On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana M. Sabraw, United States District Court for Southern California directed the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Control to reunite the more than 2000 children that have been separated from their children at the U.S. border. The Judge said that
Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee acted on their Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations and sent it on to the Senate floor for future consideration. On the other side of the Capitol Building, the House Appropriations Committee once again delayed action on the Labor-HHS-Education bill reported out by the Subcommittee. Their bill for FY 2019 has been delayed
In the Senate Appropriations Report to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, the Committee directs HHS to provide monthly data and weekly updates on the status of children in HHS custody. The directive is attached to the $1.3 billion appropriated to the Unaccompanied Alien children line item. In the Committee comments they note the trauma and hardship being
On Friday, June 22, HHS issued their first request for comments on how to approach the issue of defining and listing services and practices that will qualify under the Family First Prevention Services Act. There is a very quick turn-around time with comments due by July 22. Under the Family First Act, HHS is to
HHS has announced that they are soliciting applications for Regional Partnership Grants (RPGs), which fund collaborations among child welfare agencies, substance abuse agencies, courts, and other community partners to improve the well-being of children affected by family substance use. This solicitation covers new funds that were included under the 2018 appropriations bill. These RPGs have
On Friday, June 22 the House of Representatives passed HR 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018. That legislation will become a vehicle for a much larger package of legislation that addresses opioids and will eventually be sent to the Senate for action. For child welfare advocates, the bill includes legislation drafted
Shaquita Ogleetree On Wednesday, June 6th, the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth in coordination with Florida’s Camelot Community Care held a youth-lead briefing titled: What’s next for me? Facing my future as I age out of care. A dynamic panel of eight young people between the ages of 18 through 22 and in foster care
The Senate Finance Committee will consider a package of opioids legislation this Tuesday, June 12. Before the Memorial Day break, Senate Finance members announced a package of 22 bills. The bill mainly addresses the Committee’s jurisdiction over the Medicare and Medicaid programs but the three bills that deal with child welfare address funding under the
Shaquita Ogletree On May 17, the National Prevention Science Coalition in partnership with the Office of Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) hosted a briefing, Connecting Children with their Incarcerated Parents. The panel included Dr. Jennifer Cearley, Oregon Social Learning Center, Joseph Tietz, Pathfinders of Oregon, Mary Roberts, Snohomish County, Washington state, Kimberly Mays, Washington Office of
Shaquita Ogletree The Brookings Institution hosted a briefing for the release of the latest issue of the Future of Children, “Reducing Justice Inequality” with a policy brief – “Helping Children with Parents in Prison and Children in Foster Care.” The event held on Wednesday, May 9, included an overview of the latest journal issue, recommendations