DACA OK Until?
The Supreme Court, on Monday, February 26, declined to take up an emergency ruling on the President’s repeal of DACA that had been set to take place on Monday—today. The Administration was attempting to speed
Governor Offers Perspective on Foster Care
Shaquita Ogletree
On Monday, February 26, Governor Matt Bevin (KY-R) and Children’s Bureau Comissioner Jerry Milner were part of a panel of experts on foster care, adoption, and family law who shared their perspectives on how
HELP Committee Advances Kinship Bill
On Wednesday, February 28 the Senate HELP Committee took up and passed The Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act”. The bill, S 1091, has a dozen co-sponsors and is led by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). It
More on Opioids
Last week the President became the latest President to mark a top priority by declaring war on it. Mr. Trump declared a war on opioids saying,
“When confronting a crisis of this magnitude, the most
Senate Caucus on Foster Youth Examines Trauma Informed Care
Macey Shambery
On February 28, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth held a briefing centered on the future of trauma-informed care (TIC). Panelists included Amelia Franck, CEO and Founder of Alia; Chuck Price, Director of Waupaca
Congress Returns With Questions: DACA, Appropriations, Guns?
Congress returns this week for what will be a shortened session but it will be the first opportunity to determine how they will handle three front and center issues: guns, appropriations and DACA
They return from
Fiscal Year 2018 Mop-Up As Members Return
Funding for the current fiscal year expires on March 23. It is not expected to be a problem as that short term CR was designed to allow appropriators to allocate funding provided under the February
Get It Back Campaign Starts to Promote the EITC
Working with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, CWLA is joining with other organizations to promote the Get It Back Campaign. The Center regularly works on encouraging families and now some individuals to be
First Important Dates In Families First
A significant first step in the implementation of the Families First Act (read a CWLA description here) will come on October 1, 2018. Under the legislation the Department of Health and Human Services is
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, How Deferred?
One of the other issues confronting Congress this week will be what will be the next steps on DACA? There seems to be no path forward for the more than 700,000 DACA-covered young people. The
Bass Bill Would Improve Health Care Access to Youth That Exit Foster Care
Shortly before the President’s Day break, Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, introduced the Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act, HR 4998.
The legislation fixes a flaw in
If Children Are Our Future What Happens When Adults Fail To Protect That Future…
These are the victims of the Florida school shooting…just like before …as we are reminded by student and classmate David Hogg.
President Unveils 2019 Budget
On Monday February 12, the President released his first full fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget. It was released just two days after the Congress had passed and the President signed a budget agreement (PL 115-123)
Child Welfare in Budget
The budget proposes an optional block grant of Title IV-E foster care funding that could be spent for any services now funded under foster care, adoption assistance or Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and
SSBG is Still the One–Targeted for Elimination
Once again SSBG is targeted for elimination and without any doubt, such an elimination would hit child welfare in ways big and small as well as many other human service programs including those that effect
DACA Debate Collapses After White House Targeting
At the start of a Wednesday forum, sponsored by The Hill newspaper dealing with opioids (see below) one of the opening speakers was Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Before sponsors delved into the topic at hand
Get It Back Campaign Starts to Promote the EITC
Working with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, CWLA is joining with other organizations to promote the Get It Back Campaign. The Center regularly works on encouraging families and now some individuals to be
Adoption Incentives Depleted
The adoption incentive was created by the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) in 1997 and was expanded to some kinship placements because of the 2014 reauthorization.
States are awarded if they increase adoptions from foster
Opioids Forum on the Hill by the Hill
On Wednesday, February 14 of The Hill newspaper sponsored another forum on “Americas Opioid Epidemic.” Some of the featured speakers included Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman David Joyce (R-OH). In addition, participants heard from Surgeon
Congressional Baby Caucus: Invest in Language Early
Macey Shabery
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Chuck Fleishmann (R-TN) convened a Congressional Baby Caucus briefing on Thursday February 15. The briefing centered on how babies learn language, the importance of exposing babies to “conversational
Juvenile Justice Budget
Shaquita Ogletree
The Department of Justice FY 2019 budget request includes $229.5 million for the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Juvenile Justice Programs. Funding for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention has declined to the lowest levels
Congress Passes Deal on Budget, Families First Passes
On Friday, February 9, the House gave final approval to a two-year budget deal that includes significant increases to defense spending, some increased funding in key priorities such as child care and opioids, extends the
Family First Act
The Family First Act made it into the CR/budget agreement after the House inserted it in their slimmed down CR proposal. The Senate picked up the package. It is close to the version that had
Get It Back Campaign Starts to Promote the EITC
Working with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, CWLA is joining with other organizations to promote the Get It Back Campaign. The Center regularly works on encouraging families and now some individuals to be
Now What on Immigration?
Many members of Congress (especially Democrats) voted against the CR/budget agreement because it lacked a firm commitment by congressional leadership (and the President for that matter) on action on DACA recipients. Shortly before the vote