Family & Community Support

Senate HELP Committee Holds Hearing on Cutting Child Care Costs

On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022 the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing entitled ‘Child Care and Preschool: Cutting Costs for Working Families.’ The hearing centered around how to provide affordable childcare to families. Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and Democrats advocated for the proposal included in President Biden’s Build Back Better package, which would expand the

Senate HELP Hosts Second Hearing on Behavioral Health

On Wednesday March 23rd, 2022, Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) led the Senate HELP Committee’s hearing: “Strengthening Federal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Programs: Opportunities, Challenges, and Emerging Issues.” The Committee members and witnesses discussed issues necessitating bipartisan legislation addressing the increasing severity of the mental health and substance use disorders prevailing across the country.

Child Poverty Remains Elevated After Expanded Child Tax Credit Expired: February Report

The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University has released its newest monthly report on child poverty, finding that 3.4 million more children were in poverty in February 2022 than in December 2021, when families were still receiving the monthly Child Tax Credit payments. Monthly poverty remained elevated in February. Child poverty rates

Home Visiting Program Reauthorization

On Wednesday, March 16, 2022, the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on “Improving Family Outcomes Through Home Visiting.” Several panelists focused their testimony on the personal stories of families served by programs funded by the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program, a federal

“Unwinding” Medicaid: Impending End of the Public Health Emergency

On Tuesday March 2nd, Georgetown University held a Lunch and Learn surrounding COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Implication for Medicaid Coverage for MCH Populations. Panelists: Joan Alker, Executive Director and Co-Founder of University of Georgetown, University Center for Children and Families and Research Professor Tricia Brooks, Research Professor for the Georgetown University Center for Children and

Congress Passes Appropriations Omnibus

The final appropriations for FY 2022 sharply reduced the significant increases in children’s and child welfare programs compared to what the House had adopted last July.  Many of the House increases had adopted the Biden Administration request in their first budget request. Within CAPTA, state grants receive $95 million which represents an increase of $5

New Survey Highlights Importance of Renewing Child Nutrition Waivers

In November 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) conducted the School Food Authority (SFA) Survey on Supply Chain Disruptions to better understand the impact on school nutrition programs. The survey found that 92 percent of schools reported experiencing challenges due to supply chain disruptions. The most frequently cited challenges include

American Rescue Plan One Year Anniversary Event

On Tuesday, March 8, 2022, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a webinar on the one-year anniversary of the American Rescue Plan, highlighting the role of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit in providing relief. During the webinar, the floor was

The State of the Union Address

On Tuesday, March 1, 2020, President Biden gave his State of the Union address. CWLA agrees with many of the ambitious goals President Joe Biden highlighted in his State of the Union address.  Specifically, President Biden noted that "many families pay up to $14,000 a year for childcare per child."  Covid-19 only exacerbated the rising costs

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