Education Debate Likely to Hit Senate Floor First Week of July
It appears now that a tentative date for debate on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secretary Education Act, S 1177 (ESEA/No Child Left behind Act) will be the week of July 7. The
Supreme Court Upholds Child Abuse Evidence Via Mandatory Reporter
On Thursday, June 18 the Supreme Court upheld the use of a child’s comments to a mandatory child abuse reporter (a teacher) in the trial of his abuser. The ruling Ohio V Clark was
Joint Briefing Paper Highlights Tribal Disproportionality In Juvenile Justice
The Coalition on Juvenile Justice and the Tribal Law and Policy Institute have published a new brief paper, “American Indian/Alaska Native Youth & Status Offense Disparities: A Call For Tribal Initiatives, Coordination & Federal
Republicans Discuss Options on ACA, CBO: Repeal Will Cost Money and Coverage
With time running out on this session’s Supreme Court term, Republican senators are discussing their options on how to react to a possible court ruling that would cut-off potentially 6.4 million people from their health
House Subcommittee Moves Labor-HHS Bill
Operating under budget caps and an allocation $3 billion below 2014 funding, on Wednesday, June 17 the House Appropriations Subcommittee approved a funding bill for 2016. The bill is still in draft form until the
Bipartisan Bill Would Amend Education Law to Assist Foster Children
On Friday, June 19, 2015, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) introduced a key bipartisan measure, the Educational Stability of Foster Youth Act. The bill is an attempt to align federal education
Injury Deaths in the US Assessed
The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) have released a new injury prevention policy report. The Facts Hurt: A State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy Report, The study is a
Appropriations Update: Labor-HHS Up This Week
The House Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a Labor-HHS appropriations bill for FY 2016 on Wednesday. Any real debate is likely to be delayed for the full committee later in the week or month.
As of
Preschool Children Have a Higher Expulsion Rates Than K-12
Research, by the Foundation for Child Development, indicates that 3 and 4 year old children are being expelled from preschool at a rate higher than school children in grades K through 12. The research
Ways and Means Committee Hearing, Ramp Up for ACA Fight?
On Wednesday, June 10, the House Ways and Means Committee held what was to be the Committee’s annual review of the Administration’s proposed changes for HHS (including proposals addressing child welfare) but instead the event
HHS Conducts Training on New Sex Trafficking Provisions
On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the Department of Health and Human Services along with the White House coordinated a convening of states to help address the implementation of last year’s Preventing Sex Trafficking
Congressional Republicans Take Aim at Child Support Regulations
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Charles Boustany (R-LA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced legislation to prevent the Administration from
House Version of Juvenile Justice Bill Introduced
On June 11, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Education and Workforce Committee introduced HR 2728, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015. It picks up on some of
Appropriations Update, Challenge in Senate
Late last week the House of Representatives was working on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and other agencies (THUD) appropriations bill trying to make it the fourth bill to pass the House. There are
Child Welfare Bill Draft Still Open For Comment
Senator Wyden is still seeking input on his discussion draft bill. The discussion draft would build on the Administration’s FY 2016 budget request that seeks to expand the use of the foster care “candidacy”
Groups Endorse Administration Budget Ideas
A letter in support of the President’s budget request for greater funding in some child welfare services has collected over 160 organizational sign-ons. The Administration’s FY 2016 budget request includes a number of proposals including
Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act Signed
On May 29, the President signed into law the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (Public Law No: 114-22)
The legislation would do several things, mainly through Department of Justice (DOJ) programs and actions. Among
Finance Committee Examines Congregate Care
On Tuesday, May 19, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the use of congregate care. The hearing was titled, “No Place to Grow Up: How to Safely Reduce Reliance on Foster Care Group
White House Highlights Champions From Foster Care
For the second time in four days, on Tuesday, May 19, the White House was the center for a discussion on foster care. This event was framed around the Champions of Change program in
Groups Release Recommendations on Protecting Children from Trauma
On Tuesday, May 20 more than a dozen groups led by Futures Without Violence released their new recommendations called, Safe, Healthy and Ready to Learn: Policy recommendations to ensure children thrive in supportive communities
Youth Villages, MDRC Discuss Research on Youth Transition
Youth Villages and Results for America convened a roundtable of experts to discuss the findings from a newly released evaluation by MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan education and social policy research firm, on the promising interim
House Committee Approves Evidence-Based Commission
On Tuesday, May 19, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved legislation that would establish a congressional commission to examine how evidence and data can assist in reviewing federal programs and tax expenditures.
White House Sponsors Discussion on Prevention of Foster Care
On Friday morning May 15, the White House sponsored a forum that focused attention on the topic of preventing placement of children in foster care. The discussion included more than 60 individuals representing national organizations
Letter of Support for Administration Budget Proposals
In relation to the President’s request for greater funding in some child welfare services, organizations still have an opportunity
Wyden Bill Still Open For Feedback
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is still seeking input on his draft legislation. On Monday, May 5, Senator Wyden, the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee released a “discussion draft” of legislation that would invest