Suicide Rates Are the Highest in the U.S. Compared to Wealthy Countries
The Commonwealth Fund published a new report that analyzes health care data in the United States and offers a cross-national comparison. The report looks at how the United States compares to wealthy countries, including
Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Child Welfare Clients in Rural Communities
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a new brief, Challenges in Providing Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Child Welfare
Medicaid Block Grant Resurface For 2020
In the past week, several publications have reported that the Administration is readying a proposal to allow states to take a block grant of Medicaid funding. Publications, including the Wall Street Journal and Politico, are
Kellogg Foundation’s 4th Annual National Day of Racial Healing
On Tuesday, January 21, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation hosted the fourth annual celebration of the National Day of Racial Healing, which was established in 2017 to promote healing as a critical path for ending
Administration Issues New Rule on Faith-Based Organizations
On Friday, January 17, the Administration issued a proposed rule change on Ensuring Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations. The Administration argues that the proposed rule will provide clarity about the rights and obligations of
Utah Bans LGBTQ Conversion Therapy on Children
Utah became the 19th state to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy, the practice, aimed at changing a patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not recognize the practice of conversion
Children’s Bureau Released Family First Transition Act IM
On Wednesday, January 22, the Children’s Bureau released an Information Memorandum, ACYF-CB-IM-20-01, regarding new legislation passed in the Further Consolidated Appropriations Bill of 2020 in December 2019: Public Law (P.L.) 116-94 Family First
HHS Seeking Advice: Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
The Administration for Community Living is seeking input by Friday, February 7, 2020.
The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act, passed in 2018, established an Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. That Council is
Child Maltreatment 2018 Report Shows an Increase in Child Abuse
On January 15, 2020, the Children’s Bureau released the annual child abuse and neglect report: Child Maltreatment 2018. The numbers show an increase in the rates of abuse and neglect for the first time
AMA Study: Decline in Overdose Deaths in States That Expanded Medicaid Under ACA
A new study, Association of Medicaid Expansion With Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States, finds that jurisdictions that expanded access to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) had a six percent
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act Passes in Committee
On Tuesday, January 14, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved H.R. 5191, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) of 2019. The bill, which is a reauthorization of the
Congress Returns
Congress officially returned last week. Beyond the debate over Iran and impeachment, members used the week to prepare for the upcoming year that will include a presidential election, a debate over FY 2021 spending and,
Family First Transition Services Act Passes
On Thursday, December 19, Congress passed the Family First Transition Act as part of an omnibus appropriations bill this week. The further consolidated appropriations bill of 2020 (page 1483) is the appropriations agreement reached
CAPTA Gets Increases
As part of the budget deal, Congress provided the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) with some small but important increases that CWLA and the National Child Abuse Coalition sees as being part of
CWLA Submits Comments on HHS Proposed Rule Change to Non-Discrimination Policy
CWLA submitted comments to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources, Health and Human Services Grants Regulation on the HHS notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would repeal anti-discrimination provisions as implemented during
Series Finds that No State Follows All of CAPTA Requirements
On December 13, the Boston Globe and ProPublica released their findings on the first national survey they conducted on state’s compliance with the only federal child abuse law, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
Report Reveals the Foster Care System is Failing Older Youth
On Tuesday, December 17, NPR’s Steve Inskeep and journalist with The Kansas City Star Laura Bauer discussed the investigation of the outcomes for foster care children in America. The 7-minute interview, “Kansas City Star’ Probe
Post Examines Link Between Foster Care—Juvenile Justice in West Virginia
On December 30, the Washington Post in an article, “We are just destroying these kids’: The foster children growing up inside detention centers,” documented some of the ongoing problems in the state of West
Fifth Circuit Rules ACA’s Individual Mandate Unconstitutional
On Wednesday, December 18, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans struck down part of the Affordable Care Act provision, ruling that the requirement that people have health insurance was unconstitutional on
House Acts on Prescription Drug Bill-Vehicle for Family First Funding
On Thursday, December 12, the House of Representatives adopted HR 3, Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. It passed by a vote of 230 to 192. The legislation would create new methods to
Appropriations Negotiated Deal Could Happen This Week
With a second continuing resolution that extended FY 2020 funding until December 20, 2019 due to expire, late Thursday Senator Richard Shelby (D-AL) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) as respective chairs of the two
12 Weeks Paid Family Leave for Federal Employees
On Wednesday, December 11, 2019, the House of Representatives passed an annual defense authorization bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA), that included landmark provision on paid family leave for federal
Making Children A National Priority Platform
Last month, CWLA released the 2020 Presidential candidates platform, Making Children a National Priority, highlighting plans that focused on children and their families. Only two candidates, Julian Castro and Senator Kamala Harris, provided recommendations