Clinton Foundation Launches New Policy Institute

The Clinton Foundation announced a new initiative on Monday aimed at aiding state and local governments in creating and implementing nonpartisan policy solutions. The focus lies on improving health outcomes, especially for women and children, economic security, and democracy. This marks the foundation’s first new initiative in over a decade.

The Clinton Policy Institute (CPI) has already commenced collaborating with political leaders from both parties, research experts, and those directly affected by the studied issues. Their goal is to develop novel solutions for long-standing challenges.

Rising costs, economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and growing pressures on our public institutions are making it harder for families to get ahead, said former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a statement.

CPI is expanding on its previous work with New York state by helping ban cellphones in schools. Although the institute wasn’t officially formed during this collaboration with New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration, the foundation saw value in the approach and chose to broaden it.

Zayn Siddique, previously principal deputy director of the Domestic Policy Council, will serve as the CEO of CPI. Jennifer Klein, former director of the White House Gender Policy Council, will take the position of CPI’s chair.

In New York, CPI facilitated the creation of the Teen Tech Council, allowing students to enhance the phone-ban program’s efficacy. Educators reported noticeable improvements in classroom behavior and engagement as a result.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on CPI’s Nonpartisan Approach

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly commended a CPI conference aimed at improving children’s lives as the best roundtable I’ve been involved with since becoming governor. Despite governing a predominantly conservative state, she found CPI’s nonpartisan problem-solving approach inspiring.

Governor Kelly, nearing the end of her term due to limits, believes that CPI’s approach to finding solutions for children’s and healthcare issues can effectively support state leaders with necessary research and resources.

Dr. Jerome Adams, former U.S. Surgeon General under President Trump, emphasizes the need for deliberate nonpartisan solutions. Health is inherently political, he explains, referencing issues like healthcare coverage and women’s health.

Progress in Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

CPI’s approach gained bipartisan support for tackling adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). An initiative, ACEs Aware, launched in California in 2020, seeks early screening and treatment of ACEs to curtail long-term impacts and costs. Through this success, states like Utah and Georgia, often governed by Republicans, considered Democratic California’s strategies.

This positive outcome encourages hopes for CPI’s methods to be applied in other areas, as indicated by initiatives led by the Clinton Foundation. Too many people have lost faith that progress is possible, Hillary Clinton noted. Yet, innovative policies being developed nationwide aim to strengthen families and communities.