Children First

08/28/2026

Thank you, Dolly! Without you, millions of children would be left without the gift of reading. Your legacy will live on through our children 💙

08/27/2026

Children First works every day to make a difference for Alabama’s children and families! 💙💚

Through advocacy, raising awareness, promoting accountability, and shaping public policy, we’re working to build brighter futures for Alabama’s children. 🌟

08/26/2026

We’re so grateful for our board members who go above and beyond for Alabama’s children! Judge Johnson leads by example in all that he does!

08/11/2026

🥳REGISTRATION IS OPEN 🥳

Register today to attend, or to become a vendor at our 2026 Alabama Children’s Policy Council Conference!

Agenda will be announced soon! We can’t wait to share all that is in store for 2026!

Register today at www.alcpc.org!

Spots are filling up fast!

07/22/2026

Who We Are at Children First

06/30/2026

What a wonderful step for Alabama!

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday announced the state of Alabama’s participation in the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., in celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial. “Alabama is proud to be a part of America’s 250th birthday celebration in … Continued

06/24/2026

We would like to congratulate our founder, Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, on receiving an enormous award - The Clara Ester Award. If you know Chief Justice Cobb, you know her commitment to Alabama, Alabama’s children, and the underserved. Her life’s work has been to make Alabama a better place for ALL! Congratulations, Sue Bell!! We are so proud of you!

Read more below:

FROM JOSCIE CUTCHENS:

Classmates ,
As the Chair of the Conference Board of Church and Society I had the honor of awarding our very own Sue Bell Cobb The Clara Ester Award at Annual Conference yesterday.

The Clara Ester Award, presented by the Alabama-West Florida Conference Board of Church and Society, recognizes one individual — lay or clergy — who exemplifies the call of Micah 6:8: “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

This year’s recipient has spent a lifetime pursuing justice with courage, compassion, and deep faith.

As a leader in Alabama’s judicial system, she became a tireless advocate for children, vulnerable populations, and those too often forgotten by society. Through her work in juvenile justice reform, sentencing reform, and restorative justice ministries, she has helped transform countless lives across Alabama.

One of her most significant accomplishments came through leadership connected to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act, which dramatically reduced youth incarceration while improving outcomes for children and families. She founded both Redemption Earned and the Alabama Children First Foundation, organizations that will continue the work of justice for generations to come.

What makes this recipient extraordinary is her belief that justice should not simply punish, but restore. She once said: “I believe that judges use their power not just to fill prisons, but to fix people.”

That conviction has shaped a remarkable legacy of advocacy, mercy, and hope. Her pastor shared that “she is forever aligning her convictions with the red letters — Jesus’ words found in the Gospels. And that conviction has given her a grounding on which she invites everyone to enter fruitful conversations around justice, mercy, and grace.”

So without further ado, the winner of this year’s Clara Ester Award is… Sue Bell Cobb of First United Methodist Church Montgomery.

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. 🇺🇸

Their courage and service will never be forgotten. From all of us at Children First, we wish you a meaningful and reflective Memorial Day as we remember those who gave everything for our nation. ❤️💙

05/19/2026

✨ Big wins for Alabama’s children and families this year!

Thanks to the leadership of our state legislators and advocates across Alabama, these four key bills are now law — strengthening support for children, parents, healthier communities, and safer digital spaces.

From protecting children online to investing in early childhood development and cleaner public spaces, these policies represent meaningful progress for families across our state. 💙💚

At Children First, we’re proud to help shape public policy that puts Alabama’s children first.

05/11/2026

Our children and families deserve more from our state! As the article says:

“Limited access to high-quality childcare can make full-time employment more difficult, while fewer women in leadership roles may signal narrower career advancement paths. These challenges are especially significant for households balancing rising living costs with child-rearing responsibilities.”

Alabama should be a place where families thrive! We’ve got to do more.

Alabama ranks near last for working moms, but what factors are driving it? A new WalletHub study breaks down the biggest challenges.