As covered in previous Children’s Monitor articles, the families and children of the United States are suffering from the national baby formula shortage. Infant Formula is crucial to the growth and development of infants. Likewise, people with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses rely on formula for their health and survival. This crisis disproportionately affects those most
The Center on Poverty and Social Policy released its newest monthly report on child poverty, finding that monthly poverty rates rose in April and May 2022, following the temporary decrease in March when most refundable tax credits were delivered to families who filed a federal tax return. In April, the monthly child poverty rate for
Of the more than 5,000 children who, court documents say, were separated from their parents under the previous administration's zero-tolerance policy for unauthorized border crossers and those who presented themselves legally at ports of entry, about 180 children have yet to be reunited with their parents, according to VOA News, though the ACLU believes the
On June 22, 2022, Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) introduced the Access to Foster Care to 21 Act, which would extend nationally the age of which a youth is eligible to remain in foster care to 21. This bill would provide financial assistance to states by de-linking youth ages 18-21 from the antiquated Aid to Families
On June 22, 2022, HuffPost published an article detailing the need for attention to the child care crisis happening in our country. Detailing the history of the movement to federally fund child care as well as the opportunities and barriers that exist today, the article makes a compelling case for additional advocacy on this issue.
On Thursday, June 23rd the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee held a markup on their FY2023 Appropriations bill, which includes a 13% increase over FY2022 spending levels. Despite emphasizing a commitment to bipartisan collaboration, the bill moved forward without any Republican support, due in part to the removement of prohibitions
On Saturday, June 25th, 2022, President Biden signed the bipartisan gun safety package into law, the first major gun violence legislation passed in decades. The bill, titled the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, was released by Republican Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). Fifteen
On Friday, June 24th, 2022, Congress passed the Keep Kids Fed Act, which would extend some of the pandemic-era nutrition waivers that allowed schools and other child-serving programs to provide free meals, which were set to expire on June 30th. Although this legislation will provide needed funding and support for child nutrition, it does not
In a new report released by First Focus on Children, the results of a nationwide poll conducted in May by Lake Research Partners showed that American voters believe, by roughly a 6-to-1 margin, that the federal government is spending too little on the health, safety, and well-being of children in this country. Additionally, by a
On June 21, 2022, the Nonprofit Organization Adoptees for Justice held a Story Circle to bring awareness to the experiences of adoptees living without citizenship. They elevated the voices of two adoptees who live in the United States and two who were deported. Joe, Jang, Daniel, and Emily were all able to share their stories