Underrepresentation in Census Could Short Some States: Urban Institute
Last week the Urban Institute released an analysis of what they see as a census undercount with certain states suffering from that undercount. One potential impact of the 2020 pandemic was the impact on
Reconciliation Bill
Early on Thursday, October 28, 2021, the White House released a new final framework for the reconciliation bill, the President’s Build Back Better agenda. The rest of the day was spent working out details
Davis-Walorski Bill Extending 2021 Chafee Provisions Passes House
Last Tuesday, October 26, 2021, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) and Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced a new bill (HR 5661) to extend the temporary relief for youth exiting foster care. On Wednesday it passed
October is National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month and this year’s theme is Every Conversation Matters. Every Conversation Matters is about engaging youth in permanency plans through open conversations about adoption, asking youth their perspectives, and understanding their
Campaign for Legal Representation Kicks Off
On Monday, October 25, 2021, the National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC) started a new campaign, Counsel for Kids. According to a statement by the organization,
“With 673,000 children navigating America’s child welfare courts
How the Working Poor and Working Class Fared Since the Great Recession
On October 27, 2021, the Institute for Research on Poverty held a webinar titled, “How Have the Working Poor and Working Class Fared Since the Great Recession?” The event featured work from the new volume
House Pack Would Help Senate Address Mental Health/Substance Use
As the Senate Finance Committee deadline to collect recommendations on improving mental health and substance use services, the House Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force package may offer some bicameral agreement and strategies.
On September
The Benefits of Subsidized Employment Programs
On October 26, 2021, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) held a paneled discussion about the effect of subsidized employment, transitional jobs, and employment social enterprise on communities and individuals.
The panel included
Reconciliation Bill
Negotiations continued into the weekend as the White House and Democratic leaders from the Senate and House continued to work on what gets in the final reconciliation legislation. Most if not all proposed
The Future of the CTC
The Democratic strategy to try and keep as much and as many parts of the original House reconciliation bills, meant that many program will be reduced in length. Perhaps the prime example is the fate
Family First Clearinghouse Reviews More Programs
The HHS Prevention Services Clearinghouse released more program evaluations last week. The clearinghouse identified Familias Unidas as a “well supported.” Familias Unidas is a “family centered intervention that aims to prevent substance use and risky
Senate Democrats Put Out Appropriations Bills
On Monday, October 18, 2021, Senate Democrats put out a series of 12 appropriations bills that would fund the government through the rest of FY 2022 (September 30, 2022). The Labor-HHS-Education numbers are similar to
Integration, Expansion, Community Education – Access to Mental Health
On October 19, 2021, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) hosted a panel discussion that included health care and policy experts focused on mental health needs. The discussion focused on integration of behavioral health care into the
Finance Committee on Health Insurance Needs
On October 20, 2021, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on “Health Insurance Coverage in America: Current and Future Role of Federal Programs”. Witnesses included former Congressional Budget Office
Children’s Bureau Advice on Youth in Foster Care
On October 12, 2021, Associate Commissioner of the Children’s Bureau Aysha Schomburg, issued a letter to the child welfare community urging continued vigilance in assisting young people who exit foster care and to be
House Approves Debt Ceiling with Family Violence Prevention Bill
Last week was a slow legislative week as the Senate was in recess while the House of Representatives returned to pass a debt ceiling bill. By doing so, Congress avoided the first federal default in
The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act
Domestic violence is a critical issue that, according to recent reports, has been made worse since the pandemic. On average, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience intimate partner violence. Nearly 20
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Parent Penalty
As very high-level negotiations continue over what should be included in a final reconciliation bill one of CWLA prime issues is the CTC. The internal debate is how to reduce the overall cost of
Paid Leave Would Cut Health Care Costs
New research, Paid Leave Would Cut Healthcare Costs, by the National Partnership for Women and Families, argues that a paid family and medical leave bill will save the economy over $64 billion if it
Finance Committee Still Collecting Rec’s on Mental Health/Substance Use
The Senate Finance Committee is asking for public comments on ways to address substance use and mental health services due to last week’s faulty link in the Children’s Monitor you can link to the full
Possible Loan Forgiveness for Some of Child Welfare Workforce
Last week’s news break by National Public Radio (NPR) that the U.S. Department of Education will offer a fix of the troubled public services loan forgiveness program proved to be true when the US Department
GAO Reports on State Reinvestment of Adoption Assistance Savings
Last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a long-awaited report on whether states are reinvesting the significant savings they realized when the federal Adoption Assistance program was de-linked from the AFDC eligibility standards.
The GAO
Why Did the GAO Review State Reinvestment of Adoption Assistance Savings?
In 2008 when Congress enacted the Fostering Connections to Success Act, one of the most significant parts was a gradual “de-link” of Adoption Assistance from the old AFDC link. As is still the case with
Senate Committee Focuses on Violence Against Women Act
On October 5, 2021, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced Deputy Attorney General Lisa