Clinton Foundation Launches New Institute to Advance Practical Policies for the Wellbeing of Children and Families

New York, NY — The Clinton Foundation today announced the launch of the Clinton Policy Institute (CPI), dedicated to improving the lives of children and families by developing, accelerating, and scaling common-sense policy solutions, especially at the state and local levels. At a time when rising costs, economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and growing threats to democratic institutions are making it harder for families to get ahead, CPI offers a different path: bringing together leaders across the lines that divide us, to find practical, effective solutions that improve everyday life for millions of Americans.

CPI’s work draws on Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton’s decades-long commitment to children and families, Dr. Chelsea Clinton’s deep expertise in public health policy and health systems, and an unmatched global network of world leaders, U.S. government officials, and advocates. This gives CPI a unique ability to reach the people who matter, and to forge the durable consensus that turns good ideas into lasting policy. 

Grounded in the belief that it takes a village to give every child a fair shot, CPI’s work focuses on issues that are foundational to whether our children and families can flourish:

• Children’s wellbeing – ensuring all children have equitable opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive.
• Family economic security – helping families build financial stability, lower costs, and create pathways to opportunity.
• Women and children’s health – protecting and expanding access to care that women, children, and families need, when they need it.
• Democracy and civic resilience – strengthening the democratic institutions and civic infrastructure that families depend on to make government work for them.

The Clinton Policy Institute will be led by Chief Executive Officer Zayn Siddique, a policy leader with deep experience turning ambitious ideas for children and families into real results. As Principal Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Siddique led the development of the most comprehensive executive order to make child care and family care more affordable and accessible. He also led White House efforts to reform the student loan system, protect access to SNAP benefits, and develop the first-ever White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights.  Jennifer Klein, former Assistant to the President and the Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, will serve as the Chair of the Clinton Policy Institute, building on her long history advancing women’s human rights, safety and security, health, and economic opportunity to guide CPI.

“Too many families are struggling with challenges that government should be helping to solve — and too many leaders have good ideas but lack the support to make them real,” said Siddique. “That’s the gap CPI exists to close. We’re already working with states on policies that are making a concrete difference: keeping phones out of classrooms so kids can learn, protecting children from the harms of social media and AI, protecting access to vaccines and improving health outcomes for mothers and babies, helping workers build wealth through employee ownership, and ensuring that the institutions families depend on still work for them. These aren’t partisan issues — they’re the things families actually need. And there are leaders across the country ready to act on them.”

This new initiative builds on President Clinton’s lifetime of work in public service to forge consensus and improve people’s lives, Secretary Clinton’s decades of work on children and families, and Dr. Clinton’s public health expertise. CPI’s work is focused on:

• Identifying gaps in the policy landscape and elevating the ideas best positioned to fill them;
• Developing original research, practical playbooks, and implementation guides that leaders can put to work;
• Convening leaders across government, civil society, and the private sector to forge durable coalitions around the most promising solutions and build relationships over time;
• Mobilizing trusted voices and providing technical assistance to state and local leaders ready to act;
• Scaling state-level innovation into future federal policy solutions; and
• Imagining a future that provides opportunity for all of America’s children and families.

CPI is the Foundation’s first new initiative in over a decade, and the first specifically dedicated to advancing domestic public policy. While expanding the Foundation’s work into a new arena, CPI represents a natural evolution of its mission: fostering collaboration, advancing practical solutions, and building partnerships that improve lives.

CPI joins other pathbreaking programs at the Clinton Foundation including the Clinton Global Initiative, which convenes global leaders to take action on the world’s most pressing challenges; the Clinton Presidential Center, which advances opportunity, civic engagement, and leadership; Too Small to Fail, which provides families with early language and learning opportunities; and the Overdose Response Network, which equips communities with evidence-based tools to prevent overdoses and save lives. The Foundation has also served as an incubator for global and national development organizations, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which has expanded access to lifesaving medicines for more than 21 million people worldwide; and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which has helped more than 31 million children lead healthier lives. 

About the Clinton Foundation

The Clinton Foundation works to create economic opportunity, improve public health, inspire civic engagement and service, and help communities address the effects of climate change. Since 2001, the Foundation has brought together businesses, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals to improve lives around the world through collaboration and partnership.

Leaders on the Launch of the Clinton Policy Institute

“I’ve been proud to work alongside Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton over the years, and I’ve seen firsthand her unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children and families,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Every family should be able to raise healthy, safe, and successful children, and the government has a responsibility to help create conditions for them to thrive in. It excites me to know that Secretary Clinton is bringing that lifelong commitment to the Clinton Policy Institute, which is helping leaders share practical, proven solutions that strengthen communities and give every child the opportunity to succeed.” 

“The Clinton Policy Institute was founded with a simple yet urgent mission: help public leaders turn proven ideas into better outcomes for the people they serve,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “CPI will play a vital role in helping public servants of all regions, parties, and levels of government learn from one another, scale what works, and build the partnerships they need to put good policy into practice.”  

“The Clinton Policy Institute’s commitment to restoring confidence in vaccines and evidence-based public health policies will help protect children, strengthen communities, and reinforce public trust in science,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. “Vaccines remain one of the most effective public health tools ever developed in preventing disease, saving lives, and protecting communities. Ensuring that families have access to accurate scientific information and routine immunizations requires the sustained leadership, trusted partnerships, and sound public policy that CPI is building.” 

“Secretary Clinton has long made the case that strong families – and a strong economy – depend on accessible and affordable care,” said Ai-jen Poo. “The Clinton Policy Institute is bringing leaders together across sectors to develop and implement effective policies to ensure that families, workers, and the caregivers they depend on have the support they need to not only survive, but also thrive.”  

“Economic security begins with practical policies that address rising costs and help families build financial stability and prepare for the future,” said Lael Brainard. “Many of the most effective ideas are emerging from states and local communities, where leaders are responding directly to the challenges families face every day. By helping identify what works, fostering collaboration, and equipping policymakers with practical tools, the Clinton Policy Institute is helping to bolster economic opportunities and improve outcomes for families across the country.”  

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton over the years because we share a belief that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, safe, and able to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. “A child’s health and future are shaped long before they enter a doctor’s office or a classroom. The policies we choose today can reduce the effects of early adversity, support families, and create healthier communities for generations to come. The Clinton Policy Institute is bringing together leaders across healthcare, education, and government to translate evidence into practical policies that help every child thrive.” 

“Strong economies and strong democracies depend on institutions willing to tackle our biggest challenges with both ambition and pragmatism,” said Lynn Forester de Rothschild, the Founder and Chair of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism. “The Clinton Policy Institute represents an important investment in the future of American policymaking, bringing together leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance solutions that expand opportunity, broaden prosperity, and strengthen the social contract between business and society. We are honored to partner with CPI as it helps shape the next generation of policy innovation, through our support for the permanent ‘Sir Evelyn de Rothschild Fellowship for Inclusive Capitalism’ at CPI.” 

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