The Budget, the Wall and What Else
It is unclear how much the lame-duck Congress will accomplish in the last legislative days of the 115th Congress. Funding does run out for Homeland Security and the Justice Department and there will need to
State Initiatives Expand the ACA Coverage, Governors Could Add More
Election day brought about one of the biggest single day state expansions of the ACA with voters in three states approving Medicaid expansion under the ACA and some new governors could push for more after
Ninth Circuit Court Upholds DACA
On Thursday, November 8, the Ninth Circuit Court in California left in place a nationwide injunction keeping the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program alive. The Court, responding to an action led by the
CWLA President’s Statement on Synagogue Violence
On Monday October 29, CWLA President & CEO Chris James-Brown issued the following statement on the recent shootings in Pittsburg and related violence:
“CWLA joins the country in mourning the tragedy of this past weekend’s
CWLA Submits Comments Opposing Flores Regulation
On Monday, October 29, CWLA submitted comments on the Administration’s proposed regulation that would overturn or supersede the 1997 Flores settlement.
On Friday, September 7, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health
District Court Ruling Threatens ICWA
On October 4, a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Brackeen V Zinke, Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is unconstitutional in its
New Survey Shows Decreased Supply of Foster Homes
A new survey by the Chronical of Social Change indicates that the number of foster family homes may be declining while the number of relative homes is up. According to the second such yearly
Low Wage Workers and the Role of Anti-Poverty Programs
Shaquita Ogleetree
On October 15, the Hamilton Project, the Brookings Institution and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities co-hosted a forum to explore work requirements and the role of anti-poverty programs. The Hamilton Project released
Senate Clean-Up As House Exits
In between the fight over the Supreme Court, the Senate passed a few bills that the House had sent over before they exited Washington the week before. The House has adjourned until November 13, 2018.
New Report Grades States on Access to Mental Health
On Wednesday, October 3, a new report was released, Evaluating State Mental Health and Addiction Parity Statutes: A Technical Report, ranking the fifty states A through F on whether or not they are providing
Details on SUPPORT Act (Opioids Legislation)
The Senate approved the Substance Use–Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act’’ or the ‘‘SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act’’ or HR 6 on Wednesday, October 3 by
Panel Discusses Progress on Education and Children in Foster Care
Shaquita Ogletree
On Monday, October 1, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth held a congressional briefing to discuss the Every Student Success Act (ESSA) and School Stability for Foster Youth. According to the most recent report
Budget Summit on Children
Shaquita Ogletree
On Thursday, October 4, First Focus hosted their annual event, Children’s Budget Summit to discuss the findings in the Children’s Budget 2018 report. The report captures and analyzes historical funding data and spending trends
Congress OKs Appropriations, President Signs
Last week the House of Representatives approved the Defense and Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (HR 6157) by a vote of 361 to 61. The President signed the legislation on Friday afternoon. By doing that he
Puerto Rico Looking For Help for Families and Children One Year Later
On Tuesday, September 23, a number of panelists addressed a Capitol Hill crowd on, One Year after Maria: How Children in Puerto Rico are Faring One Year After. The discussion highlighted how Hurricane Maria, one
Medicaid for Former Foster Youth to Age 26 Gets Fixed, So Does JJ Medicaid
The agreed to legislation on opioids (see below), HR 6, fixes a glitch in the ACA that mandates that any young person that ages out of foster care is covered by Medicaid to age 26.
New Foundation Seeks to Address Child Abuse Prevention
The National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect held a press conference on Tuesday, September 25, at the National Press Club to announce their formation and the kick off of their campaign to take
Capitol Hill Briefing Exposes the Problems Created By Gender Discrimination
CWLA joined a number of groups including American Unity Fund, Family Equality Council, FosterClub, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National Association of Social Workers, PFLAG National and Voice for Adoption to sponsor a Senate and
One More Step on Appropriations
The Senate ended last week’s session early due to the delayed committee vote on the Supreme Court vacancy, but before they departed on Tuesday they gave final approval of a Defense and Labor-HHS-Education appropriations package.
Subcommittee Releases Hearing Question and Transcript on Family First Act
Last Thursday, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources posted a transcript of the July 24, hearing update on implementation of the Family First Act along with a joint letter highlighting a
Adoption-Kinship Incentive Funds Released: Largest Ever
Last week, HHS released data on the Adoption-Kinship Incentives awards for FY 2018 (based on FY 2017 data) and the total awarded was $64 million. The $64 million is the largest awards ever provided
IG Report: Treatment Planning & Medication Monitoring Lacking Foster Care
A new report by the HHS Inspector General (IG), released last week, Treatment Planning and Medication Monitoring Were Lacking for Children in Foster Care Receiving Psychotropic Medication was critical of health care services and
NIH Focus: Alcohol Use Disorder Still Significant Issue
Shaquita Ogletree
The NIH hosted a special screening on Tuesday, September 18, in Washington on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) based on an HBO Documentary, Risky Drinking. The documentary is a product of Oscar and Emmy winner
Fate of Farm Bill May Wait For Lame-Duck Session
Negotiations continued last week on the farm bill with the houses divided. Its possible Congress could delay a final deal until a post-election “lame-duck” session. (Lame duck because several legislators will be at the end