New York Agency CEO Speaks Out Against Discrimination Waiver
On February 9, the head of New York City’s JJCA child welfare agency, penned an opinion piece in the Capitol Hill publication, The Hill, calling out an HHS decision to waive anti-discrimination regulations in child
RFK Resource Center: Probation System Review Guidebook, 3rd Edition
The Robert F. Kennedy National Resource for Juvenile Justice has just released the Probation System Review Guidebook, 3rd Edition to support the transformation of probation and juvenile justice policy and practice in your jurisdiction.
This new
House Members Call Out HHS on SC Waiver; Lawsuit Filed by Group
On Wednesday, February 13, 95 Members of the House signed a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar criticizing the Departments decision to grant a waiver to South Carolina from nondiscrimination provisions
CNAY: Champions for Change Youth
Each year, the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) honors five inspirational Champions for Change. This year’s event took place at the Aspen Institute in Washington DC on Tuesday, February 12. The recognition goes
ICWA Opposition File Briefs
On Tuesday, January 16, an impressive array of state and national organizations joined in support of Tribal nations and representatives in defense of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and last week the opposition
CDC Says Youth Tobacco Use Rising
Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report on the status of U.S. youth and tobacco use. The results were not good. The CDC found more than 1 in 4
Rosa DeLauro Champions Child Care Expansion at Baby Caucus
On Thursday, February 7, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, co-chair of the Baby Caucus and Chair of the House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee sponsored and moderated a Capitol Hill briefing on the State of Child Care in America.
DeLauro
CLASP Report Details Child Care Expansions and Hurdles
Appropriately timed, CLASP has released a new analysis of state efforts to implement the new regulations and funding under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). New CCDBG regulations are a result of a
House Committee Raises Concerns Over Family Separation
On Thursday February 7, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held their first hearing in the 116th Congress on family separation policies in regard to immigration enforcement.
According to testimony from the Inspector
Wyden Bill: Families Not Facilities Act
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has re-introduced the Families Not Facilities Act, legislation that CWLA endorsed in the last Congress and now in this 116th Congress.
• The bill prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from using
CWLA Endorses Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Reauthorization
Shaquita Ogletree
CWLA has joined a number of organizations signing onto a letter urging Congress to reauthorize H.R. 494, The Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program. The letter circulated by the National Juvenile Justice
Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act Reintroduced
Jay Williams
On Wednesday, January 30, Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) reintroduced the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act (S.274), similar to legislation he sponsored along with Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) last year. The legislation, which CWLA
Administration to Request Authority to Expand Discrimination Language
Building on efforts such as the Enzi legislation, a report in the Washington Post last week says that the President’s coming FY 2020 budget will request language to expand its authority to allow discrimination on
Guide Released on Assistance for LGBTQ Students
GLSEN has released a new school guide and national survey of school counselors, social workers, and psychologists (SMHP). The Supporting Safe and Healthy Schools for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Students finds:
The guide
House Passes Bass Bill: Putting Trafficking Victims First Act
Last week, H.R. 507, the Put Trafficking Victims First Act, sponsored by Congressperson Karen Bass (D-CA) passed the House of Representatives by a near unanimous margin.
The legislation addresses a need for expanded victim services,
Congress Back in Action
Most of January was occupied by the government shutdown and reorganization of a new Congress but as a result of the government shutdown initial legislative action including committee meetings and oversight were delayed. That began
Child Maltreatment Report Published
HHS has released the annual child abuse report: Child Maltreatment 2017. The numbers are similar to past years. For FY 2017, there are an estimated 674,000 victims of child abuse and neglect. The victim
Advocates Tell Congress Child Sexual Abuse is Preventable
Kylie Hunter
On January 29, the Committee for Children, Futures Without Violence, and the National Children’s Alliance held a congressional briefing to discuss strategies to prevent child sexual abuse. Panelist consisted of Delegate C.T. Wilson, Maryland;
Budget Committee Reviews FY 2020 and Potential Appropriations
Last week the House Budget Committee held their first hearing and opportunity to look at the FY 2020 horizon.
The Administration has formally announced it will delay the release of the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget
White House Drug Czar Releases Plan to Promote Broad Anti-Drug Strategy
James Carroll, Director of National Drug Control Policy, or “Drug Czar” released the Administration’s National Drug Control Strategy on Thursday, January 31. In announcing the report Mr. Carroll says that the strategy will require
Finance Chair Seeks Information From Olympic Committee on Sexual Abuse
On January 22, Senate Finance Committee Chair, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to the head of the United States Olympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland asking what actions the Committee has taken to prevent future
Heath Care Updates
While there was a slowdown in action on health care in Washington due to the shutdown there were some debates taking place in some states as far as the Affordable Care Act.
In Idaho opponents to
HHS Issues Waiver on Religious Discrimination
On Wednesday, January 23, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a long-delayed decision that grants a child welfare agency in the state of South Carolina a waiver from anti-discrimination requirements under Title IV-E
CR Extends Funding to Mid-February
Late Friday, the parts of government that were unfunded were extended through February 15. The continuing resolution (CR) maintains funding at 2018 levels so there are really two issues to be resolved: what level of
How Does the Delay in 2019 Affect 2020 Appropriations Issues?
It looks as if the third year of the Trump Presidency will start out for the third time with a delayed budget and appropriations process. The government shutdown means that the budget will not be