Reimagining Children's Rights in the US

Area of Science:

• Child Health Policy
• Human Rights Law
• Public Health Advocacy

Background:

• The United States has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), yet a child rights framework is crucial for addressing issues affecting children (aged 0-17 years).
• The Reimagining Children's Rights project (2020-2021) aimed to identify strategies for advancing children's rights and well-being within the US context.
• Expert input was gathered from youth leaders and professionals in health, law, and child-specific fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess strategies that could advance the rights and well-being of children in the US.
• To identify opportunities for utilizing a whole-child rights framework.
• To provide actionable insights for child health professionals and policymakers.

Main Methods:

• An in-depth environmental scan of relevant literature.
• Policy analysis utilizing the Three Horizons design process.
• Oversight by a steering committee and input from an advisory committee of experts and youth leaders.

Main Results:

• Seven key findings highlight current gaps and opportunities for advancing children's rights in the US.
• Identified actionable strategies include youth activism, governance innovations, legislative action, impact litigation, place-based initiatives, education, and research.
• The child rights framework is adaptable and unifying for addressing diverse child welfare issues.

Conclusions:

• A child rights framework offers a powerful and synergistic approach for child health professionals to enhance equity and protect children's rights.
• Partnerships with youth and leaders are essential for implementing effective strategies.
• The framework is vital for ensuring the well-being of all children in the US, irrespective of CRC ratification.