Juvenile Justice

Involvement with the criminal justice system puts youth’s futures at risk, with adverse impacts on young people’s mental and physical well-being, education, and employment opportunities. Federal government can help young people before and after their first brush with the law to avoid deepening involvement with the justice system. First Focus advocates for investments in meeting the health, education, employment opportunity, and other needs essential to turning young people’s lives around.

Resources


Joint Letters: Support the bipartisan Strengthening Tribal Families Act of 2022 (H.R. 8954)

| December 16, 2022 |

A coalition of organizations dedicated to holding our country’s child welfare system accountable sent the following letters to leaders of the Senate Finance Committee


The Promises We Must Make to Our Children: Recommendations to the Biden-Harris Transition Team

| January 4, 2021 |

The kids are not alright. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession, we were failing our kids on a whole range of domestic


Key Stats on the Effect of COVID-19 on Kids

| October 12, 2020 |

Updated on October 12, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is doing more than exposing the racial, ethnic, and economic disparities existing in our society; it


Congress Must Act Quickly to Pass Additional Relief for Struggling Children and Families

| August 10, 2020 |

Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads, an economic crisis that continues to deepen, and an upcoming school year faced with daunting challenges, it is


Letter: We must ensure that this historic public health pandemic does not threaten our children’s future

| August 10, 2020 |

First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses with a set of recommendations to address the needs


How to protect justice-involved youth in the wake of COVID-19

| May 4, 2020 |

Every facet of the lives of children and families are being disrupted during this historic public health and economic crisis. Unfortunately, both their short-term


Letter: Correct the Inequities in COVID-19 Response

| April 20, 2020 |

First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses with a set of recommendations to address the needs


Kids & COVID-19: Resource Hub

| April 16, 2020 |

The impact on children from COVID-19 is immense. It is also variable and complicated. Every facet of the lives of children and families are


Letter: Prioritize the well-being of children as you respond to the Coronavirus outbreak.

| March 20, 2020 |

First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to Congressional leaders in both houses, urging them to prioritize the well-being of children in


Statement: Congress’s coronavirus response is a good first step, but bigger, bolder measures are needed

| March 18, 2020 |

We applaud Congress for passing the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, providing families and children with increased food and nutrition assistance, supplemental state funding