Budget

Columbia Study Shows COVID-19 Relief Holding Poverty Rates Down

A June 21, 2020 study published by the Center on Poverty & Social Policy of Columbia University indicates that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (PL 116-136), CARES Act (COVID-19 package number 3) has been successful in reducing the increase in the poverty rate. In the absence of the CARES Act, the study projects that

House Subcommittee Looks at Child Care

On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support held a hearing on the status of child care during the pandemic and the recession. In his opening remarks, Chairman Danny Davis (D-IL) said that, in Illinois, nearly half of all available child care slots are at risk of disappearing altogether

Help Non-Filers (Including Youth) Get Their Stimulus Checks

Millions of individuals and families could miss out on stimulus payments because they don’t know how to get them. Economic Impact Payments (EIP) –commonly referred to as “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebates”– are a key provision of the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act legislation that Congress passed to help reduce the financial

Tackling Child Poverty in the Wake of COVID-19

As part of the Children’s Week activities, First Focus co-hosted a webinar on Thursday, June 18, 2020, with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and the Century Foundation to address how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated conditions for millions of children and families. CWLA President & CEO Christine James-Brown was one of the

Help Non-Filers (Including Youth) Get Their Stimulus Checks

Millions of individuals and families could miss out on stimulus payments because they don’t know how to get them. Economic Impact Payments (EIP) –commonly referred to as “stimulus checks” or “recovery rebates”– are a key provision of the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act legislation that Congress passed to help reduce the financial

Bipartisan Emergency Bill Introduced for Homeless Children, Youth, and Families

On Tuesday, June 9, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the “Emergency Family Stabilization Fund" (S.3923) to provide emergency relief to families experiencing homelessness and to unaccompanied youth, in light of the health and economic consequences of COVID–19. Families and youth experiencing homelessness are at great risk of coronavirus

House Social Services Block Grant (SSBG): What’s In It

The House-passed HEROES Act adopted by the House on May 15, 2020, includes significant funding under the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) that would help state and local governments address current budgetary shortfalls. SSBG has always been a significant funder of a range of child welfare services, including foster care, youth services, child protection, prevention

HHS Releases $25 Billion to Hospitals

On Tuesday, June 9, 2020, HHS released an additional $25 billion in relief funding to some hospitals and other health care providers. The release comes after building pressure on the Administration to release more of the $175 billion in health care relief funding that had been provided in earlier COVID-19 legislation. HHS has had great

State of Babies Yearbook 2020

On Thursday, June 11, Zero to Three released the State of Babies Yearbook: 2020, a comprehensive report and advocacy tool that tells the story of how the United States’ babies are faring and provides a clear view of the significant disparities in opportunity for the youngest children throughout the country. Speakers included Myra Jones-Taylor from

Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19

On Tuesday, June 9, the Senate Finance Committee hearing “Unemployment Insurance During COVID-19: The CARES Act and the Role of Unemployment Insurance During the Pandemic” addressed the future and current administration of Unemployment Insurance (UI). As state governments and businesses have slowly started to gain footing during this pandemic, Congress is now faced with a

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