HHS Opioids Study Looks at Economic and Geographic Trends
HHS has released a new study through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) on opioids with this one focusing on the economic and geographic impact of the drug. The
Court to Administration: Reunite Families This Month
On June 26, 2018, Judge Dana M. Sabraw, United States District Court for Southern California directed the Office of Refugee Resettlement, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Control to reunite
Senate Appropriations Continues Partnership Grants, CAPTA Increase, Adoption Incentive and Kinship Navigator Funding Increases
Last week the Senate Appropriations Committee acted on their Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations and sent it on to the Senate floor for future consideration. On the other side of the Capitol
Senate Appropriators: HHS We Want Reports on Unaccompanied Minors
In the Senate Appropriations Report to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations, the Committee directs HHS to provide monthly data and weekly updates on the status of children in HHS custody. The directive is attached to the $1.3
House Collapse on Immigration
On Wednesday, June 27, the House of Representatives put a final nail in the coffin of immigration reform compromise when the Goodlatte-Ryan bill went down to a big defeat by a vote of 121 to
Advocates Call for Congressional Oversight on Child Separation
A joint briefing by the YWCA and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation: A Report Back from the Border on Friday, June 29, provided a platform for advocates to call for congressional action. The panel discussion and
Young Victims of Opioids
Shaquita Ogletree
Council for Strong America provided a Capitol Hill briefing on “Caring for the Youngest Victims of Our Nation’s Opioid Crisis.”
Congressman Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) discussed the fifty-eight bills that were passed by the House of
Health Care Update: Judge Blocks KY Medicaid-Work Waiver
n Friday, the Administration and the state of Kentucky received a blow when a judge struck down the Medicaid work requirement that was set to go into effect on July 1. The ruling by Judge
Where and How Are the Children?
By Friday there were more questions than answers on the fate of immigrant families crossing the border and the children that have already been separated from those families.
First the President issued an executive order
HHS Seeks Comments on Family First Evidence Base
On Friday, June 22, HHS issued their first request for comments on how to approach the issue of defining and listing services and practices that will qualify under the Family First Prevention Services Act.
Two Steps You Can Do For Children Separated
Before you send that e-mail or make that phone call to an advocacy or other children’s organization demanding action or you post on Facebook your opinions, TELL THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS as a constituent.
Go
List of Opponents of Child Separation
CWLA is just one of a growing list of organizations, coalitions, groups and other parties who have spoken out against the separation of children from their parents. The growing list of statements include some
HHS Seeks Applications for Regional Partnership Grants
HHS has announced that they are soliciting applications for Regional Partnership Grants (RPGs), which fund collaborations among child welfare agencies, substance abuse agencies, courts, and other community partners to improve the well-being of children affected
House May Take Second Attempt at Immigration Bill This Week
Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WS) immigration compromise may come up for a vote this week. Originally the House was to vote on two bills on Thursday June 21, the Congressman Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) bill that was
House Moves More Opioids Bills, Foster Youth Medicaid Fix In It
On Friday, June 22 the House of Representatives passed HR 6, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2018. That legislation will become a vehicle for a much larger package of legislation that addresses
Appropriations and Spending Update
Last week the House Appropriations Committee delayed action on the Labor-HHS-Education bill reported out by the Subcommittee. Their bill for FY 2019 was scheduled for a vote but leadership pushed out the hearing due
Expanding Social Capital for Youth in Foster Care through Mentors
Shaquita Ogletree
On June 20th, MENTOR and FosterClub convened a panel of experts to discuss the impact mentoring relationships and mentorship programs can have in supporting young people in foster care.
Speakers included Brittney Barros, National Foster
House Passes Agriculture Bill Now Confronts Bipartisan Senate Deal
On Thursday, the House approved their farm bill with SNAP/food stamp restrictions by a vote of 213-211, HR 2. The vote was directly tied to the immigration debate as conservatives had sunk the bill last
Administration Rolls-Out of Government Reorganization
On Thursday the Administration rolled out how they would reorganize the government. In addition to changing HHS, the plans would combine the Department of Education with the Department of Labor. It would be re-named the
DeLauro: Immigration Policy is Child Abuse
On Wednesday, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) denounced the Administration’s “zero tolerance” policy in immigration enforcement as child abuse. DeLauro stood alongside nearly a dozen members of Congress on the front lawn of the Capitol for
DACA Rebels Skip Discharge Petition, Agree to Two Bill Votes This Week
Republican members of the House of Representatives agreed to drop their drive for a discharge petition to force a vote on four separate immigration bills and instead agreed to a vote on two bills.
The moderate
Senate and House Move More Opioids Bills
While the House of Representatives spent time on more than two dozen opioids-related measures this week, the Senate Finance Committee approved their bills that will eventually be combined with other Senate bills that in turn
Administration Revives Assault on ACA While States Seek Medicaid Expansion
The Administration has revived its assault on the ACA when, on Thursday, June 7, the Justice Department said it would not defend the Act against a lawsuit by some conservative states that are once again
House Labor-HHS Appropriations Moves Out of Subcommittee
On Friday, June 15, the House Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education reported out their bill for FY 2019. The full bill won’t be released until it is considered next week in the full Committee but some items
Addressing Early Childhood Poverty
Shaquita Ogletree
The U.S. Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), a partnership of national, child-focused organizations—including the Child Welfare League of America—dedicated to cutting child poverty in half within a decade held their first webinar. The presentation