’s policy priorities are ending child poverty, education equity, children’s health, and youth justice. Our core programs include: CDF Beat the Odds® Scholarship Program, Young Advocate Leadership Training, School Based Health Outreach and Enrollment, and our signature program, CDF Freedom Schools® Program.