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Child Advocates Call on Congress to Extend Chafee (Pandemic Relief Funding)

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the National Foster Youth Institute (NFYI) hosted a Congressional Briefing with Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-chair, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI). Kenneth Chancey, Policy Manager of NFYI, organized this Congressional Briefing to highlight H.R. 5167. In this legislation, Chafee pandemic funding would extend into 2022, including access to increased funding eligibility to extended youth in foster care

House Committees Begin Work on Reconciliation

Last week the House Ways and Means Committee and other committees began to work on their parts of the reconciliation package. The Ways and Means Committee began work on their version of family and medical leave, trade, retirement, and Medicare expansion, but they have left other actions for this week. The House Education and Labor started their work

Early Findings CTC Cutting Food Insecurity

An August analysis based on Census data released after the first Child Tax Credit (CTC) was issued in July indicated that the percentage of American families with kids who report not having enough to eat fell dramatically. The data offer proof that the monthly payments are having a major and immediate impact on millions of households.  

House Committee Moves on Child Care and Head Start Expansions

On Thursday, September 9, 2021, the House Education and Labor Committee began their work on that Committee’s reconciliation instruction. A key part of their effort is the expansion of child care, pre-kindergarten, and Head Start.   The Committee draft starts out with child care funding that would be provided on a sliding scale. Families making

Medicaid Work Waivers Dropped

On August 10, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent letters to the states of Ohio, South Carolina, and Utah that followed up on February 12 letters, rejecting those states Medicaid waivers that attempted to impose work requirements for people seeking health care coverage under Medicaid. The letters signed by CMS Administrator

SNAP Benefits Get Significant Boost

On Monday, August 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, used to calculate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. As a result, for the first time in more than 45 years, the Thrifty Food Plan is being updated, and the average SNAP benefit will increase for the

September is Kinship Care Month! Celebrating Kinship Caregiving Families

This September 2021, please join CWLA for a special recognition of all the relatives, extended family members, and tribes and clans who provide round-the-clock protecting and nurturing for children, either through informal family arrangements or child protective services. Nearly three million kinship caregivers across the country provide safety, support, cultural ties, and affection for the children

Education Secretary Tells Local Schools He Has Their Backs On Reopening Schools Safely

On August 13, 2021, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona told the Florida Governor and Education Commissioner that he was “deeply concerned about Florida’s July 30 Executive Order prohibiting school districts from adopting universal masking policies consistent with CDC guidance.”   He told Governor DeSantis: “The [U.S. Education] Department recognizes that several school districts in your State have

Senate Passes Infrastructure Legislation and Resolution

Last week the Senate completed action on a bipartisan infrastructure bill (HR 3684) and then moved a budget resolution that will allow for a budget reconciliation bill. The House leadership announced they would come back from the summer break to take up the resolution during the week of August 23, 2021.     The infrastructure bill passed 69

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