Senate, House Begin Appropriations Process
Without any official announcement both the House of Representatives and Senate have begun the appropriation process despite not passing a budget resolution. A budget resolution would have streamlined some of the appropriations process and aligned
CWLA Holds National Advocacy Summit: Join Virtual Effort
Today starts the CWLA National Advocacy Summit. If you can’t be there, then take a virtual trip to the CWLA National Advocacy Summit!
Join along with Summit participants on Tuesday, April 19 as they go to
HHS Releases New Study on Homeless Youth
Last week, HHS through the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), issued a Data Collection Study gathered through that Bureau’s Street Outreach Program. The results provide an over view of the grim
Senate Foster Youth Caucus Discusses Substance Abuse
On Tuesday, April 5 the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth held a briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing is part of a series focused on why children are coming into foster care, this briefing highlighted,
HHS Adds Supplemental Regulations of AFCARS-ICWA Regulations
On Thursday, April 7, 2016, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published an add-on in proposed regulations to last year’s (February 9, 2015) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Adoption and Foster
CWLA Releases Annual National and State Fact Sheets Ahead of Summit
The Child Welfare League of America has released its annual national and state fact sheets. The state and national fact sheets are released every spring in conjunction with the national conference. The National
New Annual Report on SSBG Released
The 2013 Annual Report for SSBG has been released. The annual report documents overall expenditures of the $1.7 billion in funding (approximately $1.6 billion in 2013 due to the sequestration cuts). In addition, each
CWLA To Shine Bright Light On Child Welfare Workforce
On Tuesday, April 19, as part of the CWLA National Advocacy Summit, Washington DC: Investing in What It Takes: A Full Continuum of Care CWLA will provide a special focus on the significance of
House CAPTA Bill Urges Greater HHS Monitoring Absent New Enforcement
When House Education and the Workforce members introduced, the Improving Safe Care for the Prevention of Infant Abuse and Neglect Act last month, after a recent action by the Senate HELP Committee, they took
Discussion Focuses On Growth In Use of Evidence-Based Human Services
Wednesday, March 30 Results for America and that William T Grant Foundation sponsored a Capitol Hill discussion on how to strengthen and promote the use of evidence-based practice in human services. The briefing
Congress Breaks, Budget-Appropriations Path Unclear
The House of Representatives joined the Senate in a Spring break this past Wednesday with a great deal of uncertainty on how Congress will move forward on appropriations. There still is no agreement between Speaker
House Members Introduce Safe Care-CAPTA Bill
Last week a bipartisan group of House Members joined in on the effort to address the substance abuse-child welfare issue when they introduced a bill to amend CAPTA. The bill address the safe care plans
CWLA Continues Annual EITC Outreach
CWLA continues to join the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to conduct an annual tax credit outreach initiative to provide updated information and outreach tools to organizations that can help spread the message about refundable tax credits
Groups Highlight Immigration and Unaccompanied Minors
By Dusty Murphy
On Wednesday, March 23 a number of groups including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), First Focus, National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) held a briefing on
Commission Releases Final Report On Child Fatalities
On March 17, the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities (CECANF) released its final report, “Within Our Reach: A National Strategy to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities.” Of key emphasis the
House Committee Adopts ICPC Bill In Bipartisan Move While………
Before consideration of more partisan issues, the House Ways and Means Committee passed in bipartisan fashion a bill that will make improvements in the interstate placement of children, HR 4472.
CWLA has endorsed legislation, The Modernizing
…Same Committee Votes To Eliminate SSBG In Partisan Move
After the ICPC vote, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill HR 4724 that would eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). The vote and the bill was part of a strategy to
Senate HELP Committee Adopts Amendments To CAPTA, Safe Care
As part of the Senate HELP Committee’s debate of a mental health reform measure (see below), senators also endorsed S 2687, the Plan of Safe Care Improvements Act.
The legislation, introduced by Senator Bob Casey
House Committee Questions Enforcement of CAPTA Assurances
While the Senate HELP Committee was debating mental health legislations and amendments to CAPTA, on Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce used testimony from Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia
HELP Committee Takes Up Mental Health, Amends CAPTA
On Wednesday, March 16 the Senate HELP Committee passed out of committee S 2680, the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016. The bill taken up was based on a staff discussion draft.
In prepared remarks
Senate Finishes Debate on Drug Bill, The CARA Act
The Senate finished its work on S 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), when it approved the legislation on Thursday by a vote of 94 to 1. The bill was introduced by
Senate HELP Takes Up Mental Health, Safe Care Plans in CAPTA
On Wednesday, March 16 the Senate HELP Committee will take up a major draft bill to strengthen mental health services in the United States. The committee will also address other legislation, including an amendment to
House Budget Attempts Include Elimination SSBG, Senate Budget on Hold
In an effort to garner enough conservative Republican votes, House leadership is pushing a strategy this week that would enact cuts to mandatory and entitlement programs including the elimination of SSBG through legislation by
How One State’s Child Welfare Gets Devastated By SSBG Elimination
The criticism of SSBG leveled by some members of Congress and even a few advocates in recent years has been that it lacks accountability and outcomes. One legislative committee report described it as “no-strings-attached slush
CASA and CAC’s Ask Congress For Continued Support
By Dusty Murphy
On Tuesday, March 8, the Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) and the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) held a briefing to highlight the importance of their two programs and the need for full