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Little DREAMers on the Hill

Children of Immigrants

June 12, 2013
By Kevin Lindsey

On Wednesday, June 12th, a group of over 80 seventh graders from the Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy in Northwest D.C. visited the Senate in support of the DREAM provisions of the immigration reform bill and the Little Dreamers Amendment. After learning about immigration reform in school, the students came to hear from a few panelists about immigration reform and to meet with Senate offices to speak about the DREAM title and to leave letters they wrote to Senators in support of the DREAM Act.

Strengthening our Mental Health System: The Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act

June 4, 2013
By Shadi Houshyar

Events including the recent tragedy in Newtown have brought a sense of urgency and visibility to the need to improve and strengthen the mental health care
system for our nation’s children and youth. In response to Newtown, the Administration took on the charge of developing a comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence in America – including improving services for the mentally

“Half in Ten Act” Makes Poverty Reduction a Priority

Child Poverty and Family Economics

May 24, 2013
By Fish Stark, First Focus Intern Associate

Today, more than one in five children in the United States live in poverty—one of the highest child poverty levels in twenty years. Not only that, but one in ten children are in families that live on less than half of the national poverty level, on just $11,000 per year for a family of four.

How Did Children Fare in the SJC Immigration Reform Markup?

May 23, 2013
By Wendy Cervantes

This past Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) voted to advance the immigration reform bill (S.744) onto the Senate floor, representing a historic step forward for immigrant children and families. The committee considered numerous amendments over a period of five days, and the First Focus Campaign for Children (FFCC) determined that many amendments had the potential to positively or negatively affect children and families.