Protecting Youth & Families

Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families

The National Diaper Bank Network released a new report highlighting diaper need in the United States. From the report: “Families are considered to have diaper need when they cannot afford a supply of diapers adequate for changing at healthy intervals. Diaper need is a public health issue that threatens not only child health, but also

Congress Takes on Tax Reform

On June 7, 2023, Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D- CT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY), reintroduced the American Family Act, legislation that would make permanent the expanded and improved monthly Child Tax Credit. The CTC was expanded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, COVID-19 response legislation to help working families. The expansion

States Consider Relaxing Child Labor Laws

On May 25, 2023, Fortune reported that even ass the federal government cracks down on child labor violations, some state lawmakers are advancing legislation to let children work longer hours and in more hazardous occupations. These mostly Republican legislators in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Ohio argue that these changes could ease national labor shortages, but children’s

Bill to End Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Reintroduced

On May 18th, 2023, Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)—alongside Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA)—reintroduced the Keeping All Students Safe Act, legislation to protect students from seclusion and restraint discipline practices in school. The Keeping All Students Safe Act would prohibit any school receiving federal taxpayer

Bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act Introduced

On April 27, 2023, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Representative Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced the bipartisan Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act. According to Representative Khanna’s press release, “this bipartisan, bicameral bill would provide greater oversight and data transparency for institutional youth treatment

Oversight of the ORR Unaccompanied Children Program

On April 18, 2023, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing concerning the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) unaccompanied children program. The witness, director of the ORR, Ms. Robin Dunn-Marcos defended the current system used to care for unaccompanied migrant children. However, congressmen from both sides of the aisle raised concerns and were

Gun Violence Claims More Lives

Gun violence claimed more children's lives last week with the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. As we noted in our statement after the tragic shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, last year, “firearm violence is now the leading cause of deaths among children and adolescents. This matters, and unless every

Ways Courts Can Actively Engage Children and Youth

The Quality Improvement Center (QIC) on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency recently released a new publication regarding the ways children and youth can be engaged in child welfare proceedings. Below are tools that courts can use to authentically and directly engage with children to best determine what they want and what options will work best

Senate Hearing: Protecting our Children Online

On February 14, 2023, the Senate held a full committee hearing in an attempt to discover how to protect our children online. Several witnesses who spoke about either lived experience, scientific research, or implementation practices, stressed the importance of addressing the danger of social media and its role in the mental health crisis. Led by

Webinar: Missing From Care: Preventing and Responding to Child Trafficking

On January 18th, 2023, the Children’s Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (CBLCC) hosted a national webinar with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) focused upon child trafficking. Featuring NCMEC Executive Director, Melissa Snow, the digital dialogue specifically focused upon understanding the types of child sex trafficking (CST), shifting the language and perspective

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