Unaccompanied Minors at the Border
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection released statistics on Wednesday, March 10, showing that the number of migrants attempting to cross the border every day in February was close to 3,500- which is a 28%
Trump Public Charge Rule Likely Dropped
Last Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the Biden Administration asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a case generated by the Trump Administration to enforce their changes in the “public charge” rule. The
Senators Introduce Bill to Focus on Reducing Child Poverty
On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the Child Poverty Reduction Act (H.R. 1588/ S. 643)
COVID-19 and the Mental Health and Substance Use Crisis Hearing
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing to discuss COVID-19 and the mental health and substance use crisis.
Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro
Senate Work on Recovery Package
After an initial delaying tactic by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WS) that called for a reading of the bill throughout Thursday, the Senate moved on the American Rescue Plan on Friday morning.
ACF Fails to Monitor States’ Compliance in Implementing the CAPTA GAL Requirement
Last week, the Health and Human Service (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a new report confirming that HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) cannot ensure that all children who have been
Administration Acting Quickly on HHS Vacancies Including Children’s Bureau
While the Senate has acted slowly on filling the HHS Secretary position two months after Xavier Becerra’s nomination by President Biden, important lower-level non-Senate confirmation positions are being filled.
Last week the Senate Finance Committee split
Many Other Critical Positions at HHS Filled
In addition to the Children’s Bureau, other critical appointments included Katie Hamm, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood Development; Dr. Bernadine Futrell, Director Office of Head Start; Cindy Huang, Director Office of Refugee Resettlement;
Open Enrollment Continues for ACA as 200,000 Sign Up
The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Marketplace Affordable Care Act (ACA) that opened on February 15 continues through May 15, 2021, as more customers are using the opportunity to get health insurance.
Last week, the Administration announced that the
Foster Parent’s Pandemic Poll Answers How Foster Families Are Coping
Fostering Families Today and the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) hosted a webinar on Thursday, March 4, to discuss recent findings from a survey they conducted. This survey was created to discover how foster families
New Family First Kinship Checklist to Aid Implementation of Kinship Provisions for Families
On Monday, March 1, 2021, the ABA Center on Children and the Law, Casey Family Programs, Children’s Defense Fund, and Generations United hosted a webinar presenting a new tool that lays out the necessary steps
AEI Panel Perspective on the Child Allowances
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosted an event on child allowances, presenting an array of arguments for and against, including
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Advocacy from California & Ohio
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, FosterClub, Juvenile Law Center with California Youth Connection, the John Burton Advocates for Youth, ACTION Ohio, and the Ohio Youth Advisory Board hosted a webinar on how to impact the
HRC’s Equality Act Campaign
Last week, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) held their first Project THRIVE Policy Briefing of 2021. Project THRIVE is a collaborative, national campaign to support LGBTQ youth. During the briefing, HRC highlighted the Equality Act’s
Senate Likely to Take Up Reconciliation Package This Week
Senate Democrats are hopeful they can complete action on the COVID-19 relief/reconciliation legislation sometime late this week. The goal is to have a package on the President’s desk before extended unemployment runs out on March
ACF Allocations Released for Chafee and Kinship Navigator Funds
On Monday, February 22, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded the $344 million in additional Chafee program awards to states and participating territories and tribes. Attached is an allotment table showing the
JooYeun Chang Appointed as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at ACF
On Thursday, February 24, 2021, the Administration for Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services announced JooYeun Chang’s appointment as the acting assistant secretary and principal deputy
Becerra Goes Before Two Senate Committees for Confirmation
On Tuesday, February 23, and Wednesday, February 24, 2021, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra testified before the Senate HELP and Finance Committees in order to get a confirmation vote before the
Biden Administration Moves to Remove Medicaid/Work Requirements From Court Docket
On Tuesday, February 22, 2021, the Biden Administration moved to vacate the March Supreme Court hearing to consider whether or not the Trump Administration’s approval of work requirements through Medicaid waivers is legal. The Biden
NASADAD Presents Early Intervention Guide: Reaching Youth At Risk for Substance Use and Misuse
On Thursday, February 25, 2021, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) presented their resource guide, Reaching Youth At Risk for Substance
New Jersey’s Experience in Providing Direct Assistance to Young People
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, Foster Club and the Juvenile Law Center cohosted a webinar to support state advocates successfully implementing funds from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This webinar focused on how New Jersey implemented
Former HHS Assistant Secretary, Lynn Johnson, Provides Advice for the Biden Administration on Faith-based Agencies
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the National Review Institute hosted Lynn Johnson in her first public conversation since leaving Washington. Lynn Johnson served as the Assistant Secretary at HHS’s
Administration Give Priority to Small Businesses for PPP
Last Wednesday, February 24, 2021, the Biden Administration opened a window of February 24 through March 9, 2021, for businesses (including non-profits) of 20 or less employees to apply for a second-round application for the
Analysis of State Economies Show Government Job Loss
The COVID-19 reconciliation bill moving through Congress would provide state and local governments with $350 billion in relief, and a new analysis by the Washington Post seems to demonstrate states will
Becerra Hearings This Week, CMS Nomination, More HHS Appointments
The Senate HELP Committee will hold a hearing on the selection of Xavier Becerra to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The HELP Committee is one of two committees