Many children and youth in the District of Columbia face significant challenges: crime, substandard housing, poverty, poor health care, and weak schools. At the same time, many kids in DC have benefited from successful interventions in key areas. For example, DC has among the nation's best immunization rates and insurance coverage. To build upon these successes and address other pressing challenges, Fight For Children is creating an Action Agenda to Improve Kids’ Lives. This data driven, evidence-based report and action plan will result in improved outcomes among children in DC. Fight For Children will work in close partnership with a broad coalition of key investors and non-profit organizations to build momentum for change. To maximize the impact of the Action Agenda, Fight For Children is making significant investments in high quality consulting, research, and communications services. Child Trends is a partner with Fight For Children on the Action Agenda and will provide citywide data. Fight For Children has contracted with the Urban Institute to identify and report data on key indicators of child well-being on a neighborhood level. Click here for a printable fact sheet about Fight For Children’s Action Agenda to Improve Kids’ Lives.
Quality Schools Initiative
Fight for Children’s Quality Schools Initiative recognizes high quality programs
that improve student achievement in public, charter, and independent schools in
the District of Columbia through a first-ever competitive award program for
schools. At School Night on April 24, 2008, Fight For Children recognized three
Champions of Quality as part of its Quality Schools Initiative. Strong John
Thomson Elementary School, E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, and San Miguel
School were each awarded a grant of $100,000. Fight For Children is working in
partnership with school leaders to promote and share these schools’ successful
practices in order to magnify their impact across the city.
Click here to learn more about the winning schools or
click here for a
fact printable sheet about Fight For Children’s Quality Schools Initiative.
Parent Leadership Institute
Fight For Children is also promoting quality education by empowering parents to
be better stewards of their children's education. Research has repeatedly shown
that parental involvement is essential to improved student performance and leads
to better schools. With the support of the
Annie E. Casey Foundation,
Fight For Children's Parent Leadership Institute trained a cadre of parent
leaders in 2007 using a proven parent training model from the
Prichard Committee
for Academic Excellence in Kentucky. With continued support from the Annie
E. Casey Foundation, Fight For Children is now training cohorts of parents using
the Prichard model. For more information, contact program manger Kaye Savage at
kaye.savage@fightforchildren.org or
click here for a printable fact sheet about Fight For Children’s Parent
Leadership Institute.
My School Chooser/ Mi Guía De Escuelas
Fight For Children also publishes My School Chooser/ Mi Guía De Escuelas, a user-friendly tool to help families determine the best educational opportunities for their children. Click here to download My School Chooser in English or Mi Guía De Escuelas en Español.
Strategic Support for Non-Profit Organizations
Fight For Children supports local non-profit organizations which provide strategic education and health care services. Fight For Children’s grants focus on programs that demonstrate measurable positive results in improving the lives of children in the District of Columbia. Since its founding, Fight For Children has invested in over 150 youth-serving organizations.