Other Advocacy Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

American Bar Association provides up to date legislative and governmental advocacy information and a congressional directory. The ABA State Legislative Clearinghouse was created to assist state and local bars, ABA members, and others by identifying and monitoring state legislative issues. The Clearinghouse also assists state and local bars by providing them with information on “hot” legislative issues in other states for their use in the preparation of testimony, bar position papers and other legal analyses.

American Psychiatric Association is a medical society of physicians specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional illnesses and substance use disorders.

American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States and is the world’s largest association of psychologists.

American Public Health Association is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health. APHA is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

Annie E. Casey Foundation provides the best available data and analysis on critical issues affecting disadvantaged children and families, as well as the knowledge and tools practitioners, policymakers, and citizens need to advance their efforts on behalf of children.

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials is a non-profit public health organization that represents the leaders of State and Territorial health agencies. Members work collectively to formulate and influence sound national health policy and to develop and implement state programs and policies to promote health and prevent illness and disability to improve quality of life.

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law provides legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disability.

Benton Foundation  promotes communication tools, applications, and policies in the public interest. The Benton Foundation seeks to shape the emerging communications environment and demonstrate the value of communications for solving social problems. Connect for Kids www.connectforkids.org is the Benton Foundation’s children’s program for public interest communications strategies on children’s issues.

Catholic Charities USA is the largest private network of social service organizations in the country and works to support families, reduce poverty, and build communities.

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs, with an emphasis on those affecting low- and moderate-income people.

Child Welfare provides a gateway to information related to the welfare of children. An electronic journal has been developed, Child Welfare Review, a Library, a resource on issues related to sources on child welfare, and numerous links to explore different organizations.

Children’s Defense Fund provides a strong voice for children of America. CDF educates people about the needs of children and encourages preventative investment for children.

Children’s Institute International is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and strengthening the family through the provision of child abuse prevention and treatment services for high-need, low-resource families, as well as through professional training, research, and advocacy. This website gives an extensive overview of programs and services as well as other related websites.

Children’s Partnership, The is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that undertakes research and policy analysis, publishes reports and multimedia materials, and foregoes new alliances among parents, policymakers and the private sector to achieve tangible gains for children.

Coalition on Human Needs is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies which address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations.

Covenant House is the largest privately funded childcare agency in the United States providing shelter and service to homeless and runaway youth.

Covering Kids is a national health access initiative for low-income, uninsured children, is a $47 million program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to help increase the number of eligible children who benefit from health insurance coverage programs.

Families USA is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health and long-term care for Americans.

Generations United, a membership organization of more than 100 national, state, and local organizations representing more than 70 million Americans, works to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies.

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation is an independent philanthropy focusing on the major health care issues facing the nation. The Foundation is an independent voice and source of facts and analysis for policymakers, the media, the health care community, and the general public.

Justice Information Center is a service of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) which is one of the most extensive sources of information on criminal and juvenile justice in the world, providing services to an international community of policymakers and professionals.

Juvenile Justice Center is an agency of the American Bar Association. The center works to improve the functioning of the juvenile justice system by providing education, technical assistance, and information to juvenile defenders and juvenile advocates.

National Association of Child Advocates is a nationwide network of advocacy organizations working with state and local child advocates and national experts to provide a clearinghouse of information on issues affecting children and effective advocacy.

National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association speaks for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are involved in the juvenile courts. National CASA works with state and local CASA and volunteer guardian ad litem programs to promote and support quality volunteer advocacy to help ensure each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home.

National Center for Children in Poverty identifies and promotes strategies that reduce the number of young children living in poverty in the United States, and that improve the life chances of the millions of children under age six who are growing up poor.

National Governors Association Center for Best Practices helps Governors and their key policy staff develop and implement innovative solutions to governance and policy challenges facing them in their states. To assist state policymakers, the Center tracks, evaluates, and disseminates information on state innovations and best practices.

National Network for Youth informs public policy, educates the public and strengthens the field of youth work. The National Network for Youth serves as a powerful advocate protecting key legislation and spending affecting youth.

National PTA, The is the oldest and largest volunteer association in the U.S. working exclusively on behalf of children and youth; promoting the education, health and safety of children and families.

National School Age Care Alliance is a national membership organization who supports quality programs for school-age children and youth in their out-of-school hours.

Policy News and Information Service has daily updated policy news and information.

Pre-K Now collaborates with advocates and policymakers to lead a movement for high-quality, voluntary prekindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Its vision is a nation in which every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.

Solution Tree provides tested and proven resources to help those who work with youth create safe and caring schools, agencies, and communities where all children succeed.

Southern Institute on Children and Families, The is an independent nonprofit public policy organization that endeavors to improve opportunities for children and families in the South, with a focus on disadvantaged children.

Urban Institute, The is a nonpartisan, economic and social policy research organization that investigates social and economic problems confronting the nation and analyzes efforts to solve these problems.

Voices for America’s Children is a nonpartisan, national organization committed to speaking out for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government. Since 1984, Voices has supported child advocates nationwide who have achieved public policy victories for children in early education, health, juvenile justice, child welfare, tax and budget decisions and other areas.

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, spiritually-based organization providing local human service programs and the opportunity for individual and community involvement.

Youth Law Center works nationally to serve children, focusing particularly upon the problems of children living apart from their families in child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Government Links

U.S. Congress
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. Senate
Thomas (Congress’ Legislative Information website)

The Administration & Federal Government
The White House
Social Security Administration
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Labor

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Government Printing Office