Join us for 2026 Celebration honoring Donna Cooper.
The political landscape is shifting in Washington, but Harrisburg is looking pretty much the same. What does this mean for the kids you love? Join Donna Cooper, Children First Executive Director, to get some preliminary insights into what the election could mean for the children in your life. Are there upcoming threats? What opportunities […]
The Young Professionals Advisory Council of Children First is bringing back their toy drive for a fifth year in a row! Join us on Tuesday, December 10th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Sueno, 114 S. 12th Street in center city Philadelphia! Can’t make the event? Let us do the shopping for you! Make a donation […]
WATCH LIVE Join Children First on Tuesday, February 4th at 4pm for our live reaction to the Governor's budget address where we will provide a breakdown on how the FY26 budget will affect children.
Join Children First for a report release and discussion on children and youth in Montgomery County, "A Decade of Stalled Progress" on Thursday, February 13th at 4pm at the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, 2 West Lafayette Street, Norristown, PA 19401. REGISTER HERE
Join Children First for a report release and discussion on children and youth in Chester County, "A Decade of Stalled Progress" on Wednesday, February 19th at 4pm at the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, 1600 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA 19355. REGISTER HERE
Join Children First for a report release and discussion on children and youth in Delaware County, "A Decade of Stalled Progress" on Friday, February 21st at 10am at the Helen Kates Furness Memorial Library, 100 N. Providence Road, Wallingford, PA 19086. REGISTER HERE
Join Children First for a report release and discussion on children and youth in Philadelphia, "A Decade of Stalled Progress" on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 8:30am at the School District of Philadelphia's Main Auditorium, 440 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. REGISTER HERE
Join Children First for a report release and discussion on children and youth in Bucks County, "A Decade of Stalled Progress" on Friday, February 28th at 10am at the Bristol Township School District Administration Building, 5 Blue Lake Road, Levittown, PA 19057. REGISTER HERE
Pennsylvania’s youth mental health crisis demands urgent action. Expanding mental health services, supporting families, and driving policy change—these are just a few of the critical topics that will be addressed at the upcoming Strong Minds, Bright Futures Webinar: Solutions to the Youth Mental Health Crisis. Join us for a powerful conversation featuring parents, youth, […]
JOIN US IN HARRISBURG SPRING 2025 MEET WITH YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE STATE CAN SUPPORT K12 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. SIGN UP NOW and we will handle making appointments with your legislators. For more information email: info@childrenfirstpa.com or call 215-563-5848 and leave a message to receive a call […]
URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Protect vital Head Start funding and support our most vulnerable children and families. Head Start provides crucial early childhood education, nutrition, and family support services that have a lasting positive impact. We are organizing a day of action in Washington D.C. on Friday, May 16, 2025, to urge Congress to […]
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Children First will be honoring Governor Josh Shapiro at our annual Celebration of the Champion for Children, and we are also proud to be celebrating our 45th Anniversary! We are choosing to honor Governor Shapiro on this special occasion because he has made education a top priority since his […]
Join us for this fabulous event!
Join families, youth, educators, health providers, and community leaders for a solutions-focused conversation on strengthening children’s mental health in PA. We are interested in hearing your experiences and learning what your community needs now to help children thrive. This is a free, family friendly event.
Parents and caregivers, join Children First for an exclusive first look at the policy recommendations that will shape our upcoming fall report on expulsion and suspension in early learning. The report lifts up the experiences of early childhood providers, parents, and caregivers—and advances solutions to disrupt the pre-k to prison pipeline by starting with our […]
Join families, youth, educators, health providers, and community leaders for a solutions-focused conversation on strengthening children’s mental health in PA. We are interested in hearing your experiences and learning what your community needs now to help children thrive. This is a free, family friendly event.
Join families, youth, educators, health providers, and community leaders for a solutions-focused conversation on strengthening children’s mental health in PA. We are interested in hearing your experiences and learning what your community needs now to help children thrive. This is a free, family friendly event.
Children First will be attending State Senator Art Haywood's State of the State townhall, where he will be be discussing the state of the Commonweath and taking questions from community members. Stop by our table and say "hi!"
Stop by and say "hi" at Wingohocking Neighbors Day, an annual resource fair and community celebration. The day features live music, food trucks, a kids' play street, and access to community resources like Children First. See you there!
Children First staff members, Stefanie Arbutina and Kate Fox, will present to the GRANDFamily Connections Provider Network on the status of kids in Chester County. You can register for this free event, focused on grandparents raising grandkids and kinship care. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7p0Zdb1ZRnYY-v3a1PAlGC9LfUkDdTrYNdaQh65YHtweUCQ/viewform
The Lead-Free Promise Project is pleased to invite you to attend the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Conference on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The day will include presentations and keynote speakers with engaging panel discussions addressing lead paint poisoning that still effects nearly 11,500 Pennsylvania children ever year. This conference will offer important information, updates, and beneficial […]
Stefanie Arbutina, Children First Director of Vulnerable Youth Policy, is a featured speaker on a webinar that looks at where we've been and where we need to go for children in the juvenile justice system. Children First is proud to join partners across Pennsylvania in the newly branded PA Youth Justice Alliance—working together to ensure […]
Join families, youth, educators, health providers, and community leaders for a solutions-focused conversation on strengthening children’s mental health in PA. We are interested in hearing your experiences and learning what your community needs now to help children thrive. This is a free, family friendly event.
Governor Josh Shapiro will present his budget for the Commonwealth on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 - a really big day for Pennsylvania. Coming to a screen near you... Children First is taking control of the airwaves after Governor Shapiro releases his 2026 state budget. Head to our live zoom link at 4pm on February 3rd […]
Learn how we can continue to work together in 2026 and 2027 to strengthen Pennsylvania’s early learning system for teachers and programs and grow access to more eligible families! Please join Children First partners in the Start Strong and Pre-K for PA coalitions for a special webinar focusing on: advocating for early learning in the […]
Join families, youth, educators, health providers, and community leaders for a solutions-focused conversation on strengthening children’s mental health in PA. We are interested in hearing your experiences and learning what your community needs now to help children thrive. This is a free, family friendly event. REGISTER HERE
It’s time to get our kids the mental health support they deserve. Ignite Philly is a Strong Minds, Bright Futures event that brings together students, families, educators, providers, and community leaders for an action-oriented evening focused on the future of youth mental health. The event will begin with reflections from three Philadelphia students sharing their […]