Consistent access to sufficient quantities and quality of food is highly important for a child's physical, mental, and emotional development, but children experiencing homelessness frequently face hunger as well as poor physical and behavioral health outcomes. Children who do not get enough food to eat may experience a variety of physical, mental,…

The Council of Chief State School Officers' (CCSSO's) commitment to equity is rooted in the belief that all students--across race, ethnicity, gender, language, disability, sexual orientation, or family background or income--deserve an education that prepares them for success in college, careers, and life. One of the actions that state education…

When schools closed their doors in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a scramble to adjust to remote learning. Over the summer and into the fall, the debate over reopening took center stage, as school leaders struggled to answer how and when it would be safe to return to the classroom. The Center for American Progress (CAP)…

Each year, effective federal programs give parents the power to provide their children with affordable healthcare, nutritious food, stable housing, and early childhood education. These programs lift millions of children out of poverty, but also have long-term benefits--children in families who accessed these programs have higher educational…

Homelessness is a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate housing often resulting from extreme poverty; economic hardship due to job loss, illness, or a similar reason; or devastation following a natural disaster. According to the Urban Institute, the mean income of families experiencing homelessness is less than half the federal poverty line. This…

The physical, social, and economic health and well-being of adults and society are strongly influenced by experiences in early childhood. The most cost-efficient time to build foundational skills, to assure the healthy development of all young children, to break the cycle of disadvantage for vulnerable children, and to prevent achievement and…

Background: Previous research has shown that youth who are homeless engage in high-risk behaviors. However, there has been little information published on nutritional and physical activity behaviors in this population, and studies comparing homeless youth in school with their non-homeless peers are scarce. This study compares weight-related risk…

"Kids Count in Colorado!" is an annual publication of the Children's Campaign, providing state and county level data on child well-being factors including child health, education, and economic status. Since its first release 20 years ago, "Kids Count in Colorado!" has become the most trusted source for data and information on…

Data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Education (Department) during the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) suggest that, despite significant efforts to identify homeless students, many are going undetected by their schools. Since the reauthorization of the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Education Improvement Act under the No…

This report outlines amendments to the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) to improve the nutritional well-being of children under the age of 6 living in homeless shelters, and for other purposes. These amendments: (1) modify the homeless children feeding project authorized by the NSLA so that greater program flexibility is provided and more grantees…

The two parts of this document summarize (1) legislation affecting children, youth, and families that was enacted into law during the 102nd Congress, and (2) legislation concerning the same issues that was passed by the House and/or Senate during the same period. The legislation covers: (1) early intervention; (2) children, youth, and families in…

This publication is a guide to programs created by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987. An opening section describes the McKinney Act itself and the agency that developed the guide. The bulk of the publication lists and describes 24 McKinney Act programs grouped under the following headings: (1) education and training programs;…

This Children's Defense Fund 1997 report on the state of America's children highlights the critical need for renewed commitment to children by all sectors of society. The introduction discusses Americans' values and presents 25 tips for effective child advocacy. The report then details the following: (1) the impact of welfare reform on children…