The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) has released a report, Our Kids, Our Future: Solutions to Child Poverty in the U.S that provides a collection of over 20 papers that provide recommendations to significantly reduce child poverty and improve child well-being. CPAG is made up of more than two dozen national organizations including the Child
Shaquita Ogletree The final federal budget for FY 2018 resulted in an overall Juvenile Justice funding level that is slightly above 2017. There is a notable $22 million increase for youth impacted by the opioid crisis and drug addiction added to Title V and Youth Mentoring programs. State Formula grants increased by $5 million to
A significant first step in the implementation of the Families First Act (read a CWLA description here) will come on October 1, 2018. Under the legislation the Department of Health and Human Services is directed to release the practice criteria required to define prevention services or programs. They are also directed to provide a pre-approved
Shaquita Ogletree The Act 4 JJ Campaign is circulating a letter to Congress urging members to protect children and youth in the justice system and pass the federal juvenile justice bill ---Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act (JJDPA). The law has not been reauthorized since 2002. JJDPA supports efforts across the nation and helps young
Shaquita Ogletree Last week, Campaign for Youth Justice and DC Alliance of Youth Advocates hosted “They Call Us Monsters” screening to raise awareness and bring to light the incarceration of juveniles. The film follows three young men in a California facility that signs up for a screenwriting class and details their violent crimes, sentencing, and
In case you missed it, during the December holidays, (December 18, 2017), the White House announced the appointment of Caren Harp as the new head of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) in the Justice Department. The position does not require Senate confirmation. Harp is currently a professor at Liberty University School
Last week a new report, Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America, the study covers youth homelessness in a range of settings. Young people may survive by sleeping on the streets, in shelters, running away, being kicked out, and couch surfing. The report was conducted by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and is the
Last week a coalition of groups released, Addressing the Intersection of Juvenile Justice Involvement and Youth Homelessness: Principles for Change. The report notes that a young person’s involvement with the justice system can increase their likelihood of later experiencing homelessness. Pointing out that youth experiencing homelessness may be swept into the juvenile justice system
Congress is back and the list of priorities have grown due to Hurricane Harvey. That list may have become easier or more difficult because of the need for more disaster relief. That all remains to be seen. There are currently 12 working days when both houses are in session before the end of September and
The Senate cut short their extended work schedule on Thursday when they finished work on several nominations including some from HHS. They will be out until after Labor Day. When Congress returns in September they will have a long list of items many that must be addressed by the end of the month or at