Growing Up Poor in America
A new Frontline documentary, Growing Up Poor in America, depicts three children and their families’ stories as they navigate poverty during the coronavirus pandemic.
Appeals Court Says Trump Administration Can Terminate Immigrant TPS
On Monday, September 14, 2020, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled by a 2-1 margin in favor of the Trump Administration to strip legal immigration status
Educational Stability for Foster Students During COVID-19
The ABA Legal Center for Foster Care and Education, the Center, and CWLA held a special member call on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, to discuss the education needs of children and families involved with
Senate Votes on Slimmed-Down Relief Package
On Thursday, September 10, 2020, the Senate voted 52 to 47 on a slimmed-down coronavirus relief package that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had released earlier in the week. The Senate requires at least 60
CR Likely to Be Adopted Soon to Avoid Shut-Down
While putting a relief package aside, both sides, through the chief negotiators of Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have agreed there will not be a government shutdown when the fiscal year ends of
Bass Bill Expands Dental Access for Youth in Foster Care
Earlier this month, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA) introduced the Foster Youth Dental Act of 2020. The legislation attempts to strengthen dental coverage under the Medicaid program for young people in foster
House Ways and Means Staff Report on Placement Discrimination Released
Last month, on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, the House Ways and Means Committee Democrats released a report led by Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on
Foundation Offers Guidance to Address Mental Health Issues During the Coronavirus
Last week the de Beaumont Foundation released a 34-page guide, Solutions for Local Leaders to Improve Mental Health and Well-Being During and Post-COVID-19. The authors state, “Researchers estimate that this pandemic could lead to an additional
Thirteen New Family First Clearinghouse Ratings Released
August 31, 2020
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released thirteen (13) more Title IV-E Prevention Services programs and services ratings for the Title IV-E Prevention Services in accordance with the
GAO Looks At Kinship Care and Federal Supports Across Country
A July 2020 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examines relative caregivers’ issues in Child Welfare and Aging Programs. The report drew on data from
Preliminary AFCARS Data Show Foster Care Decrease in 2019
The recently released AFCARS, Report Number 27, indicates that foster care numbers decreased in FY 2019. The report lists 423,997 children in foster care at the end of the federal fiscal year 2019 (September 30,
Recognizing the Dedicated Essential Workers in Child Welfare
New York City foster care worker Guy Bryant has changed hundreds of lives in the course of his career. But his commitment doesn’t stop at the office. In the last 15 years, he’s welcomed
One Quarter of Young Adults in the U.S. Seriously Considered Suicide During the Pandemic
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, new report found that during June 24-30, 2020, 11 percent of young adults seriously considered suicide.
How Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Could Help Local Governments
The House-passed HEROES Act adopted by the House on May 15, 2020, includes significant funding under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) that would
Child Care (CCDBG) and CAPTA Funding
On Thursday, June 4, 2020, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a companion to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) the Child Care is Essential Act that would provide $50 billion in child care funding as part of the
Increased Funding for Medicaid and Title IV-E
In the Families First COVID-19 emergency supplemental bill (COVID-19 bill # 2), Congress acted swiftly to provide a much-needed 6.2 percentage increase in the FMAP. The FMAP is the match level of funds the federal
The Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act
CWLA continues to support the Child Welfare Emergency Assistance Act (Brown), S4172, which now has 15 cosponsors, including 7 Senators from the Senate Finance Committee. On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced
No Movement on Next COVID-19 Relief
The Saturday, August 8, 2020, presidential executive orders may have delayed further negotiations since there have been no discussions on Capitol Hill with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly
Future of Next Package of COVID-19 Relief Bogs Down
By Thursday evening, August 6, 2020, some senators were leaving town as an agreement between the White House and Congressional Democrats bogged down with no clear path forward. A
House Bipartisan Bill for Additional Child Welfare Funding Introduced
On Friday, August 7, 2020, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) and Congresswoman Jackie Walorski introduced the, “Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act.”
Disparities in Release Rates for Black Youth in Juvenile Detention
A recent survey by the Annie E. Casey Foundation revealed that in response to the coronavirus pandemic, black youth detained in juvenile facilities
How Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Could Help Local Governments
The House-passed HEROES Act adopted by the House on May 15, 2020, includes significant funding under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) that would help state and local governments address current budgetary shortfalls.
SSBG has always
Missouri Voters Expand the ACA
On Tuesday, August 4, 2020, the state of Missouri voted to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). By a vote of 53 percent, Missouri citizens became the sixth state since 2017, forcing
2021 Appropriations
At one point last week, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, dropped a suggestion that maybe an FY 2021 appropriations bill could be attached to a final COVID-19 bill number 5.