Health

#WhyWeCantWait: A New Deal for Youth

On February 4, 2021, CLASP launched #WhyWeCantWait: A New Deal for Youth (ND4Y) calling leaders in the public and private sectors to support youth-led policy solutions that address the glaring economic and social injustices facing young people today. A New Deal for Youth will propose policy recommendations and community solutions developed by and centering the

Decision Time Coming on COVID-19 Response Plan

As early as this week, congressional leaders may decide whether they can move President Biden’s COVID-19 relief package through a bipartisan process or whether they go the way of reconciliation. A budget reconciliation would mean no Senate filibuster. The House Budget Committee is likely to move on a resolution this week as part of a

New Open Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act

February 15 to May 15, 2021   On Thursday, January 28, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order on health care that will create a new open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act. The new enrollment (usually set for December-November) is due to the pandemic. The open enrollment will start on February 15 and last for

Decisions to Be Made on Biden COVID-19 Relief Legislation

One of the first critical decisions that will have to be worked out over the next several days is how President Biden will get his COVID-19 proposal through Congress. As a veteran senator who was also key to many of the Obama Administration’s congressional negotiations, he has raised hopes for bipartisan action, but that would

The 2021 CWLA Transition Proposal

CWLA has published its transition paper for the new Administration and new Congress. The report has been circulated with key staff over the past several weeks. It reflects a look forward to improving child welfare services and more broadly strengthening families across the country. This A Stronger Foundation for America’s Families reflects the collective wisdom, insights, and concerns

Budget Crunch

Last week was a roller coaster in Washington D.C. as hopes were continually up and down as the hours of each day passed. Congressional leaders continued to work on a possible final deal on both FY 2021 appropriations and another COVID-19 relief bill as the weekend approached, but every time there was light on a

CDC Report: Head Start Programs Successfully Slowed the Spread of COVID-19 Transmission

The CDC reported that Head Start programs have successfully prevented the spread of COVID-19 and could potentially be used as child care and other early education providers' blueprints. Head Start programs are HHS funded programs that serve children between the ages of 0 and 5. Head start programs received $750 million from the CARES Act funding, and

Call for Expressions of Interest: Expanding Evidence on Replicable Recovery and Reunification Interventions for Families (R3)

Child welfare jurisdictions are increasingly turning to interventions that use recovery coaches in their efforts to improve access to and engagement in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services, with the goal of improving parental recovery and child welfare outcomes. Yet, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions. The purpose

GAO Finds Urgent Action Needed in Pandemic

Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a 460-page report highlighting a range of urgent needs to address during this pandemic. The report, Urgent Actions Needed to Better Ensure an Effective Federal Response, summarized:  The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, stability, and security. According to federal

Supreme Court Hears Affordable Care Act Case

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Supreme Court considered another significant case with national policy implications for the second week in a roll when they considered challenges to the Affordable Care Act. The concern of supporters of the ACA, including CWLA, is that the Court could strike down the entire law as requested by the

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