National Youth in Transition Database Report to Congress

On February 18, 2020, the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) report to Congress was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NYTD survey youth and young adults who experienced foster care and received independent living services under the Chafee Program as well as young adults’ outcomes. This report covers

Administration Budget Proposal for Juvenile Justice Programs

In the Administration’s FY 2021, the Department of Justice requested $227.5 million in discretionary funding for the Juvenile Justice Programs, a decrease of $92.5 million below the FY 2020 Enacted level. Despite the recent reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), funding for the JJDPA has dropped by 40 percent since the

Administration Moves on Optional Medicaid Block Grant

On Thursday, January 30, the Trump Administration followed up on last week’s reports with their Medicaid Healthy Adult Opportunity proposal. The announcement came through CMS Administrator Seem Verma with careful avoidance of using the term block grant. The Administration is attempting to use their waiver authority to allow a more limited Medicaid block grant. In

Youth Vaping Epidemic Still Rising

According to the American Lung Association’s 2020 State of Tobacco Control report, the federal government delay in action on ending the youth vaping epidemic was inadequacy. An estimated 480,000 deaths are associate yearly with tobacco use with 31.2% of high school students using at least one tobacco product in 2019. Congress action to increase the

Suicide Rates Are the Highest in the U.S. Compared to Wealthy Countries

The Commonwealth Fund published a new report that analyzes health care data in the United States and offers a cross-national comparison. The report looks at how the United States compares to wealthy countries, including Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom, and found that the U.S. holds the highest suicide rates and lowest life expectancy, despite

Utah Bans LGBTQ Conversion Therapy on Children

Utah became the 19th state to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy, the practice, aimed at changing a patient's sexual orientation or gender identity. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not recognize the practice of conversion therapy and considers it unethical. Republican Gov. Gary Herbert proposed this new rule to ban conversion therapy on minors in November

Child Maltreatment 2018 Report Shows an Increase in Child Abuse

On January 15, 2020, the Children’s Bureau released the annual child abuse and neglect report: Child Maltreatment 2018. The numbers show an increase in the rates of abuse and neglect for the first time since 2015, with infants and young children having the highest increase in child maltreatment. For the federal fiscal year 2018, there

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act Passes in Committee

On Tuesday, January 14, the House Committee on Education and Labor approved H.R. 5191, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) of 2019. The bill, which is a reauthorization of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of 1974 (RHYA), adds non-discriminatory language that aims to protect LGBTQ+ youth, focuses on trauma-informed services,

CWLA Submits Comments on HHS Proposed Rule Change to Non-Discrimination Policy

CWLA submitted comments to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources, Health and Human Services Grants Regulation on the HHS notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would repeal anti-discrimination provisions as implemented during the Obama Administration before the due date of Thursday, December 19. The letter states: “We need a comprehensive national strategy

Urge Your Senators to Sponsor the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act (S. 2803)

On November 18, 2019, the Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act (HR 4300) passed unanimously in the House of Representatives. Shortly after the passage, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the companion bill in the Senate and hopes to pass it by unanimous consent next week. We need your help! Urge your Senators

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