Our Vision:

Our nonprofit advocacy collaborative envisions a thriving and economically robust Connecticut, where no child experiences the debilitating effects of poverty. We believe that every child deserves access to basic necessities, quality education, and a nurturing environment that fosters their physical, emotional, and intellectual growth. We engage with lawmakers and policy influencers to promote and enact policies that address the root causes of child poverty, including income inequality, access to healthcare, safe and affordable homes, and quality education.

Our collective goal for the 2024 legislative session is to advance the following:

• Support permanent, refundable CT Child Tax Credit at $600 per child.
• Support No-Cost healthy school meals (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack).
• Expand paid sick days to support family economic security.
• Expand good cause eviction protections to support family housing stability.

CFECT Testimonials in Support of Legislative Bills for 2024 Session:

1. Just Cause Evictions: S.B. 143
2. Adjusting the State Budget: H.B. 5048
3. Connecticut Paid Sick Days: S.B. 7
4. Child Tax Credit: S.B. 36 and H.B. 5113
5. Funding for School Meals: H.B. 5510

Additional Testimony from Trustees and Community Partners

Just Cause Evictions: S.B. 143 (Trustee Carol Williams)

Organizations who have signed onto the End Child Poverty Now platform:

Access Community Action Agency
Alliance for Community Empowerment
Always Home
Castle Church
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich
Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity Eastern Connecticut (CHEO)
Child & Family Agency of Southeastern CT
City of New London, CT
Community Foundation of Eastern CT
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
Connecticut Fair Housing Center
Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
Connecticut Legal Services
Connecticut Network for Children and Youth
Connecticut Voices for Children
Connecticut Youth Services Association
CT Roundtable on Climate and Jobs
EASTCONN
Eleven+
Girls on the Run of Southeastern CT
Hartford HealthCare
Haven’s Harvest
H.O.P.E.
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern CT
High Hopes Therapeutic Riding
Higher Edge
Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern CT
Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy/The New School
Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation
Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut
La Grua Center
Mitchell College
Montville Youth Service Bureau
NAACP Norwich Branch
Northwest CT Community Foundation
Ocean Community YMCA - Naik Family Branch
Partnership for Strong Communities
Project Oceanology
Safe Futures
She Leads Justice
St. Vincent de Paul Place
States United to Prevent Gun Violence
TEEG
Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA)
The Arc Eastern Connecticut
The Housing Collective
The Riverfront Children’s Center
United Community & Family Services
United Way of CT
William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Windham Area Interfaith Ministry
Yellow Farmhouse Education Center