CWLA continues to engage with committee staff and member offices on a pathway forward to address the proposed legislation. At this time, it is critical that we unite in our message – the Family First Transition and Support Act must pass as a comprehensive package, including the “de-link” from the 1996 AFDC eligibility requirements for
On Tuesday, September 10, First Focus on Children released the 13th annual Children’s Budget 2019 publication, a comprehensive analysis of how kids and families have been faring in the federal budget over the past five years. As child poverty remains high, the children’s share of total federal spending declined between fiscal year 2015 and fiscal
The 2010 census missed more than 10% of all children under age 5 in the U.S. When we miss young children in the census, it has serious consequences for them, their families, their communities and our nation – with many of those consequences lasting for at least 10 years. The U.S. Census Bureau needs adequate
On August 21, 2019 the Administration announces a final new rule that would, in effect, overturn the 1997 Flores settlement. The Flores settlement is just that, a legal agreement settled in 1997 that outlines certain protection for immigrant children while in U.S. custody. Its most well-known provision, recently, prohibits the detention of children for more
The Adoptive Family Portrait Project seeks to inform Members of Congress and their staff about the impact that adoptions have had in many of their constituents' lives, by pairing adoptive families with their Congress member. For the 15th consecutive year, Voice for Adoption (VFA) will work with adoptive families to compose their family story and
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facilities are responsible for the custody and care of unaccompanied alien children (UAC). The Office of Inspector General (OIG) report, Care Provider Facilities Described Challenges Addressing Mental Health Needs of Children in HHS Custody, on the facilities that care for children
On August 7, 2019 the Administration, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a raid that resulted in the arrest of 680 people targeted through various plants in Mississippi. The raid is considered the largest in US history. The ICE raid included more than 600 agents and targeted chicken processing plants which have high immigrant
The Supporting Evidence Building in Child Welfare Project invites child welfare agencies and others to nominate themselves and a program or service to be evaluated. The project, funded by the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in partnership with the Children’s Bureau, conducts rigorous evaluations of interventions for the
On August 5, the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare hosted the webinar “FUP and FYI: Overview and Getting Started.” Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) introduced the Foster Youth to Independence Initiative (FYI) to prevent homelessness among youth, who are aging out of foster care without a stable
With a two-year budget deal for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 in place, Congress will need to finish the FY 2020 appropriations. The House of Representatives has passed almost all of their 12 appropriations bills while the Senate has not acted on any. With spending levels set, the Senate, possibly in conversation with the