Court Upholds Requirement To Recognize Another State’s Adoption Laws
On Monday, March 7, the United States Supreme Court in E.L v E.L. upheld the requirement that one state has to recognize the adoption of a child under another state’s law. In a somewhat
New Poverty Data-Center Available On-Line
The Center on American Progress has released a new website, TalkPoverty.org that includes a number of tools that can provide an in-depth analysis and educational resource about poverty in America. The site is actually
Senate Debates Drugs–CARA Act
Following up on last week’s Finance Committee hearing on the increasing prescription drug/heroin use, the United States Senate spent last week’s floor debate on consideration of S 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act
Senate Bill Matches House Legislation To Improve Interstate Placements
Last week CWLA endorsed legislation that will improve the interstate placement of children in child welfare. The legislation called The Modernizing the Interstate Placement of Children in Foster Care Act was introduced in both houses
Flint Assistance, Progress and Delay
On Thursday, March 3 the Administration through the Department of Health and Human Services announced they were expanding Medicaid coverage to pregnant women and children beyond what the current Medicaid coverage allows. The announcement by
Holding Pattern On House Budget Plan
Last week there was no breakthrough on how leadership will move a budget resolution. The public optimism of House leadership has not won over enough conservatives who still want to lower the budget caps agreed
Senate Committee Hold Hearing on Substance Abuse Issues
On Tuesday, February 23 the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the prescription drug to heroin addiction issue. The hearing highlights the continued intense interest within Congress on the issue of heroin and opioids
Separate Legislation Introduced To Extend PSSF/Substance Abuse Grants
While the Finance Committee was holding a hearing on opioids and heroin, two key senators, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), were introducing a bill to reauthorize the $20 million
Judges Outline Approaches To Improve Juvenile Justice
On Tuesday, February 23 the National Council of Juvenile Family Court judges sponsored a Capitol Hill briefing to highlight juvenile justice issues. The briefing included a panel discussion that was led by Dr. Sean Marsh
Groups Discuss Anti-Trafficking Strategies
–Dusty Murphy, CWLA
On February 24, 2016, Representatives Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) sponsored a briefing, “Reducing Demand for American Children Trafficked for Sex: King County, WA as a National Model.” Briefing panelists included
House Budget Pushed to Next Month
Last week the budget struggles continued at least in the House of Representatives where they’ve decided to delay any markup on the budget resolution in the budget committee. There were indications and public comments by
If They Reauthorize TANF
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) five-year reauthorization ran out in FY 2010 and has been extended through a series of short term extensions ranging from a few months to a year at a
Outcomes Data Highlights Need To Focus Reunification On 12 and Older
The new annual HHS Child Welfare Outcomes report 2010 through 2013 has been released and the summary continues to highlight a greater focus on youth coming into care at 12 or older as an
Adoption Incentive Funding Growing Shortfall
Last October, when HHS awarded the annual adoption incentives, now renamed the Adoption and Legal Guardianship Incentive Payments Program, the awards were much less than the fifty states had earned. The awards now based on
Promoting Safe and Stable Families Court Funding Problem
The Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) is a combination of funding streams for different but related services. Like Title IV-B part 1, Child Welfare Services (CWS), PSSF was reauthorized in 2014 as part of
New Budget Recognizes Child Welfare Workforce and Other Priorities
President Obama released his final budget for fiscal year 2017 last Tuesday. While the politics of this year and the President’s lame-duck status makes this a difficult budget to adopt there are some key proposals
The Child Welfare Workforce Proposal
The Administration included in the budget a new strategy to expand and strengthen the child welfare workforce. The budget request would amend Title IV-E foster care and adoption assistance law to expand state access to
Substance Abuse Regional Partnerships
The Administration is proposing that, as part of the need to reauthorize the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program, (title IV-B part 2) that the set-aside that targets drug treatment be increased from $20
Groups Seeking Support For Flint
More than 35 groups, including CWLA, signed onto a letter circulated by the Foster Family-based Treatment Association (FFTA) calling on Senate leaders to move legislation that would provide emergency financial assistance to address the lead
Appropriations On Small Child Welfare, CAPTA Programs Level Funded
Key child welfare programs including those that are authorized or are a part of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) were all flat funded for 2017. State grants would remain at $25 million
Other Child Welfare Reforms Carried in Budget
The Administration carries over earlier child welfare reform measures submitted in the past few years. These include an ACF-CMS Demonstration Projects to address over use of Psychotropic Medication in the treatment of foster children. The
Tribal Help In Budget
The Administration proposes several assists to tribal governments and consortia intended to build child welfare capacity in a number of ways. In addition to the continuing $3 million in technical assistance for tribes attempting to
Administration Offers First Reauthorization Proposal for TANF
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) five-year reauthorization ran out in FY 2010 but it is currently extended until the end of FY 2016 on September 30. Since it expired Congress and the
Budget Due On Tuesday
President Obama will release his final budget on Tuesday for the Fiscal Year 2017. The budget year begins on October 1. The overall spending caps for domestic and defense spending have been set as part
Chapin-Hall Report Urges Detailed Strategy To Reduce Group Care
A new policy brief by Chapin Hall and the Chadwick Center, Using Evidence to Accelerate the Safe and Effective Reduction of Congregate Care for Youth Involved with Child Welfare was released in the past