Foster Care Numbers Increase By 14,000 in 2014
New annual data from HHS indicates that the number of children in foster care increased by more than 14,000 children in federal fiscal year 2014. According to the annual HHS report, the number of children
Congress Attempts CR This Week, Boehner Surprise Alters Outcome
With limited action last week beyond the Pope’s visit to Washington and Congress, the status of a government shutdown looked less clear until Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) surprise announcement that he will be leaving both
Wyden-Hatch Resolution Recognizes September as Kinship Care Month:
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have introduced a Senate Resolution recognizing September as National Kinship Care Month. The resolution builds on the effort by several states to also set-aside the
CAPTA Funding Cut-Off One Of The Challenges For One State
This past week Montana Governor Steve Bullock announced a plan to improve child protection and child welfare services. The announcement comes against a backdrop of increasing state foster care numbers and a threat by HHS
Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities Deliberating
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities has been holding a series of deliberation calls to settle on recommendations that have the potential to be wide ranging in their impact on
Budget Showdown Continues
With the government nine days away from running out of funding, by week’s end the only clarity in Congress was a lack of clarity. Congress will end legislative action this week after Tuesday with time
GAO Issues Report on Adoptions and Unregulated Custody Transfers
Last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on the issue of unregulated custody transfers what some in the news media have labeled as “rehoming.” The GAO report, Steps Have Been Taken
Poverty Numbers Remain Unchanged
The poverty rate in 2014 changed little from the previous Census data according to the annual release by the Census Bureau. The income report was released on Wednesday, September 16 and it showed that
Supportive Housing Pilots Meet to Discuss Strategies
The Child Welfare and Supportive Housing Resource Center brought together participants from five place-based initiative sites to discuss the progress of their new efforts. The pilots are attempting to better assist child welfare involved
Health Insurance Coverage Continues to Expand
New data by the Census Bureau released on Wednesday showed a significant drop in the percentage of people without health insurance. According to the new census report, the percentage of people without health insurance
Delay in Reauthorization of the Child Care Nutrition Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) scheduled for a debate and vote to reauthorize the program on September 17 has been delayed by two weeks. The CACFP is an important support and nutrition
JJDPA Reauthorization
A briefing, Smart Investments: Keeping Kids and Communities Safe, Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act was held on Thursday, September 17 to encourage congressional action on a reauthorization of the JJDPA.
A number
Appropriations Strategy Unclear With 7 Legislative Days Left
Congress has approximately 7 legislative session days left before we reach the end of the fiscal year on September 30. It is not clear when and how the two houses will move on a continuing
With December Session Possible Action Child Welfare
With Congress likely to be discussing appropriations into December there is time for a number of issues and in some cases Congress will have to act. One possibility that was mentioned in early August by
Items For Congressional Action
Once Congress gets beyond appropriations this month they have a number of other areas that either must be addressed or could receive action:
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). TANF must be reauthorized or at least
Congress Back With September Challenges
Congress returns for the last month of the fiscal year with some key challenges before them and only a handful of days to act. In addition to immediate September needs, Congress will also have to
Early Learning Advocates’ Hopes For ESEA
One of the issues for the fall session is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) or (since the last reauthorization in 2002) more commonly referred to as the No Child Left
Commissioner Chang Leaving As Head of Children’s Bureau
On August 7, Associate Commission Joo Yeung Chang, announced her departure from her position as head of the Children’s Bureau. She will be leaving on September 3. President Obama appointed Commissioner Chang to head the
HHS Proposes Changes to SACWIS-Child Welfare Information Systems
On August 11, HHS issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on state child welfare information systems. Under the NPRM, HHS proposes to revise the regulations for the Statewide and Tribal Automated Child Welfare
Rafael Lopez New Head of Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Just before the Senate departed for their summer break they gave approval to Rafael J. Lopez as the new Commissioner for the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). Lopez was confirmed on August 5th,
Wyden Bill: S 1964 As Good For Child Welfare As It Was For Civil Rights?
On Wednesday, August 5, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee introduced the Family Stability and Kinship Care Act, S 1964 with 7 additional cosponsors for the Senate Finance
Hatch Planning Fall Finance Committee Mark-up Of Child Welfare Bill
On Tuesday August 4, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on foster care and alternative to foster care placements. The hearing included testimony from five panelists representing state, kinship care, youth and parent perspectives.
Perhaps
GAO, Medicaid Expansion: More Access Mental/Substance Use Treatment
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has responded to a request by Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) to examine access to treatment for behavioral health needs. The GAO found greater availability for services in states that expanded
Wyden To Introduce Child Welfare Bill, Finance Holds Tuesday Hearing
The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is expected to introduce his child welfare reform proposal later this week.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Wyden, Ranking Member of
Congress Finishes Up This Week Until Labor Day
The House departed last Wednesday, a few days early and a week before the Senate. As they left they sent the Senate a three-month extension of the transportation law as their only option on that