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LEGISLATIVE ALERT4/24/2009Sign-on letter to Congress - Loan Forgiveness for Child WelfareSign on to letter to Congress in Support of Loan Forgiveness for Child Welfare, Child Care Workers and Other Vital Human Services!
ACTION REQUIREDCWLA and NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) are circulating a sign-on letter in support of loan forgiveness. At this time we are asking for ONLY national and state organizations to sign-on, however, we encourage everyone to use our letter as a sample to send to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.MESSAGEThe loan forgiveness program would cover key human service professions including child welfare social workers and early childhood educators. The new program was enacted by congress last year but it needs some initial funding before rules and regulations are issued.
The letter (http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/sign-on_loan.pdf) asks for an initial appropriation of $100 million. While the new program covers 17 professions, and the first funds would be limited in coverage, it is still an important first step. Therefore, we are asking state and national organizations to sign on in support. If enough organizations sign on in support it increases the likelihood that Congress will appropriate the funding. This will allow for future opportunities to build on these initial first steps to strengthen the program and make it into an important tool to support the workforce in child welfare and child care.
To sign on to the letter, send an e-mail to jsciamanna@cwla.org
Please include:- Organization name
- State you are from
- Contact person who has approved the posting of your organization's name.
BACKGROUNDLast year Congress passed legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (110-315). Within this reauthorization was the creation of a loan forgiveness program for areas of national need. The bill will allow $2000 in loan forgiveness for each year a worker continues to work in their profession for a maximum of $10,000 over five years. The program defines 17 professions as areas of national need. These professions include child welfare workers who are degreed, child care teachers including Head Start teachers and several other professions. New regulations or guidance have not been issued and it is unlikely the Education Department will do this until Congress actually appropriates money. There are several issues to be addressed including how an eligible worker applies, how limited funds will be distributed and who qualifies first for support. While $100 million spread amongst the professions will not cover everyone it will start up this new program and its potential future growth.
© Child Welfare League of America. The content of these publications may not be reproduced in any way, including posting on the Internet, without the permission of CWLA. For permission to use material from CWLA's website or publications, contact us using our website assistance form.
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