Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) have introduced the State Flexibility for Family First Transitions Act. It would allow current Title IV-E waiver states to extend their child welfare waivers for two years although there is no provision that would stop another extension after the next two-year extension. As part of an
On Tuesday, January 8 at the Association of State and Tribal Home Visiting Initiatives (ASTHI) held one of the first briefings on Capitol Hill for the new Congress. The focus of the briefing was to explain to members of Congress—including many of the new members—what research demonstrates when it comes to home visiting program. The
In a letter dated, January 2, 2019 the Children’s Bureau informed state child welfare directors that all programs and services will be rated using the Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of Standards and Procedures in the beginning of May 2019. Release of the ratings will indicate if programs and services are rated as “promising,” “supported,” “well-supported,”
This past December, Child Trends released a new survey of state child welfare spending based on 2016 state fiscal years. The biennial survey indicates that overall spending in combined federal, state and local child welfare dollars remained somewhat stable from the past survey (based on 2014) with spending up by 5 percent. But over ten
The new Child Trends survey of state child welfare spending indicates that the overwhelming use of Title IV-E funding through Title IV-E waivers has been used for services that can be currently paid for under the current Title IV-E law. The funding totaled approximately $2 billion. According to the survey of 24 states providing data
When the Children’s Bureau released their first guidance on services provided through the Family First Act, they also announced two call to provided further information. Those calls will be on Monday, December 17, 2018 from 2:30 – 4:00 PM ET or Tuesday, December 18, 2018 from 12:00-1:30 PM ET. Call-in Information: is: 888-391-9602 with the
Late on Friday, December 14, Judge Reed O’Connor, Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, issued a court ruling, that strikes down the ACA in its entirety. For now there are no changes in the current status in the ACA. What it likely does is push front and center the
In addition to last week’s HHS announcement on state guidance (ACYF-CB-PI-18-09) and a preliminary list of services (Attachment C) under the Family First Prevention Services Act (PL 115-123)—(FFA), the Children’s Bureau released guidance for Tribal agencies that are running their own Title IV-B and Title IV-E programs. The guidance, ACYF-CB-PI-18-10, varies and is more flexible
Last week the Inspector General for HHS released a new inspection report to Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson that criticized conditions and practices at a Texas facility for unaccompanied children. The IG is in the process of inspecting 45 facilities. These inspections are in person and include records and documents check of the facilities. The facility
Shaquita Ogletree On Tuesday, December 4, the American Psychological Association (APA) and Partners for Children co-hosted the congressional briefings on Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in the House (a subsequent meeting was held on Wednesday, December 5th in the Senate). Child maltreatment affects a significant portion of our population. The briefing highlighted examples