Juvenile Justice Coalition Looking for Sign-On to Letter
Shaquita Ogletree
The Act 4 JJ Campaign is circulating a letter to Congress urging members to protect children and youth in the justice system and pass the federal juvenile justice bill —Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention
They Call Us Monsters Film Highlights Negative Impact of Juvenile Justice
Shaquita Ogletree
Last week, Campaign for Youth Justice and DC Alliance of Youth Advocates hosted “They Call Us Monsters” screening to raise awareness and bring to light the incarceration of juveniles. The film follows three young
No Health Extenders, Home Visiting
With CHIP reauthorized, one of the best vehicles for extension is no longer available to a list of vital and lesser known ‘health-extenders.’ that remain in limbo. Since this Congress seems to be unwilling to
A Look At Child Welfare During a Drug Crisis
Recently one of our members passed along this 2017 article based on the experiences of child protection workers in one overburdened county in Ohio—one of those areas overwhelmed by the spread of opioids. ‘It’s
Waiting on House to Pass Child Protection
Advocates are awaiting action on either Monday or Tuesday for House passage of S 534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act. The Senate acted on the compromise bill
Budget Delayed One Week—That is –Next Year’s Budget
The Administration announced it will delay the release of next year’s budget to February 12. That is FY 2019, not FY 2018 which still has not been finalized. As a result the 2019 proposal will
Immigration Breakthrough or Not?
On Thursday the Trump Administration released an overall proposal on DACA and immigration as their bottom line. In some respects it opened up the possibility of expanded protection for children and young adults now protected
CHIP Extension But No Health Extenders, Home Visiting
CHIP has now been extended for six years but many other parts of the “health extenders” package remain in limbo. The CHIP extension became easy when CBO revised its long term cost projections. It basically
Comings and Goings in Administration
By a vote of 55 to 43 the Senate gave the final ok to the appointment Alex Azar to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Azar becomes the second HHS
DACA by the Numbers
• Since being announced on June 15, 2012 DACA has provided temporary relief from deportation to approximately 800,000 young people across the country
• Each day approximately 122 people lose their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Letter Calling on Homeland Security to Protect Families, Still Open for Signatures
Last Tuesday, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen flatly refused to rule out a policy of parent-child separation in order to deter migration to the United States.
CWLA
CWLA Joins Families USA In Call to Oppose More Health Care Cuts
Last week CWLA signed onto a letter led by Families USA calling on Congress to protect access to affordable, high-quality and comprehensive health insurance. The letter tells congressional leaders:
“Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance, including
Administration Extends Opioid Emergency
On Friday, January 19, Eric Hargan, the Acting Secretary for Health and Human Services announced the extension of “public health emergency” due to opioid addiction. It is not clear what impact the declaration, and
What Will 2019 Budget Look Like
No official announcement has been made but much of Washington is expecting that the Administration will release their proposed FY 2019 budget in the first week of February. That is required by law. But that
New Religious Civil Rights Office
On Thursday, January 18, the Administration announced the creation of the Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the HHS Office of Civil Rights.
The Administration described the responsibilities of the division as promoting and protecting religious
HHS Nomination Moves Forward
On Wednesday, January 17 the Senate Finance Committee approved the nomination of Alex Azar to be the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) was the only committee
Washington Marching Toward Another Budget Deadline
Today (Tuesday, January 16) marks the 108th day of the FY 2018 fiscal year without a budget and it looks that that number will continue to increase by this time next week. Even if there
DACA and Immigration Flashpoints
The week started with a bipartisan meeting at the White House on DACA and immigration issues in what can only be described as a meeting of mixed messages as the President bounced between various congressional
HELP Committee Continues Focus on Opioids
By Brittney Gerteisen
On Tuesday, January 9, the Senate HELP Committee continued their examination of the spread of opioid addiction by hearing from one witness, author Sam Quinones. Sam Quinones is the author of “Dreamland:
Senators Call For More Opioid Funding Now
On Tuesday, January 9, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) held a press conference indicating that the Democrats are seeking $25 billion more in opioid funding to be spread across the current
CWLA Joins Groups Calling on Homeland Security to Protect Families
As reported during the December holidays, there is concern that the Administration is seeking to split up families at the boarder using child separation as a deterrent. CWLA has joined onto a joint letter by
Medicaid Work Requirements for Foster Youth?
The Administration followed up on earlier reports of new work requirements under Medicaid. On Thursday, January 11, CMS unveiled guidance allowing states for the first time in Medicaid’s 52 year history to impose work
Administration Releases Last Year’s Plan to Weaken ACA
The Administration has released a memo from last March that outlined how the Administration had and is implementing a strategy to undercut and weaken the ACA. The document was released after pressure by Senator Bob
CHIP Reauthorization, Cost Free?
The CHIP reauthorization is still waiting for a final resolution. Due to the most recent CBO analysis (score) a CHIP reauthorization would be significantly less and could pay for itself and perhaps some additional
Second Session of Congress Starts Where 1st Session Ended
The 115th Congress began its second session when the Senate returned last Wednesday. The four key leaders had an initial meeting on that day to decide how they can address an expiring CR that runs