Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Research shows that over 54% of children suffer from one or more chronic health conditions including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, life threatening allergies, asthma, anxiety, cancer, depression, epilepsy, and obesity. This is a 400% increase from a generation ago. The best available evidence suggests that this rise in chronic illness is driven by toxicants in our air, water, food, and medicines. Children’s Health Defense works to identify and eliminate harmful toxic exposures, hold those responsible accountable, and establish safeguards so that this never happens again.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Restore Child Health
The mission of Children's Health Defense is to end the epidemics of chronic illness in children by eliminating harmful toxic exposures, holding those responsible accountable, and establishing safeguards so that this never happens again. Children's Health Defense engages in three broad program areas: scientific research, landmark litigation, and science-based education and communication.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of articles written and published on the harms of toxicants.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Please visit: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/kennedy-news-views/
Total number of educational videos created and published on medical freedome issues, children's health, and the dangers of toxicants.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Please visit: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/category/video/ Additional videos: www.instagram.com/childrenshealthdefense
Total number of free eBooks written and published.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Parents
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Ebooks: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/ebook-sign-up/
Total number of paid lifetime members.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Sign up at: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/about-us/membership/
Total number of social media followers.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Follow us at https://twitter.com/ChildrensHD https://www.instagram.com/childrenshealthdefense/ and https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensHealthDefense/
Total number of subscribers to Kennedy News & Views (our e-news magazine).
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Subscribe here: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/kennedy-news-views/
Total community outreach (individuals and families).
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Across all of our media platforms.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Children’s Health Defense works to identify and eliminate harmful toxic exposures, hold those responsible accountable, and establish safeguards so that this never happens again.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Children’s Health Defense has thousands of members throughout the US who share with us personal stories about the decline in their children's health and what they think might have been the responsible. We then engage our team of scientists, researchers, and advocates to dig deeper by combing through full-text archives of biomedical and life sciences research at the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine to determine if the parents' concerns are supported by research. When a harmful exposure is identified, we follow the precautionary principle and immediately educate the public regarding strategies to avoid these exposures through publication of informative and well referenced articles. These are distributed through social media, electronic newsletters (Kennedy News & Views), and on our website.
2. Once these exposures are identified we utilize health informatics data to further assess exposures to these chemicals and adverse health outcomes. If our findings support a causal relationship between the exposure and adverse health outcomes we identify potential sources of these exposures, those responsible for the exposures, and work with them to reduce and eliminate the toxicant. If necessary, we will utilize legal actions to protect children from further harm.
3. In order to establish safeguards so that this never happens again, Children’s Health Defense evaluates how such exposures occurred and what is necessary to prevent further occurrences. Depending on the outcome of our investigation, we work with industry and our governmental regulatory agencies to create necessary policies that protect children from these harmful toxic exposures.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Children's Health Defense has assembled a team of seven full time staff and a range of independent contractors and volunteers that includes scientists, doctors, statisticians, attorneys, writers, and organizers who work together to stop the epidemics of chronic disease in children through research, litigation, education, and public policy.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In the space of two years, Children's Health Defense has gone from start-up to a national powerhouse that is reshaping the legal and regulatory environment to protect children from toxic harms. We have become a leading voice in the legal community on the dangers of neurotoxic chemicals and other products, developed a wide range of educational materials, and built a vibrant community of members across the country. In the years ahead, Children’s Health Defense intends to stay at the leading edge by identifying and blocking the release of toxicants, holding corporations and government to account for their actions, and working with key stakeholders in government and the public to stop the epidemics of chronic childhood illness.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
-
With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Children's Health Defense
Board of directorsas of 07/24/2022
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Pace University School of Law's Environmental Litigation Clinic
Term: 2016 - 2025
Terena Eisner
Alix Mayer
Robert F Kennedy Jr
Katie Wright
Brian Hooker
Mary Holland
David Centner
Leila Centner
Tiffany Neu
Sheila Ealey
Aimee Rickabus
Michael Baum
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes