DACA Debate Collapses After White House Targeting
At the start of a Wednesday forum, sponsored by The Hill newspaper dealing with opioids (see below) one of the opening speakers was Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Before sponsors delved into the topic at hand
Get It Back Campaign Starts to Promote the EITC
Working with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, CWLA is joining with other organizations to promote the Get It Back Campaign. The Center regularly works on encouraging families and now some individuals to be
Adoption Incentives Depleted
The adoption incentive was created by the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) in 1997 and was expanded to some kinship placements because of the 2014 reauthorization.
States are awarded if they increase adoptions from foster
Opioids Forum on the Hill by the Hill
On Wednesday, February 14 of The Hill newspaper sponsored another forum on “Americas Opioid Epidemic.” Some of the featured speakers included Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman David Joyce (R-OH). In addition, participants heard from Surgeon
Congressional Baby Caucus: Invest in Language Early
Macey Shabery
Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Chuck Fleishmann (R-TN) convened a Congressional Baby Caucus briefing on Thursday February 15. The briefing centered on how babies learn language, the importance of exposing babies to “conversational
Juvenile Justice Budget
Shaquita Ogletree
The Department of Justice FY 2019 budget request includes $229.5 million for the Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Juvenile Justice Programs. Funding for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention has declined to the lowest levels
Congress Passes Deal on Budget, Families First Passes
On Friday, February 9, the House gave final approval to a two-year budget deal that includes significant increases to defense spending, some increased funding in key priorities such as child care and opioids, extends the
Family First Act
The Family First Act made it into the CR/budget agreement after the House inserted it in their slimmed down CR proposal. The Senate picked up the package. It is close to the version that had
Get It Back Campaign Starts to Promote the EITC
Working with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities, CWLA is joining with other organizations to promote the Get It Back Campaign. The Center regularly works on encouraging families and now some individuals to be
Now What on Immigration?
Many members of Congress (especially Democrats) voted against the CR/budget agreement because it lacked a firm commitment by congressional leadership (and the President for that matter) on action on DACA recipients. Shortly before the vote
Child Care Advocacy Rewarded With Major Increase
As part of the CR/budget deal, the child care community had one of their most significant victories since the creation of the CCDBG in 1990. Congress still has to finalize the appropriations, so there could
Opioid Funding Increased, Senate HELP Committee & GAO Sound Off
When the CR/budget deal was agreed to it included a commitment to provide $6 billion more in 2018 and 2019 to address the opioid epidemic. It is unclear how that will break out between treatment,
SAMSHA Clinical Guidance on Pregnant and Parenting Women With OUD
In response to demands for more support on dealing with the increasing numbers of infants born dependent, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) has released a new comprehensive guide, Clinical Guidance
Home Visiting Extended for Five Years
As part of the CR/budget deal, Congress has finally extended the home visiting or Maternal, Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) for a full five years.
It has been a long haul for the home visiting
New Child Maltreatment Report Shows Continued Increase
The latest data from HHS through the annual Child Maltreatment report indicates that the number of children substantiated as abused or neglected was 676,000 in 2016 compared to 683,000 in 2015. Consistent with the
CHIP Protected From Future Action in This Congress or Administration
The budget agreement includes a further extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for ten years. The last CR had finally extended the expired CHIP program for six years. That was done because when
What Else Is In the Deal?
There were a number of other important items included in the CR/budget agreement that may have been missed due to the size of the deal. $100 million is added to SSBG with a new separate
Congress Doing Only Thing They Can: CRs
It is looking more like the only major accomplishments for the 115th Congress will be the large tax cut package of 2017 and passing numerous CRs. As Monday approaches it looks likely that the Congress
Congress Passes Olympic Athlete Child Abuse Protection Bill
On Tuesday January 30, the Senate gave final approval to a bill to protect Olympic athletes from potential abuse by toughening requirements on the US Olympic Committee and by increasing protection for survivors. The House
Immigration Breakthrough or Not?
Last week failed to bring any real clarity to what has now become an immigration debate. Hanging in the balance is the fate of the approximate 780,000 current DACA recipients who will face the full
New Kinship Research Reveal Patterns Similar to Adoption Assistance
HHS through the Office of The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) has just release a review of the Title IV-E Kinship (Kin-GAP) program labeling it as “work in progress.”
Since the enactment of the
House Expected to Take Up SSA Bill That Will Protect Foster Youth
On Monday, the House is expected to vote on a bill that makes reforms in oversight of representative payees and others who oversee recipients of Social Security benefits. The legislation H.R. 4547, Strengthening Protections
CHAMPS Campaign Comes to Brookings
On Wednesday, January 31, the Brookings Institution was the location for the 2018 CHAMPS kick off. Last December the coalition sponsored a briefing on Capitol Hill. CHAMPS – children need amazing parents is a campaign
Report Cites Progress From Fatality Commission
Two groups have released a new report evaluating the impact of the work of the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF). The report by Within Our Reach and the Children’s Advocacy Institute
More Voices Demanding Increases in Child Care Funding
The Child Care and Early Learning Coalition received a bipartisan boost on January 19, when two former members of Congress representing both parties and ideologies came together to endorse a call for significant increase in