The Children's Defense Fund is a non-profit organization assisting children of all ages, particularly black and brown children, living in poverty to achieve their full potential through a wide variety of programs and assistance initiatives that focus on the whole child. To succeed, children need stable homes, quality health care, ample nutritious food, good schools, safe neighborhoods, and access to resources and opportunities that enable them to reach their potential. But the fact is that for too many children, these basic building blocks for success are out of reach. The Children's Defense Fund tackles all of these fronts, championing policies and programs designed to reduce child poverty, give every child a healthy start, a quality early childhood experience, a level education playing field, and safe families and communities—with special attention to children of color, children with disabilities, children involved in the child welfare system and children involved in the juvenile justice system. The Children's Defense Fund workswith Congress, the federal government, as well as stategovernments, to advocate for policies that improve children’s lives. Knowing that changing the system takes time, The Children's Defense Fund also organizes several programs that have helped millions of children fulfill their potential through after-school programs, college scholarships, leadership programs and more.