Leading for Kids
Making Kids a Priority on the National Policy Agenda

Leading for Kids Homepage

Let’s build a culture that

prioritizes kids

Young Kids Smiling

Leading for Kids is a catalyst to move individuals and decision-makers to create a society that more deeply values children.

Leading for Kids is committed to improving the health and well-being of children by creating a movement to change how we talk about kids, how we can invest wisely and productively in their futures, and how our decision makers can better protect their rights and reflect their voices. Read our recent opinion piece in Newsweek and the Los Angeles Times op-ed from founder and president, David Alexander.

Middle School Kids Smiling
Teens Smiling in School

We Are Putting Kids First

Raising awareness

By many measures, we are failing our nation’s kids. The U.S. has poorer child health outcomes than other wealthy nations despite greater per capita spending on health care, and we are ranked 37 out of 41 in UNICEF’s 2020 report card that measures the progress of rich countries in meeting child-related sustainable development goals.

We can do better. 

We have the opportunity to create a new path for our nation’s kids, one where they will be given opportunities to succeed, their voices will be heard, and our policy decisions will take into account how they affect kids.  At Leading for Kids, we are working to raise awareness of the current state of our kids, and help frame discussions about the opportunities they need to succeed.

Building A Kid-Responsive GovernMent

The U.S. lacks national commitments and government structures that are responsible for the health, well-being, and opportunities for kids and give them the ability to advocate for themselves.

We are the only country that has not signed on to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child — and we lack dedicated officials and entities that ensure children’s interests are core to policy making.

Leading for Kids is engaging in research, coordination, and advocacy to support the creation of government structures at the local, state, and national level that will ensure more support for our children.

Empowering youth

The inspirational leadership of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the ongoing conversations about racial justice from youth across the country, and the global voices for climate action are just a few examples of why kids should have a full seat at the table for discussions about policies that impact them.

Leading for Kids leads discussions and advocacy on how to give our youth a substantive role in crafting policies that will define their futures, as well as giving adult policymakers the benefit of regular exposure to youthful idealism and fresh approaches.

Young Kids Smiling with Arms Around Each Other

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