New York City’s Efforts To Return to School Echo Across US
On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a plan to reopen the country’s largest school system this fall. With the President demanding all schools open, the New York city
Supreme Court Upholds Tribal Sovereignty
On Thursday, July 9, 2020, the United States Supreme Court in McGirt v. Oklahoma upheld the sovereignty of Tribal and Indian Country reservations under previous U.S. Treaties. The Court 5 to 4 decision was
Child Poverty Bill to Benefit Millions of Children
On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL), Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) officially dropped the Child Poverty Reduction Act (H.R. 7419/
2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released
The 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book released last week details how children are faring in the United States and in each state based on thee most recent data on key trends in child well-being
Lowest Level of Juveniles in Residential Placement
The 2017 Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement (CJRP), a biennial survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census on behalf of the Office of Justice Programs’ Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Children’s Bureau Offers Guidance on TPR and Adoption Assistance
In a June 23, 2020 letter from Children’s Bureau, Associate Commissioner Jerry Milner addressed state leaders offering guidance on addressing the termination of a parent’s rights (TPR) and on how to reach out to adoptive families
Help Non-Filers Get Their Stimulus/Treasury Re-sends 44,000 EBT Cards
For those people who lack bank accounts and other measures to deposit the rebate checks of up to $1200 per person, the U.S. Treasury has issued 3.6 million electronic impact payments (EIPs) more commonly thought
President Issues Executive Order on Child Welfare
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, the President issued an Executive Order (EO) on “Strengthening the Child Welfare System for America’s Children.” The
Appropriations and Next COVID-19 Package in July
As Congress gets closer to July, it will increase pressure on Senate leadership to address a fifth COVID-19 package. States are entering their new fiscal years on July 1, and
Advocacy for Youth in Congregate Care during COVID-19
The National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) held a webinar to discuss congregate care and group care for youth and advocating for connected
Columbia Study Shows COVID-19 Relief Holding Poverty Rates Down
A June 21, 2020 study published by the Center on Poverty & Social Policy of Columbia University indicates that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (PL 116-136), CARES Act (COVID-19 package number 3) has
House Subcommittee Looks at Child Care
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support held a hearing on the status of child
Supreme Court Rejects Trump Administration on DACA
On Thursday, June 18, 2020, by a vote of 5 to 4, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump Administration’s attempt to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Court case joined
Supreme Court Rules Against Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
On Monday, June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court struck down state laws that permitted discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation. The decision was a powerful vote of 6 to 3 margin
Help Non-Filers (Including Youth) Get Their Stimulus Checks
Millions of individuals and families could miss out on stimulus payments because they don’t know how to get them. Economic Impact Payments (EIP) –commonly referred to as “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebates”– are a key
Tackling Child Poverty in the Wake of COVID-19
As part of the Children’s Week activities, First Focus co-hosted a webinar on Thursday, June 18, 2020, with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and the Century Foundation to address how the COVID-19
Senate Republicans Introduce JUSTICE Act
On Wednesday, June 16, Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) introduced the Just and
CDC Data Indicates Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19
On Monday, June 15, 2020, the CDC released data on the impact of the coronavirus. Among the 1,761,503 aggregate cases reported to CDC during January 22–May 30, individual case reports for 1,406,098 were submitted
High Rates of College Homelessness Due to COVID-19
The Hope Center new survey, #REALCollege During the Pandemic, examined the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and school closures on the security of students’ basic needs. Findings indicated that 11 percent of students at
National Reunification Month
For a decade, the child welfare community has celebrated June as National Reunification Month. The American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law and other national partners created the National Reunification Month in
Help Non-Filers (Including Youth) Get Their Stimulus Checks
Millions of individuals and families could miss out on stimulus payments because they don’t know how to get them. Economic Impact Payments (EIP) –commonly referred to as “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebates”– are a key
Bipartisan Emergency Bill Introduced for Homeless Children, Youth, and Families
On Tuesday, June 9, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the “Emergency Family Stabilization Fund” (S.3923) to provide emergency relief to families experiencing homelessness and to unaccompanied youth, in
The Justice in Policing Act
On Monday, June 8, 2020, the Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA), Senators Corey Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Justice in Policing
House Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): What’s In It
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
Administration Weighs-In With Brief on LGBTQ Discrimination
The Trump Justice Department filed a brief with the Supreme Court on the upcoming FULTON, ET AL. v. CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, ET AL.in support of plaintiffs and in opposition to the City of Philadelphia