Congress Breaks, Budget-Appropriations Path Unclear
The House of Representatives joined the Senate in a Spring break this past Wednesday with a great deal of uncertainty on how Congress will move forward on appropriations. There still is no agreement between Speaker
House Members Introduce Safe Care-CAPTA Bill
Last week a bipartisan group of House Members joined in on the effort to address the substance abuse-child welfare issue when they introduced a bill to amend CAPTA. The bill address the safe care plans
CWLA Continues Annual EITC Outreach
CWLA continues to join the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to conduct an annual tax credit outreach initiative to provide updated information and outreach tools to organizations that can help spread the message about refundable tax credits
Groups Highlight Immigration and Unaccompanied Minors
By Dusty Murphy
On Wednesday, March 23 a number of groups including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), First Focus, National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) held a briefing on
Commission Releases Final Report On Child Fatalities
On March 17, the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) released its final report, “Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities.” Of key emphasis the
House Committee Adopts ICPC Bill In Bipartisan Move While………
Before consideration of more partisan issues, the House Ways and Means Committee passed in bipartisan fashion a bill that will make improvements in the interstate placement of children, HR 4472.
CWLA has endorsed legislation, The Modernizing
…Same Committee Votes To Eliminate SSBG In Partisan Move
After the ICPC vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill HR 4724 that would eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). The vote and the bill was part of a strategy to
Senate HELP Committee Adopts Amendments To CAPTA, Safe Care
As part of the Senate HELP Committee’s debate of a mental health reform measure (see below), senators also endorsed S 2687, the Plan of Safe Care Improvements Act.
The legislation, introduced by Senator Bob Casey
House Committee Questions Enforcement of CAPTA Assurances
While the Senate HELP Committee was debating mental health legislations and amendments to CAPTA, on Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce used testimony from Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia
HELP Committee Takes Up Mental Health, Amends CAPTA
On Wednesday, March 16 the Senate HELP Committee passed out of committee S 2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016. The bill taken up was based on a staff discussion draft.
In prepared remarks
Senate Finishes Debate on Drug Bill, The CARA Act
The Senate finished its work on S 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), when it approved the legislation on Thursday by a vote of 94 to 1. The bill was introduced by
Senate HELP Takes Up Mental Health, Safe Care Plans in CAPTA
On Wednesday, March 16 the Senate HELP Committee will take up a major draft bill to strengthen mental health services in the United States. The committee will also address other legislation, including an amendment to
House Budget Attempts Include Elimination SSBG, Senate Budget on Hold
In an effort to garner enough conservative Republican votes, House leadership is pushing a strategy this week that would enact cuts to mandatory and entitlement programs including the elimination of SSBG through legislation by
How One State’s Child Welfare Gets Devastated By SSBG Elimination
The criticism of SSBG leveled by some members of Congress and even a few advocates in recent years has been that it lacks accountability and outcomes. One legislative committee report described it as “no-strings-attached slush
CASA and CAC’s Ask Congress For Continued Support
By Dusty Murphy
On Tuesday, March 8, the Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) held a briefing to highlight the importance of their two programs and the need for full
Court Upholds Requirement To Recognize Another State’s Adoption Laws
On Monday, March 7, the United States Supreme Court in E.L v E.L. upheld the requirement that one state has to recognize the adoption of a child under another state’s law. In a somewhat
New Poverty Data-Center Available On-Line
The Center on American Progress has released a new website, TalkPoverty.org that includes a number of tools that can provide an in-depth analysis and educational resource about poverty in America. The site is actually
Senate Debates Drugs–CARA Act
Following up on last week’s Finance Committee hearing on the increasing prescription drug/heroin use, the United States Senate spent last week’s floor debate on consideration of S 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
Senate Bill Matches House Legislation To Improve Interstate Placements
Last week CWLA endorsed legislation that will improve the interstate placement of children in child welfare. The legislation called The Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act was introduced in both houses
Flint Assistance, Progress and Delay
On Thursday, March 3 the Administration through the Department of Health and Human Services announced they were expanding Medicaid coverage to pregnant women and children beyond what the current Medicaid coverage allows. The announcement by
Holding Pattern On House Budget Plan
Last week there was no breakthrough on how leadership will move a budget resolution. The public optimism of House leadership has not won over enough conservatives who still want to lower the budget caps agreed
Senate Committee Hold Hearing on Substance Abuse Issues
On Tuesday, February 23 the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the prescription drug to heroin addiction issue. The hearing highlights the continued intense interest within Congress on the issue of heroin and opioids
Separate Legislation Introduced To Extend PSSF/Substance Abuse Grants
While the Finance Committee was holding a hearing on opioids and heroin, two key senators, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), were introducing a bill to reauthorize the $20 million
Judges Outline Approaches To Improve Juvenile Justice
On Tuesday, February 23 the National Council of Juvenile Family Court judges sponsored a Capitol Hill briefing to highlight juvenile justice issues. The briefing included a panel discussion that was led by Dr. Sean Marsh
Groups Discuss Anti-Trafficking Strategies
–Dusty Murphy, CWLA
On February 24, 2016, Representatives Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) sponsored a briefing, “Reducing Demand for American Children Trafficked for Sex: King County, WA as a National Model.” Briefing panelists included