Homeland Funding Extends For One Week, House Delays Education Bill
After a back in forth in strategy that saw the House reject a “clean Homeland Security funding bill” that would have provided funding through the end of the fiscal year without conditions regarding immigration, the
Senate Committee Examines Human Trafficking Issues
On Tuesday February 24, the Senate Judiciary Committee considered the issue of human trafficking and two bills that approach the issue beyond what was debated within child welfare in 2014 through amendments to child welfare
Interior Department Releases New Guidelines On ICWA
On February 25 the Bureau of Indian affairs in the Interior Department issued new guidelines and regulations regarding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The guidelines are the first update since 1979 shortly after the
HHS Releases Guidance on Foster Care and Immigration Enforcement
On February 20, the Administration for Children and Families issues new guidance on the intersection between child welfare requirements and immigration enforcement. The guidance (ACYF-CB-IM-15-02) comes via an Information Memorandum and offers resources and advice
Congress Returns With Budget Fight and Then FY ‘16
Congress returns this week through the end of next month. Front and center will be the expiration of funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Funding will expire at the end of this month if
Why SSBG Elimination Is Not Best Option To Expand Child Welfare Funding
Some in Washington are advocating the elimination of SSBG as a way to fund child welfare services. The theory is that eliminating the $1.7 billion in SSBG dollars might free up some funds for child
ESEA To Get Early Action, Child Welfare Amendments Ready
One of the first human service issues to be taken up by Congress will be education. The Senate HELP Committee has been in deep discussions with the Chairman, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) hoping to move
Senator Stabenow Becomes New Co-Chair Foster Youth Caucus
The Senate Caucus on Foster Youth has a new co-chair, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). She replaces Senator Mary Landrieu who is an original co-chair along with Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) when the caucus was formed
Commission On Child Fatalities Convenes This Week
The Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities has released a list of the upcoming hearings with the next one being this week on February 27 and 28. It will be held at the
Data Requirements On AFCARS Due Soon
HHS is receiving comments on a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on Monday, February 9, 2015. The
Home Visiting Funding Released
On Thursday, February 19, HHS released the FY 2015 funds of $386 million for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (Home Visiting Program/MIECHV). In releasing the funds HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell said,
HHS Sets Up Calls on New Data Requirements/AFCARS
The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on Monday, February 9, 2015. The text of the NPRM can
Bills to Strengthen Use of Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) Introduced
On Tuesday Capitol Hill was also the setting for a briefing on the reintroduction of the Family-based Foster Care Services Act of 2015. The legislation, S 429 and HR 835, would clarify in Medicaid policy
Panel Discusses Treatments and Medication for Children in Foster Care
A Tuesday, February 10 congressional briefing entitled, Reducing Overreliance on Psychotropics and Increasing Use of Psychosocial Treatments for Children and Youth in Foster Care focused attention on the need for stronger treatment options for children
New HHS Research On Foster Youth And Financial Literacy Finds Challenges
HHS has released a new report on youth in foster care focusing more specifically on their capacity to deal with the range of financial issues and barriers they will experience once they leave or “age-out”
House Takes First Move on ESEA
Last week, not too far off from the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the House Committee on Education and the Workforce approved HR 5. The vote followed
New Report On Home Visiting Highlights State Progress
Last week CLASP and the Center for American Progress (CAP) released a new report on the federal home visiting program (MIECHV) called, An Investment in our Future: How Federal Home Visiting Funding Provides Critical
President‘s Budget Starts FY 2016 Debate
Last Monday, the President started the FY 2016 appropriations process when he sent to Congress his formal budget request. Although many observers like to describe such budgets as “dead on arrival” or DOA whenever there
HHS Seeks Comments On Data Collection in Child Welfare (AFCARS)
HHS is seeking comment on updates to the AFCARS (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System) In the announcement HHS indicates that the AFCARS need updating to incorporate statutory requirements since 1993; to
Budget Includes Several Initiatives on Child Welfare
The Administration’s budget includes several proposed appropriations increases or changes in law to expand child welfare services, particularly for children and families involved with foster care. It is in fact a change for a budget
First Research Report on Home Visiting (MIECHV)
On Friday, HHS released the first preliminary information and research on the home visiting program the Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV). The research referred to as, Mother and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation
President To Release Proposed Budget Today
The President will release his proposed budget this morning. Some of the proposals have been leaked from the President and White House including his proposals to expand child care and the child care tax credit
Legislation Would Fix Homeless Youth Definition In Federal Housing
On Wednesday, January 28 members of congress and several advocacy groups came together to unveil the introduction of the Homeless Children and Youth. Act of 2015. The legislation would amend federal housing law to change
Amendment Would Address Medicaid Extended Access to Foster Youth
Last Wednesday Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) offered an amendment in a committee deliberation to assure Medicaid coverage for young people who had been in foster care. Under the ACA a young person who exits foster