Social Services Block Grant
On Tuesday, Congressman Tom Price, the HHS-Designate went before the Senate Finance Committee for his second confirmation hearing and during a question and answer period criticized SSBG. During the hearing Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
DACA Not on Table in President’s First Actions on Immigration
Last week President Trump began to address some of his immigration priorities through several executive orders. So far he has not taken action on DACA or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The executive orders
Poll Supports Federal Funding of Contraception and Health Information
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy released a new poll that shows three-quarters of adults (including 66% of Republicans and 84% of Democrats) support Title X, the federal program that provides
Capitol Hill Paper Roils Debate on Human Services Cuts
A report in the Capitol Hill newspaper the Hill, describing dramatic cuts within domestic spending programs this year spread throughout the human services community last Thursday. The article, Trump Team Prepares Dramatic Cuts describes
Congressional Budget Office Calculates Impact of ACA Repeal
On Tuesday, CBO released, How Repealing Portions of the Affordable Care Act Would Affect Health Insurance Coverage and Premiums. A report that suggested a dramatic impact on people if the law is repealed without
HHS Releases Latest Child Abuse Report
On Thursday, January 19, HHS released the 2015 Child Maltreatment Report. In Fiscal Year 2015, approximately 683,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect. Comparing the national estimate of victims from 2011 (658,000) to
Human Services Programs That Have Expired Reauthorizations
With some proposing that we defund programs that have not been reauthorized, the Congressional Budget Office issues regular annual reports of how many programs have not been reauthorized.
Congress frequently fails to meet the window to
Sign On to SSBG Letter, Then Tell Us Your Health Care Story
Help Us Protect SSBG
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a vital source of support for your state ESPECIALLY for child welfare, domestic violence, elder abuse services, and other human services. Speaker Ryan has
Congress Moves Resolution on ACA Repeal
On Friday, the House of Representatives approved a concurrent budget resolution that sets up a reconciliation bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The resolution (S.Con.Res.3) was adopted by the Senate at approximately 1:00
Opioid Epidemic and the Repeal of ACA/Medicaid Block Grant
Evidence is all around that the country is facing another drug abuse crisis. Not surprisingly that crisis is impacting the number of children entering foster care. Child welfare will continue to be effected by increased
Listen to a Young Man Describe His 20 Years in Foster Care!
On Wednesday, January 11, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered—Youth Radio, broadcast a story about a young man who entered foster care at the age of one and who recently aged out of care at
Help Us Protect SSBG
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a vital source of support for your state ESPECIALLY for child welfare, domestic violence, elder abuse services, and other human services. Speaker Ryan has offered proposals to eliminate
Tell Us Your Story – Families USA
In an effort to collect stories on the impact of the ACA, Families USA is asking people to Tell Us Your Stories. Families USA has been a leader on health care for more than
Chair of Ways and Means Has Positive Words for Home Visiting
On Thursday, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee had positive words for the home visiting program. [the Human Resources Subcommittee will work on] “solutions to help more families climb the economic ladder
Child Welfare Workforce Center Taking Shape
The Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) is starting to ramp-up operations. The five-year project is intended to build research and best practices when it comes to the child welfare workforce. A consistent
HHS Secretary May Not Get Ok Until Mid-February
Next Wednesday Congressman Tom Price will go before the Senate HELP Committee for what will be one of two committee hearings. The hearing before HELP will be important but it is the Senate Finance Committee
Senate Jumps on ACA Repeal
By early afternoon of January 3, 2017 Senate Republican began the process of a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) introduced a Senate Budget Resolution (S.Con.Res.3) and debate began with
More Doctors Weigh-in On Not Repealing ACA Without a Replacement
In a letter addressed to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WS), Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other congressional leaders, medical groups representing approximately 400,000 doctors across the country warned against the repeal of the ACA. The
House Conservatives Offer Strategy for ACA Repeal
A group of conservative House Republicans called the Republican Study Group (RSG) offered up the American Health Care Reform Act.
The proposal includes tax credits and deductions that will allow people to buy their own health
Families First Act Re-Introduced in House
Last week Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI) reintroduced the Families First Act, HR 253. The legislation is identical to the legislation that passed the House of Representatives last summer. As a
House Rule Could Threaten Unauthorized and Mandatory-Funded Programs
In organizing the House last Tuesday, the House of Representatives agreed to a rule that could threaten the existence of programs that have not been reauthorized (e.g. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, CAPTA, Juvenile
Study Calculates a Loss of 3 Million Jobs if ACA Repealed
The Commonwealth Fund has released a study that indicates that the repeal of the ACA without a replacement will result in a loss of 2.6 million jobs in 2019 and 2.9 million jobs by
Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) Seeks Signatures/Support of Human Services
The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN)—a CWLA partner—is circulating a sign-on letter for national, state and local organizations to make the human services community voices heard. The letter states that:
“Expanding opportunities for low-income people
First HHS Secretary Hearing Scheduled
A number of cabinet-designees will face committee hearings this week in a prelude to committee and Senate approvals baring any controversies. Congressman Tom Price has been scheduled for a hearing before the HELP Committee on
Repeal Of ACA First Up, Medicaid Block Grant on List
The new 115th Congress officially starts on January 3. Behind the scenes discussion have been on-going on using a 2017 budget resolution (left over from last year) to very quickly provide the first budget reconciliation.
The