First Focus on Children
@firstfocus.bsky.social
Dedicated to making children & families a priority in federal policy & budget decisions. Affiliated w/
@campaign4kids.bsky.social. #InvestInKids #Commit2Kids
@campaign4kids.bsky.social. #InvestInKids #Commit2Kids
Mamdani is building a universal child care team, but faces daunting financial and logistical challenges - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Mamdani is building a universal child care team, but faces daunting financial and logistical challenges
The mayor-elect has tapped government veterans as he looks to implement the $6 billion initiative.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Mamdani is building a universal child care team, but faces daunting financial and logistical challenges - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The CDC revives debunked ‘link’ between childhood vaccines and autism : Shots - Health News : NPR www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Under RFK Jr.,, the CDC rewrote its vaccine safety page to spread misinformation and doubt about vaccines. This will harm children.
Under RFK Jr.,, the CDC rewrote its vaccine safety page to spread misinformation and doubt about vaccines. This will harm children.
The CDC revives debunked 'link' between childhood vaccines and autism
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that previously stated "Vaccines do not cause autism" has been changed to cast doubt on the scientific research that supports the finding.
www.npr.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The CDC revives debunked ‘link’ between childhood vaccines and autism : Shots - Health News : NPR www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Under RFK Jr.,, the CDC rewrote its vaccine safety page to spread misinformation and doubt about vaccines. This will harm children.
Under RFK Jr.,, the CDC rewrote its vaccine safety page to spread misinformation and doubt about vaccines. This will harm children.
Recent Actions by the Trump Administration Target Children with Disabilities firstfocus.org/update/recent-… by Chad Bolt and Lily Klam
Recent Actions by the Trump Administration Target Children with Disabilities
Proposed rules, reductions in force, threaten roughly 100,000 children who rely on Supplemental Security Income, plus others in need of support and
firstfocus.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Recent Actions by the Trump Administration Target Children with Disabilities firstfocus.org/update/recent-… by Chad Bolt and Lily Klam
What the America First Global Health Strategy Means for the World’s Children leilanimatallah.substack.com/p/what-the-a...
What the America First Global Health Strategy Means for the World’s Children
World-class programs that once safeguarded vulnerable children have been dismantled, and future support is alarmingly limited and uncertain.
leilanimatallah.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:37 PM
What the America First Global Health Strategy Means for the World’s Children leilanimatallah.substack.com/p/what-the-a...
How Trump officials have transformed the EPA to weaken enforcement - The Washington Post
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:53 PM
How Trump officials have transformed the EPA to weaken enforcement - The Washington Post
1 in 4 AZ kids relies on SNAP. State's dismal childhood poverty record leading to a perfect storm www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...
1 in 4 AZ kids relies on SNAP. State's dismal childhood poverty record leading to a perfect storm
As the federal shutdown drags on, SNAP food benefits recipients remain in limbo. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to release contingency funds to pay the benefits, but the president…
www.kjzz.org
November 11, 2025 at 8:37 PM
1 in 4 AZ kids relies on SNAP. State's dismal childhood poverty record leading to a perfect storm www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...
‘This perfect storm:’ How Idaho Medicaid cuts could affect everyone’s health care access | Local | idahostatejournal.com www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/t...
idahostatejournal.com | empowering the community
POCATELLO — Idaho State built on the momentum from last week’s road win over a nationally ranked opponent to capture its second straight victory, a 27-17 win over Cal Poly inside the ICCU Dome.
idahostatejournal.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
‘This perfect storm:’ How Idaho Medicaid cuts could affect everyone’s health care access | Local | idahostatejournal.com www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/t...
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/magazin...
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed
The end of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot in North Carolina is a story of how MAHA might actually be realized — or not — at the state level.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Baby beaten and burned to death with hot liquid by parents - US News - News - Daily Express US www.the-express.com/news/us-news...
Newborn baby beaten and burned to death with hot liquid by laughing parents
In a heart-wrenching case from Virginia, a young couple faces prison time over abuse that led to the tragic death of their newborn daughter.
www.the-express.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Baby beaten and burned to death with hot liquid by parents - US News - News - Daily Express US www.the-express.com/news/us-news...
The impact of losing SNAP benefits and a Head Start school closure on this grandmother : NPR www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
The impact of losing SNAP benefits and a Head Start school closure on this grandmother
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Nicole Hines of Davenport, Iowa, about how the loss of SNAP benefits and the closure of a Head Start school that her granddaughter attended are affecting her life.
www.npr.org
November 9, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The impact of losing SNAP benefits and a Head Start school closure on this grandmother : NPR www.npr.org/2025/11/08/n...
Remembering when @realDonaldTrump @POTUS @WhiteHouse promised tariffs revenues for CHILD CARE. (1)
November 9, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Remembering when @realDonaldTrump @POTUS @WhiteHouse promised tariffs revenues for CHILD CARE. (1)
Study: Louisiana’s child poverty rate increase leads US thecurrentla.com/2025/study-l...
Study: Louisiana’s child poverty rate increase leads US
The report comes out as Louisiana — along with other states — has announced it will not provide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in November.
thecurrentla.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Study: Louisiana’s child poverty rate increase leads US thecurrentla.com/2025/study-l...
The Trump Admin must release the SNAP contingency fund today so that 16 million kids do not start going hungry tomorrow.
It’s that simple.
It’s that simple.
November 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The Trump Admin must release the SNAP contingency fund today so that 16 million kids do not start going hungry tomorrow.
It’s that simple.
It’s that simple.
Money Matters: The Nation’s Retreat from Kids brucelesley.substack.com/p/money-matt...
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
Money Matters: The Nation’s Retreat from Kids
Federal spending on children has dropped to historic lows, but the steepest cuts are ahead.
brucelesley.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Money Matters: The Nation’s Retreat from Kids brucelesley.substack.com/p/money-matt...
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
First Focus on Children released our annual report yesterday, Children's Budget 2025. The findings show a 30+% decline in the share of federal funding to children from 2021 to Trump's FY 2026 budget proposal.
Fear and Harm as Policy: How the Feds Are Traumatizing Children brucelesley.substack.com/p/fear-and-h...
Fear and Harm as Policy: How the Feds Are Traumatizing Children
Noem's Department of Homeland Security is not targeting the "worst of the worst" as she claims: her agency is increasingly targeting the children of immigrants.
brucelesley.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Fear and Harm as Policy: How the Feds Are Traumatizing Children brucelesley.substack.com/p/fear-and-h...
Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children | First Focus on Children firstfocus.org/update/socia...
Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children
Most people think of Social Security as a program for older Americans, and for good reason: it serves more than 52 million seniors, and is the nation’s
firstfocus.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Social Security Advisory Board Recommends Improved Access and Increased Awareness of Survivor Benefits for Children | First Focus on Children firstfocus.org/update/socia...
Another important article by @mikehixenbaugh.com that highlights why we desperately need an independent Children’s Commissioner to investigate and put a stop to the cover-up and failure to protect children from child sexual and physical abuse by institutions in this country.
Mike Hixenbaugh (@mikehixenbaugh.com)
Pastor Mark Vega, a former Yankees chaplain, received reports of sex abuse in his church in 2019 and 2022. But rather than go to police, Vega came up with a plan to handle it internally by…
bsky.app
October 8, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Another important article by @mikehixenbaugh.com that highlights why we desperately need an independent Children’s Commissioner to investigate and put a stop to the cover-up and failure to protect children from child sexual and physical abuse by institutions in this country.
This piece by @mikehixenbaugh.com highlights two critically important issues facing children:
1) the threat people like Robert Morris pose to public education
2) the cover-up of sexual and physical child abuse that institutions in our country repeatedly engage in
This must be stopped. ✋
1) the threat people like Robert Morris pose to public education
2) the cover-up of sexual and physical child abuse that institutions in our country repeatedly engage in
This must be stopped. ✋
Mike Hixenbaugh (@mikehixenbaugh.com)
Got to see where the filmed “Killers of the Flower Moon” and write this update on a story I started covering a little over a year to go.…
bsky.app
October 8, 2025 at 1:53 PM
This piece by @mikehixenbaugh.com highlights two critically important issues facing children:
1) the threat people like Robert Morris pose to public education
2) the cover-up of sexual and physical child abuse that institutions in our country repeatedly engage in
This must be stopped. ✋
1) the threat people like Robert Morris pose to public education
2) the cover-up of sexual and physical child abuse that institutions in our country repeatedly engage in
This must be stopped. ✋
Day 2 of the Government Shutdown
WIC is a critical investment in nutrition for pregnant women and our youngest children.
Congress and the Admin should reject proposals, such as the President's budget, to slash funding the improves the health, nutrition, & well-being of children & pregnant women.
WIC is a critical investment in nutrition for pregnant women and our youngest children.
Congress and the Admin should reject proposals, such as the President's budget, to slash funding the improves the health, nutrition, & well-being of children & pregnant women.
October 3, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Day 2 of the Government Shutdown
WIC is a critical investment in nutrition for pregnant women and our youngest children.
Congress and the Admin should reject proposals, such as the President's budget, to slash funding the improves the health, nutrition, & well-being of children & pregnant women.
WIC is a critical investment in nutrition for pregnant women and our youngest children.
Congress and the Admin should reject proposals, such as the President's budget, to slash funding the improves the health, nutrition, & well-being of children & pregnant women.
Day 1 of the Government Shutdown
The wisest investments we can make are in our children, and one of those programs is Head Start.
As this report by @ChildrensEquity shows, kids in Head Start display gains in many critical skills in just one year. cep.asu.edu/resources/He... (1)
The wisest investments we can make are in our children, and one of those programs is Head Start.
As this report by @ChildrensEquity shows, kids in Head Start display gains in many critical skills in just one year. cep.asu.edu/resources/He... (1)
Head Start’s Footprint: Children’s Learning and Education | The Children's Equity Project
cep.asu.edu
October 1, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Day 1 of the Government Shutdown
The wisest investments we can make are in our children, and one of those programs is Head Start.
As this report by @ChildrensEquity shows, kids in Head Start display gains in many critical skills in just one year. cep.asu.edu/resources/He... (1)
The wisest investments we can make are in our children, and one of those programs is Head Start.
As this report by @ChildrensEquity shows, kids in Head Start display gains in many critical skills in just one year. cep.asu.edu/resources/He... (1)
How the Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket Fuels Presidential Power and a Government Shutdown brucelesley.substack.com/p/how-the-su...
How the Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket Fuels Presidential Power and a Government Shutdown
Washington is back at the brink.
brucelesley.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:53 PM
How the Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket Fuels Presidential Power and a Government Shutdown brucelesley.substack.com/p/how-the-su...