Child Welfare League of America Opposes Redefining Child Abuse to Include Gender-Affirming Care
February 2022
The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) stands with national and local organizations in opposition to any attempt to redefine child abuse to include gender-affirming care for youth who are transgender or nonbinary. From
Children’s Bureau Releases Guidance for Serving LGBTQ+ Youth
On March 2, 2022, the Children’s Bureau released a new Information Memorandum (IM), Guidance for Title IV-B and IV-E Agencies When Serving LGBTQI+ Children and Youth.
The IM states: “The Department of Health and Human
Supreme Court to Hear ICWA Ruling
On February 28, 2022, the Supreme Court announced that it will hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) by taking up the Brackeen v. Haaland. The case is a ruling by the
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis Hearing: Child Care
On Wednesday March 2nd, 2022 the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing that highlighted “COVID Child Care Challenges: Supporting Families and Caregivers”.
Chairmen Clyburn (D-SC) opening remarks noted that “46% of childcare
Committee for Education Funding Webinar on Education Labor Shortages
On March 2nd, 2022, the Committee for Education Funding (CEF) hosted a webinar on Shortages in the Education Labor Force.
The webinar opened with the CEF Executive Director, Sarah Abernathy, discussing the need for
Affordable Care Act Increased Insurance Rates for Black Americans
With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the percentage of Black Americans who lack medical insurance has fallen significantly with the percentage of Black Americans who were uninsured decreasing by 8 percentage points from
Study Finds 5.2 Million Children Orphaned by Covid in Hidden Pandemic
The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health estimates in a new modeling study that more than 5.2 million children globally have lost their parents or caregivers to COVID-19 through October 2021, equating to 1 child
Primary Interventions Reduce Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence Among Youth
A new publication from the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends primary preventive services that reduce the perpetration of intimate partner violence and sexual violence among youth. Based on a systematic review of
Maternal Deaths Rose in 2020
According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of maternal deaths rose during the first year of the pandemic. Data from the National Vital Statistics System
Information Sharing to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Residential Facilities: GAO Report
Several stories of youth being maltreated by residential staff have recently been reported in the news. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on February 23, 2022, after being asked to review
Senate Finance Committee Continues Hearings on Mental Health
On Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, the full Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “Protecting Youth Mental Health: Part II- Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Care,” which continued the conversation and efforts of Congress
3.7 Million More Children in Poverty in Jan 2022 Without Monthly Child Tax Credit
Researchers at Columbia University’ Center on Poverty & Social Policy have been tracking the impact of the CTC on child poverty monthly. According to a research roundup on the first six months of the CTC,
Study Provides Evidence on the Effectiveness of Comprehensive Sex Ed
New research published last week on February 15, 2022, More comprehensive sex education reduced teen births: Quasi-experimental evidence, provided further evidence that comprehensive sex education does have an impact on reducing teen pregnancy in
Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) Releases School Nutrition Report
The FRAC released its newest report, The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch: A Look at Pandemic
and Pre-Pandemic Participation. This latest report highlights the efforts of locals schools and
administrators to make meals available to children
Finance Committee Begins Series on Mental Health & Substance Use Service Reforms
On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, the Senate Finance Committee started their series of hearings on mental health with Protecting Youth Mental Health: Part I – An Advisory and Call to Action.
This series of hearings will
Finance Committee Considers ACF, ACYF Leads, Emphasis on Families First
On Wednesday, February 9, 2022, the Senate Finance Committee considered the nominations to fill two critical positions at the Department of Health and Humans Services: the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the
FY 2022 Appropriations Update: Another CR But Deal Reached
Last week the House of Representatives approved a fourth continuing resolution (CR) with the hope that it will allow a deal and eventual enactment of 12 appropriations for the fiscal year that started on October
Impact of the CTC On Child Development Baby’s First Year Study
On a webinar, hosted on Thursday, February 10, 2022, new research, the First Randomized Controlled Trial of Poverty Reduction in Early Childhood, focused on the impact that cash assistance to families can have on
Vice President Harris Hosts Event for EITC/CTC Day of Action
On February 8th, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling hosted a press event for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income
Congress Kicks Off Hearings on Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Last Tuesday and Wednesday two key congressional committees began a set of bipartisan discussions on the challenges of access to mental health and substance use services. On Tuesday the Senate HELP Committee held their first
Ways and Means Committee Focuses on Mental Health Crisis
On Wednesday, February 2nd, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on “America’s Mental Health Crisis.” The full 42-member Committee heard testimony from:
Dr. Wizdom Powell (Director of the Health Disparities Institute and
Support for Pregnant and Post-Partum Women Who Use Substances
On February 3, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a series of new reports from the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) that “highlight how pregnant