Florida Older Youth Discuss Transitioning From Foster Care
On Tuesday, June 11 the Senate Caucus on Foster Care and the Camelot Community Care held a youth-led discussion on “What’s next for me? Facing my future as I age out of care.” The panel
Appropriations Update: Progress in House, Challenges in Senate
The House began their debate on a package of four of the twelve appropriations bills on Wednesday. At the same time the Senate was signaling difficulty in starting their process as negotiations between Republican leaders
Over 100 Organization Call on Administration to Support Children in ORR Recreational & Educational Services
On Tuesday, June 11, more than 100 children and youth organizations, including CWLA, released a letter to the Administration demanding they maintain educational and recreational programming for minors in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities.
Senator Gillibrand Introduces the Every Child Deserves A Family Act
Thursday, June 13, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) – along with fifteen other original cosponsors – introduced the Senate Every Child Deserves a Family Act (S 1791/HR3114). It is identical to the bill introduced by Representatives
Spotlight on Child Poverty in America
In honor of National Children’s Week, on Tuesday, June 12, First Focus on Children, Comic Relief USA, and Child Poverty Action group hosted Spotlight on Child Poverty in America. The event featured Members of Congress,
Senators Introduce Bill to Make Adoption Tax Credit Refundable
On Monday, June 10, Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) announced they will introduce the “Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act.” The legislation will modify the current tax credit
The Effect of Exclusionary Discipline on Students
On Tuesday, June 12, the American Psychological Association (APA) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) hosted Exclusionary Discipline at the Intersections of Disability Identity, Race, and Gender. The purpose of the briefing was to review the
Strategies Designed to Prevent and Respond to Child Abuse and Trauma
On Thursday, June 13, the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention met to discuss prevention of and response to child abuse and trauma. The Council is responsible for coordinating federal juvenile delinquency prevention
Representatives Lewis and Gonzalez-Colon Introduces the Every Child Deserves a Family Act
On Wednesday, June 5, Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) and Congresswoman Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) introduced the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF). The legislation prohibits discrimination against children, youth, families, and individuals on the
Children’s Bureau Says New Guidance Will Allow More Flexible Prevention, For Now
A June 6, 2019 letter from Children’s Bureau Commissioner Jerry Milner to child welfare leaders indicates some broader flexibility in funding Family First Prevention Services in the initial implementation. The key part of the
Chafee 20 Years
On Thursday, June 6, the Senate Focus Youth Caucus and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (JCYOI) of the Annie E. Casey Foundation sponsored the congressional briefing “Chafee Plus 20” to examine the role the Chafee
House Passes Dreamers-Immigration Bill
On Tuesday June 4, the House of Representatives passed HR 6, the Dream and Promise Act by a vote of 237 yes votes and 187 nays. The vote totals included all Democrats and 7 Republicans.
The
Right to Counsel in Child Welfare Dependency Cases
On Tuesday, June 4, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth sponsored briefing on Right to Counsel in Child Abuse and Neglect Dependency. The focus of this meeting was to educate individuals about the importance of
House Approves Short-Term TANF Extension
As Congress returned on Monday, June 3, one of their first actions was to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant until the end of this fiscal year. The vote was not
Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Update
The House will begin to pass the first of the 12 appropriations bill this week. To speed up the process House Leadership has decided to combine 5 of the 12 FY 2020 bills into one
AEI Discusses Technology in Child Welfare
On Wednesday, June 5, AEI hosted the panel Big data, little kids: How technology is changing child welfare to inform participants about the lagging technology used in the child welfare system and present some
House Passes Bipartisan CAPTA
On Monday, May 20, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2480 – Stronger Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) by voice vote and now it heads to the Senate. It proposes robust funding increases
Supporting Foster Families in the Time of Opioids Through Court Teams
On Wednesday May 22, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and Congressional Baby Caucus sponsored a Capitol Hill briefing on “Supporting Foster Families in the Time of Opioids” The focus of the briefing was infant-toddler
The Promise of Adolescence
The National Academies’ report, The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development, health, well-being, resilience, and agency including the science of positive youth development.
Meet Karli, a Muppet in Foster Care
May is National Foster Care Month and Sesame Street released “You Belong” featuring Karli, a Muppet living with her foster parents or “for-now” parents Dalia and Clem. With over 600,000 children who will enter
Child Advocates Speak Out Against the Trump Administration Proposal to Reduce Low-Income Children & Family Eligibility for Federal Assistance
As a partnering member of the U.S. Child Poverty Action Group, CWLA joins child advocates dedicated to ending child poverty, stands opposed to a recent proposal being explored by the U.S. Office of Management and
Flexibility Remains After Waivers If SSBG Survives
While there is much debate in the child welfare world regarding the fate of expiring waivers for approximately half the states, a more significant source of state flexibility continues to be under assault in the
Family First Transition and Support Act
The Family First Transition and Support Act (HR 2702/S 1376) bipartisan cosponsored by Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE), Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-NM) in the House and sponsored by
House Judiciary Committee Approves Immigration-DREAMS Package
On Wednesday, May 22, the House Judiciary “marked-up” or debated HR 6 an immigration reform bill. The legislation was split into three bills for Committee action purposes: H.R. 2820, the “Dream Act of 2019”; H.R.
Trump Administration Proposes to Prohibit Mixed Status Immigrant Families from Housing Assistance
The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) proposed regulation would prohibit “mixed status families” from living in public and other subsidized housing. Mixed status families are households that include members who are eligible and others who