Congress Back Until July 4th With Senate on Aggressive Approps Schedule
If they keep to the agreed to bipartisan schedule, the Senate will clear out all 12 of the appropriations bills this month before they reach the July 4th break. Senators started that process before the
Three Child Welfare-Opioids Bills Part of Senate Package
On May 23, shortly before the Memorial Day break, the Senate Finance Committee announced a package of 22 bills, (including three on child welfare) that attempt to address the opioid crisis. The bill mainly address
Kinship Briefing on Navigator Programs
Shaquita Ogletree
The Congressional Foster Youth Caucus hosted a Kinship Navigator Programs Roundtable Discussion on May 23. Congressperson Karen Bass (D-CA), Congressman Tom Marino (R-PA) and Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) all offered remarks before the panel
TANF Reauthorization Passes Committee, Floor Vote Unclear
On Wednesday, May 23 the House Ways and Means Committee held at markup of their TANF reauthorization bill, the JOBS bill (HR 5861) with a final vote of approval cast the following morning. Chairman
Health Solutions For Families Affected By Abuse and Other Trauma
Shaquita Ogletree
The National Health Collaborative on Violence and Abuse (NHCVA) and Futures Without Violence sponsored a briefing last month, Health Solutions to Women, Children, and Families Affected by Trauma and Abuse.
The panel included the First
Youth Awareness and Prevention On Opioids
Shaquita Ogletree
On May 22, the Hill newspaper sponsored another of their series of forums on opioids, America’s Opioid Epidemic: Youth Awareness & Prevention.
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) spoke about her state having the highest opioid
Six Year of Shadow Day On Capitol Hill
For the past 6 years, the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth has hosted a Shadow Day on Capitol Hill in coordination with the month of May as Foster Care Month. Youth in foster care and
Senate Moving Forward on Appropriations
Last week, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair, Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) joined with Ranking Member, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to announce an orderly schedule to move all appropriations bills through their respective Senate subcommittees. On the
Kinship Navigator Funds Released
The Children’s Bureau has released instructions (ACYF-CB-PI-18-05) on how states can draw down $20 million in FY 2018 Kinship Navigator funds.
The $20 million was added as part of the March-approved FY 2018 appropriations bills.
TANF Reauthorization Likely Scheduled for Wednesday Vote
The House Ways and Means Committee has released for debate and vote a TANF reauthorization. It is anticipated that the vote will take place this Wednesday. The announcement of the latest bill came last Thursday
Administration Looks to Military Bases to Separate Children from Families
A report by the Washington Post last week indicates that the Administration is preparing to use of military bases to hold immigrant children who are either unaccompanied minors or are being split apart from their
House Republican Leaders Push Back on DACA
Last Wednesday, May 16, House Republican leaders, led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) warned off members against a discharge vote on DACA. He told members in a closed door meeting that was widely reported
HRC Releases Survey-Study of LGBTQ Youth
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released a 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report. The report is based on a survey of more than 12,000 young people aged 13 through 17. The survey was conducted in
House Appropriations Adopts Funding Cuts To Juvenile Justice
Shaquita Ogletree
A House Appropriations Subcommittee approved a fiscal year 2019 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill (32-19) last week. The bill contains $62.5 billion in total discretionary funding for CJS programs, an increase of $2.9
Congressional Briefing: Connecting Children With Incarcerated Parents
Shaquita Ogletree
On May 17, the National Prevention Science Coalition in partnership with the Office of Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) hosted a briefing, Connecting Children with their Incarcerated Parents. The panel included Dr. Jennifer Cearley, Oregon
Some House Republicans Push DACA Floor Vote
A handful of House Republicans led by Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) are attempting a long shot bid to force a vote on a DACA bill. The long shot is that they are using a seldom
House Committee Unveils TANF Reauthorization
The House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee held a hearing, “Jobs and Opportunity: Legislative Options to Address the Jobs Gap,” with the purpose to unveil a TANF reauthorization. The reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance
Helping Children of Incarcerated Parents and Children in Foster Care
Shaquita Ogletree
The Brookings Institution hosted a briefing for the release of the latest issue of the Future of Children, “Reducing Justice Inequality” with a policy brief – “Helping Children with Parents in Prison and Children
Dr Phil Addresses House Caucus While Committee Moves Opioids Bills
On Wednesday, May 9, Dr. Phil McGraw was the featured speaker at a briefing co-hosted by several congressional caucuses including the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, Congressional Social Work
CWLA Joins Groups Opposing DOJ Efforts to Remove LGBTQ Data
CWLA has joined several other groups in a letter and opposition to the Department of Justice (DOJ) proposal to eliminate some important new criminal justice data. The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) has proposed the
Administration Sends Rescission, Rumblings on Cuts in HHS
The Administration has sent up their package of rescissions totaling approximately $15 billion. The proposal, which must be acted on by appropriations committees to become effective, largely targets funds that have not yet spent. The
House Takes On Tougher Work Requirements in Range of Anti-Poverty Programs
With less than three weeks before the Memorial Day break, the House majority is preparing to use the less than 14 legislative days to flex their muscle with a range of new work requirements in
CWLA Joins Onto Opposition to House SNAP Legislation
The Child Welfare League of America has joined onto opposition to H.R. 2, an agriculture reauthorization bill that extends nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. The letter CWLA has signed
Administration May Be Succeeding In Reducing Insurance Coverage
The Commonwealth Fund released findings last Tuesday, May 1 that the increased health insurance coverage under the ACA may be going in reverse. There new survey indicates that the uninsured rate is now 15.5 percent,
One States Deep Dive Into Caseload Highlights Significant Re-entries
In March the Nebraska Foster Care Review Office (FCRO) issued their quarterly report that took an up-close look at children that re-enter foster care. In that closer look at the children and youth in foster