Wyden Letter Opposing House Aderholt Amendment Enough Names to Block
On Thursday, July 25, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released a Senate “Dear Colleague” letter opposing the House Appropriations Aderholt Amendment. The letter was signed by 40 senators. There are some members who did not sign
Housing Voucher for Youth Aging Out Passes Committee
On Tuesday July 24, the House Committee on Financial Services passed H.R. 2069 the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act of 2017 by a vote of 34-23.
The legislation has been involved in some controversy over
Administration Reunifies 1800 Families 700 Children Remain
According to numbers released last Friday, of the 2551 children and youth ages five through 17 originally counted as eligible for reunification, 1442 children have been reunified with parents while 378 were placed with guardians
Appropriations Updates
The House has departed for the rest of the summer and will return the day after Labor Day. The Senate continues to work, including votes on appropriations at least through this week. To this point
ACA Update
The Administration last week indicated that they are continuing to consider new work requirement waivers for Medicaid. This comes despite a recent court ruling that struck down a waiver for Kentucky for their work requirements.
CWLA Submits Comments on Family First Services
CWLA submitted its recommendations and comments in response to the HHS request for comments on how to approach the issue of defining and listing services and programs that will qualify under the Family
CWLA Opposes Aderholt Amendment, Read How You Can Act:
Groups were coming together last week to oppose the Aderholt Amendment. The amendment was offered by Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) as part of the House Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill when it was debated in House Appropriations
Foster Youth Interns (FYI) Offer Capitol Hill Their Recommendations
On Tuesday, July 17, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute hosted their annual Foster Youth Intern (FYI) legislative forum.
The annual invent invites in a number of young people who have been in foster care and
Administration Struggles Toward Family Reunification with 2500 More
According to numbers released last Friday, of the 2551 children and youth ages five through 17 originally counted as eligible for reunification, 450 have been reunited. Another 954 had been interviewed and are ready for
Appropriations and Other Legislative Updates
As we begin the last full week in July the House of Representatives will be wrapping up this week and won’t return until after Labor Day. The Senate faces continued action at least for the
HHS Guidance on Family First Act
On Monday, July 9 the Administration for Children and Families released their first guidance on the Family First Prevention Services Act. The program instruction (PI), ACYF-CB-PI-18-07, was released along with the
• Children’s Bureau
HHS Releases First Guidance on Family First Act
On Monday, July 9 the Administration for Children and Families released their first guidance on the Family First Prevention Services Act. The program instruction (PI), ACYF-CB-PI-18-07 does not deal with the services component of
House Labor-HHS Approps: Religious Discrimination/LGBTQ Amendment
Last Thursday, when the House Appropriations Committee acted on their Labor-HHS-Education bill, Committee Republicans included an amendment that could promote discrimination in the placement and recruitment of children and parents based on gender and sexual
Administration Struggles Toward Family Reunification with 2500 More
As of this past weekend, it was unclear how many of the approximate 100 children under the age of five that had been reunited with parents. By last Tuesday’s deadline HHS was saying they had
House Appropriations Committee: Labor-HHS Bill Passes Plus Poison Pills
On Thursday, July 12 the House Appropriations Committee passed their Labor-Health and Human Services and Education bill after two previous delays. Most of the votes cast were along party line with a great deal of
HHS Opioids Study Looks at Economic and Geographic Trends
HHS has released a new study through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) on opioids with this one focusing on the economic and geographic impact of the drug. The
Court to Administration: Reunite Families This Month
On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana M. Sabraw, United States District Court for Southern California directed the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Control to reunite
Senate Appropriations Continues Partnership Grants, CAPTA Increase, Adoption Incentive and Kinship Navigator Funding Increases
Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee acted on their Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations and sent it on to the Senate floor for future consideration. On the other side of the Capitol
Senate Appropriators: HHS We Want Reports on Unaccompanied Minors
In the Senate Appropriations Report to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, the Committee directs HHS to provide monthly data and weekly updates on the status of children in HHS custody. The directive is attached to the $1.3
House Collapse on Immigration
On Wednesday, June 27, the House of Representatives put a final nail in the coffin of immigration reform compromise when the Goodlatte-Ryan bill went down to a big defeat by a vote of 121 to
Advocates Call for Congressional Oversight on Child Separation
A joint briefing by the YWCA and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation: A Report Back from the Border on Friday, June 29, provided a platform for advocates to call for congressional action. The panel discussion and
Young Victims of Opioids
Shaquita Ogletree
Council for Strong America provided a Capitol Hill briefing on “Caring for the Youngest Victims of Our Nation’s Opioid Crisis.”
Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) discussed the fifty-eight bills that were passed by the House of
Health Care Update: Judge Blocks KY Medicaid-Work Waiver
n Friday, the Administration and the state of Kentucky received a blow when a judge struck down the Medicaid work requirement that was set to go into effect on July 1. The ruling by Judge
Where and How Are the Children?
By Friday there were more questions than answers on the fate of immigrant families crossing the border and the children that have already been separated from those families.
First the President issued an executive order
HHS Seeks Comments on Family First Evidence Base
On Friday, June 22, HHS issued their first request for comments on how to approach the issue of defining and listing services and practices that will qualify under the Family First Prevention Services Act.