HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period 2021
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) created an emergency Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) that would allow individuals and families to apply and enroll in the
HHS Study on Termination of Parental Rights and Adoptions
Last week the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released, Freeing Children for Adoption within the Adoption and Safe Families Act Timeline explores how frequently states make exceptions to the federal
National Day of Action: Monday, February 22—Urge Congress to Pass the #AmericanRescuePlan
CWLA will be joining FRAC, the Coalition on Human Needs, MomsRising, NETWORK Lobby, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, First Focus, many other leading anti-poverty organizations, and advocates across the
Older Youth Pandemic Relief: Extension of Foster Care Services
On Wednesday, February 17, 2021, Foster Club and the Juvenile Law Center co-hosted another Older Youth Pandemic Relief. This session discussed the extension of foster care services provisions from the Supporting Foster Youth and Families
Democrats Formally Introduce Sweeping Immigration Bill
On Thursday, February 18, 2021, Congressional Democrats introduced a sweeping immigration bill. Unveiled by Representative Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), this legislation is based on the proposal announced by President Biden
HHS Reports Suggests Better Drug Treatment, Reduce Child Abuse
Last week the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released, Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder May Reduce Substantiated Cases of Child Abuse and Neglect. The report, which builds on earlier analysis
Emergency Broadband Benefit
Congress appropriated $3.2 billion for the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to develop a program to help U.S. households that are struggling with internet service during the pandemic.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount
Winter Storm Relief
Here at CWLA, we have been in constant communication with our colleagues in Texas as they face the
CWLA Celebrates Black History Month
Founded as Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, and in 1976 Black History Month became a month-long celebration to recognize African American history and culture in the United States. CWLA would like
House Assembles Reconciliation, Many Priority Areas Funded
Last week, nine House Committees acted on their parts of a reconciliation bill that will make up President Biden’s COVID-19 relief measure. Within the package are key CWLA priorities, including more than $39 billion in child
11 Senators Re-Introduce the Emergency Family Stabilization Act
Last week, the following Senators re-introduced the bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act (EFSA) S.220: Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Manchin (D-WV), Collins (R-ME), Sinema (D-AZ), Shaheen (D-NH), Schatz (D-HI), Hassan (D-NH), Casey (D-PA), Hirono (D-HI), Kelly
Dear Colleague Letter
Young people with experience in foster care have suffered significantly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supporting Foster Youth and Families Through the Pandemic Act was passed on December 27, 2020 as part
New Family First Clearinghouse Ratings Released in 2021
On Wednesday, February 10, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released four more Title IV-E Prevention Services programs and services ratings for the Title IV-E Prevention Services in accordance with
Kinship Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021
Generations United conducted a webinar on February 9, 2021, in collaboration with the Children’s Defense Fund and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. This webinar discussed the Consolidated Appropriations Act
Congress Begins Work on Reconciliation
This past week the Senate and House began to lay the groundwork for a budget reconciliation that could lead to the enactment of a Biden-COVID-19 relief package. The House began the process when it passed
President Biden Proposes to Expand the Child Tax Credit
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan includes expanding of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) with recommendations that the credit be made fully refundable and that the
President Biden Signed Public Charge Executive Order
On February 2, 2021, President Biden issues an Executive Order directing the secretary of State (DOS), the attorney general (DOJ), the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and the heads of other relevant agencies to
USDA Announces Updates to Pandemic EBT
On January 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it was increasing the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) by roughly 15 percent in support of President Biden’s call
#WhyWeCantWait: A New Deal for Youth
On February 4, 2021, CLASP launched #WhyWeCantWait: A New Deal for Youth (ND4Y) calling leaders in the public and private sectors to support youth-led policy solutions
HHS Secretary Hearings Likely in mid-February
The hearing and approval process of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for Secretary of Health and Human Services is likely to start in mid-February. The HHS Secretary-designate goes before two Senate Committees, the Finance Committee,
Wyden Reintroduces the Child Safety Act
On Thursday, February 4, 2021, Senator Ron Wyden re-introduced the Invest in Child Safety Act. The legislation, which CWLA has endorsed, was first
California’s Extended Foster Care and Youths’ Outcomes Report
On Friday, January 29, 2021, Dr. Mark Courtney, the University of Chicago professor and the Principal Investigator of the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH), reported an update of California’s Extended Foster Care
Senator Wyden Urges the Biden Administration to Reinstate HHS Protections that Prohibited Discrimination
Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) of the Finance Committee sent a letter to the Acting HHS Secretary W. Cochran urging the Biden Administration to halt the implementation of a Trump-era HHS final rule that would allow
Older Youth Pandemic Relief
Last week, several groups presented on the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act that passed in December containing the bipartisan Supporting Foster Youth and Families Through the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7947).
New FAFSA Policies for Homeless and Foster Youth
On Thursday, February 4, SchoolHouse Connection, Juvenile Law Center, and John Burton Advocates for Youth hosted a webinar centered around new FAFSA policies that affect youth in the foster care system.
Why does FAFSA matter for