Announcement Home

President‘s Budget Starts FY 2016 Debate

  Last Monday, the President started the FY 2016 appropriations process when he sent to Congress his formal budget request.  Although many observers like to describe such budgets as “dead on arrival” or DOA whenever there are two different parties controlling the White House and Congress it none-theless starts a process and sets goals in

Budget Includes Several Initiatives on Child Welfare

The Administration’s budget includes several proposed appropriations increases or changes in law to expand child welfare services, particularly for children and families involved with foster care. It is in fact a change for a budget area that rarely experiences any requested increases beyond what happens under the entitlement programs. Whether any action takes place will

New England Journal: Increased Medicaid Payments Increased Access

An article in last month’s New England Journal of Medicine has found that the increased reimbursements to doctors through Medicaid as a result of the ACA had an impact on increasing access to health care services.  Under the Affordable Care Act some providers accepting Medicaid were to receive reimbursement rates that match those of Medicare.  The

HHS Releases 2011 and 2012 Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Reports

  Last week the office of Community Services released two new annual reports on the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG).  The 2011 and 2012 reports show similar results as the 2010 report and reaffirms how the $1.7 billion in funding continues to support a range of child welfare services—especially as a prime funder of child

President Announces Child Care Initiative To Build On Child Care Credit

On Thursday, January 22, the President’ released a child care expansion proposal to build on his support for an expanded child care tax credit first announced at the state of the Union Address on Tuesday of last week. Under the new proposal the President would provide significant increases to the child care block grant, the

Education and the Workforce Committee Begins Head Start Discussion

Last week the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held their first formal meeting with Congressman John Kline (R-MN) returning as the chair of that committee. As part of the committee start up, the majority staff released a discussion draft on Head Start reauthorization. In his release Chairman Kline said, "Congress has a responsibility

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