A Federal Policy Agenda for Children

Every child deserves
the same sky
above them.

Children cannot vote. They have no lobby. And despite everything American parents say they want for their children, a coherent federal policy agenda for kids has never been built. Same Sky is building it.

"Same Sky builds consensus among parents and children to advance a federal policy agenda that expands opportunity for every child to thrive."

Ask parents across the country what they want for their children — in rural communities and major cities, in congregations and community centers, at pediatric clinics and school pickup. The answers are strikingly consistent.


That shared hope is the foundation of everything Same Sky does. We are a national initiative housed at the Emory Center for Child Health Policy, built on more than a decade of listening to families.

A five-pillar agenda built on what families tell us

These are not political talking points. They are the consistent priorities that emerge when we ask parents and children — across every background, geography, and life experience — what their children need most.

Georgia Organizing Focus

Same Sky is launching its community organizing and policy work on food security in Georgia — bringing together families, faith communities, and policymakers around a clear, actionable agenda. Georgia is our proof of concept. Our national agenda covers all five pillars.

Child Welfare & Family Stability

Hundreds of thousands of children are involved in the child welfare system — often failed by circumstance before the systems meant to protect them. Same Sky advances family preservation, evidence-based treatment for substance use in pregnancy, and stronger support for children when families cannot provide it.

Firearm Safety & Child Access Prevention

Firearms are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the United States. Same Sky supports evidence-based child protection measures: safe storage laws, universal background checks, and crisis intervention tools that reduce access in moments of danger.

Food Security

No parent should wonder whether their child will go to bed hungry. Federal nutrition programs — school meals, SNAP, summer nutrition — are among the most effective tools we have. Same Sky advances and protects these investments while pushing for changes that reach families still left out.

Georgia Organizing Focus
Healthcare Access

Every child deserves access to quality healthcare. This is one of the most consistent findings across years of polling — a value held deeply across every line that divides us. Same Sky advances federal policies ensuring every child, regardless of zip code or family income, can see a doctor when they need one.

Mental Health

The mental health crisis facing America's children has touched nearly every family. Same Sky advances both treatment and prevention: expanding access to care, supporting school-based mental health services, and addressing the environmental pressures — including screen time and digital health — shaping children's lives.

Not a new idea.
A decade of listening.

91%
of Georgia parents
support free school meals for all children — yet the policy has repeatedly failed to pass in the Georgia legislature.
Source: State of Child Health and Well-Being in Georgia, Patrick et al., Emory Center for Child Health Policy, 2025
79%
of registered voters nationally
support candidates who back child firearm safe storage laws — with consistent support across demographic and political lines.
Source: Patrick et al., JAMA Health Forum, 2024
66%
of registered voters nationally
support candidates backing federalized Medicaid for children — including majorities across party lines.
Source: Patrick et al., JAMA Health Forum, 2024

Same Sky is built on a decade of rigorous polling and published research documenting what American families want for their children — and where the system is failing them. All data cited on this site comes from research conducted by our team at the Emory Center for Child Health Policy.

Pediatrics · 2020

A nationally representative survey of parents and children during COVID-19, led by Dr. Stephen Patrick, was cited in the U.S. Surgeon General's 2021 Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health — one of the most significant federal statements on children's wellbeing in a generation.

JAMA Health Forum · 2024

A nationally representative survey of registered voters found majority support for candidates backing child-focused policies across every area tested, with consistent cross-demographic support.

Georgia Child Health Poll · Annual

The most comprehensive annual survey of Georgia parents on children's health priorities. Published at childpolicy.org by the Emory Center for Child Health Policy.

A note on our data: All polling and research cited on this site was conducted by our team at the Emory Center for Child Health Policy at Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University. We are not citing others' work — this is our evidence base, built over more than a decade of listening to families.

We track what moves.
We report what doesn't.

Same Sky is not just a coalition statement. It is an accountability mechanism. Our policy scorecard tracks progress on specific federal legislative and administrative actions across all five issue areas — across administrations and election cycles.

Child Welfare
Tracking 2026
Firearm Safety
Tracking 2026
Food Security
Tracking 2026
Healthcare
Tracking 2026
Mental Health
Tracking 2026
The scorecard launches with our first national polling report in summer 2026. We will name what we are pushing for. We will report what has moved. And we will hold ourselves — and policymakers — accountable to the families we serve.

The Founding Document

Same Sky begins with a clear statement of what we believe, who we are, how we work, and what we are building.

Same Sky
Founding Statement

Emory Center for Child Health Policy
March 2026

"We build a federal policy agenda. We name what we are pushing for. We report what has moved. And we hold ourselves, and policymakers, accountable to the families we serve."

Contact Us

We want to hear from you.

Whether you are a parent, a policymaker, a researcher, a faith leader, or an organization looking to advance children's wellbeing, there is a place for you in Same Sky.

Partner With Us

Organizations, coalitions, and funders interested in advancing a federal policy agenda for children are encouraged to reach out. info@samesky.org

Media Inquiries

For press inquiries, interview requests, or data questions, contact us at info@samesky.org

Georgia Organizing

Interested in joining Same Sky's food security organizing work in Georgia? We'd love to connect. info@samesky.org