TANF Block Grant At Twenty
Monday, August 22 represents something of an anniversary. It will be twenty years since the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, PL 104-193, more commonly referred to as “TANF.”
Study Shows Potential Expanded Coverage & Revenue For States Under ACA
A new study by the Urban Institute, The Cost to States of Not Expanding Medicaid indicates that states could leverage a significant amount of funding by expanding health care services through the ACA while
Could Budget Reforms Restore Appropriations In 115th Congress?
When the 115th Congress begins next January less than fifteen percent of Congress will include members that had been through a complete and on-time appropriations process. Depending on the election results, combined with announced retirements,
CWLA Holds Annual Conference To Address Substance Use
WE WILL BE BACK NEXT ON AUGUST 22–
On Monday, August 1 the Child Welfare League of America opened its annual 2016 conference, What Works for Families Affected by Substance Use, in Orange county,
Plenary Sessions Outline the challenges and Needed Responses
More than 550 attendees at the CWLA Conference were welcomed by opening remarks of Commissioner Rafael Lopez, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), HHS. Lopez offered praise to the many participants made up of
Families First Act Gets Attention At CWLA Conference & By Bill Sponsors
Talking about the need for greater access to needed services for families, on both Monday and Tuesday’s plenary sessions Commissioner Rafael Lopez noted the significance of the Family First Prevention Services Act, (HR 5456)
Discussion on Plans of Safe Care
The “CARA” legislation under title five includes amendments to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) regarding a plan of safe care for infants exposed to substances. It does not reauthorize CAPTA but
CWLA Submits Comments On Education-Foster Care Regulations
CWLA submitted comments to the Department of Education on proposed regulations of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) before the due date of Monday, August 1. The Proposed regulations,
Child Care Advocates Seek Funding While State Needs Waivers Due to Lack of Funding
–WE WILL BE BACK NEXT ON AUGUST 8–
During the summer break child care advocates will be seeking more child care funding in an effort to make progress on implementing the new mandates enacted through a
Details on CARA Act-Drug Legislation
The final conference report on the “CARA” legislation includes changes under nine titles. Its emphasis, unlike past anti-drug initiatives, is more on prevention and treatment. It is a distance from some of the efforts
Families First Doesn’t Get Vote As Congress Leaves
Wait Until September
Congress left last week to start one of their longest summer breaks in decades. As they departed they were unable to get final action on the Family First Prevention Services Act, (HR
Senate Adopts CARA Goes To President For Signature
On the last day of summer session, Thursday, July 14, the Senate approved the conference report on the “CARA” legislation and sent the legislation onto the President who will sign it. The vote was
CCAI Interns Offer Legislative Proposals to Washington Policymakers
On Tuesday, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) held their annual unveiling of their policy report. The report and the panel of speakers are the result of the 2016 CCAI Foster Youth Internship Program®
CWLA Endorses Bill to Coordinate Juvenile Justice-Child Welfare Link
On Wednesday, July 13 a bipartisan bill was introduced by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) to encourage coordination between state child welfare and juvenile justice systems in addressing the needs of
New Evidence On Effectiveness Of Teen Pregnancy Prevention
On Friday the Office on Adolescent Health (OAH) released the results of 41 rigorous evaluations on the effectiveness of teen pregnancy prevention programs. The studies, 90 percent of which were randomized controlled trials between
Families First Status Discussions Continue
Holding Pattern in Senate
Last week efforts to adopt the House version of the Family First Prevention Services Act, (HR 5456) (Conference Report 114-628) continued but success has stalled—at least temporarily. By week’s end
Coalition Launches Effort to Assist Homeless Youth Avoid JJ
The Coalition on Juvenile Justice has launched Collaborating for Change: Addressing Youth Homelessness and Juvenile Justice, a project with two main goals: to decrease the likelihood that homeless youth become involved with the juvenile justice system; and
Congress Works On Drug and Mental Health Acts—Includes CAPTA Changes—In Last Days
Squeezed in between last week’s presidential politics, the House and Senate were trying to work out final deals on mental health and drug legislation.
House-Senate Conferees agreed to a bill or conference report on the
Children’s Budget Review Includes Passionate Call To Address Violence
On Thursday, July 7, First Focus conducted their annual Children’s Budget Summit and released their new Children’s Budget 2016 book but it may have been the keynote remarks that captured the moment.
New York Times
House Subcommittee Approves Labor-HHS Bill
On Thursday the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) approved a bill that reduces spending below current year funding and attaches a number of
Families First Status Discussions Continue Later This Week
Holding Pattern in Senate
The Senate comes back mid-week for the waning days of the summer session. Plans are to depart by July 15 with no return until post-Labor Day. As a result, last week there
CWLA and NASW Join Together on Workforce Briefing
On Tuesday, June 28 the Child Welfare League America and the National Association of Social Workers cosponsored a briefing on the child welfare workforce. The briefing entitled, Let’s Improve Child Welfare Outcomes: The Workforce Matters,
Appropriations Update—Labor-HHS Subcommittee Scheduled This Week
Congress acting on an omnibus appropriations bill is certain. The only question is when they will pass such a bill and how long it will run.
There are days not weeks left before the summer break
House Passes Families First Child Welfare Bill, Senate Next Up
Bill Passes House
Before House action came to a halt in response to a gun-control sit-down protest, the House of Representatives passed the Family First Prevention Services Act, (HR 5456) by a voice vote. The