Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention

Senate HELP Committee Adopts CAPTA-Adoption Opportunities Reauthorizations

On Thursday, December 12, the Senate HELP Committee approved the reauthorizations of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (S. 2971) and the Adoption Opportunities Act (S. 2969) by voice vote. Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) remarked that today, the Senate HELP Committee approval of legislation would help states prevent child abuse and ensure the

Appropriations Negotiated Deal Could Happen This Week

With a second continuing resolution that extended FY 2020 funding until December 20, 2019 due to expire, late Thursday Senator Richard Shelby (D-AL) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) as respective chairs of the two appropriations committees announced a final deal on the 12 appropriations bills. How funding is divided should be released soon along with

Making Children A National Priority Platform

Last month, CWLA released the 2020 Presidential candidates platform, Making Children a National Priority, highlighting plans that focused on children and their families. Only two candidates, Julian Castro and Senator Kamala Harris, provided recommendations on foster care. Castro’s Children First Plan for Foster Families is comprehensive reform efforts addressing the full continuum of care. Majority

Senate CAPTA-Adoption Opportunities Reauthorizations Introduced

A reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) S 2971 (Senator Johnny Isakson R-OK) and separate Adoption Opportunities Act Reauthorization, S 2969 (Senator Doug Jones D-AL) was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, December 4. The bills, which will be joined together as a final package, would reauthorize the CAPTA and the

Appropriations Negotiated Under New Numbers

Shortly before Thanksgiving, the House and Senate passed a second continuing resolution that extended FY 2020 funding until December 20, 2019. Quickly after that, Senator Richard Shelby (D-AL) and Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) as respective chairs of the two appropriations committees agreed to spending allocations between the 12 appropriations bills. Since then, committees have been

Administration Publishes Rule Change on Discrimination in Use of HHS Funds

Following up on a Friday, November 1, press announcement, on Tuesday, November 19, HHS published both their notice of non-enforcement of anti-discrimination provisions implemented during the Obama Administration and a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the Obama nondiscrimination regulation regarding federal funding under HHS programs including child welfare funding under Title IV-E and Title IV-E.

Moving Upstream: Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect

The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance held a Congressional Briefing on Thursday, November 14, 2019, titled “Moving Upstream: What works to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.” The panel featured LaCrisha Rose from the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council and West Virginia Circle of Parents Network, Dr. Melissa Merrick from Prevent Child Abuse America,

Plans of Safe Care for Infants with Prenatal Substance Exposure

On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) hosted a facilitated discussion with representatives from child welfare and healthcare agencies from Colorado, Delaware, and New York. The webinar provided an overview of the treatment needs of pregnant women with substance use disorders and the effects of exposure to

Administration Drops Enforcement of Nondiscrimination Protections in Foster Care/Adoption

On Friday, November 1, HHS announced a “notice of exercise of enforcement discretion” along with an unpublished notice of proposed rulemaking to say that they would not enforce nondiscrimination rules or regulations except those specifically passed in law or ruled on by the Supreme Court. In effect, they won’t enforce the Obama era nondiscrimination rules

Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new report, Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence, last week. Research and studies have proven that ACEs is a critical public health issue. The report estimates the number of Americans that are affected by adverse childhood experiences and provides strategies for

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