Healthy Growth & Development

The Last COVID Bill and the Next

At the end of last month, President Donald J Trump signed into law a $908 billion relief package in the larger omnibus budget legislation. Still, the President-elect has indicated they would be seeking additional help for a country devastated by a pandemic that is trending toward more than 400,000 to over a half million fatalities

DOE Letter on Foster Care

On Monday, January 4, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) issued a letter regarding State Educational Agencies (SEAs) responsibilities in supporting students in foster care. In acknowledging that during the pandemic students and families have been challenged over the past nine months, the Director stated that students

The Final Days: Death and Devastation

On January 20, 2021, President Trump’s term will come to an end. It ends a long way from what now seems like the almost halcyon days of April when Mr. Trump predicted that we would keep coronavirus deaths to 60,000 deaths and substantially below 100,000. According to Johns Hopkins, 72,261 people died in December alone, with a one-day record

WEBINAR: The Multiethnic Placement Act and Transracial Adoption 25 Years Later

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST, CWLA invites you to hear about a new suite of reports being released by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Research and Evaluation at US DHHS on findings from 25 years of the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) and transracial adoptions.  Register here.   Researched approximately

CDC Report: Head Start Programs Successfully Slowed the Spread of COVID-19 Transmission

The CDC reported that Head Start programs have successfully prevented the spread of COVID-19 and could potentially be used as child care and other early education providers' blueprints. Head Start programs are HHS funded programs that serve children between the ages of 0 and 5. Head start programs received $750 million from the CARES Act funding, and

Analysis Suggests Waive of Evictions Without Relief

A new analysis by the Center on Budget Policy and Priority indicates that 23 percent of renters who have lost income or work due to COVID-19 are now behind in their rent. That is more than double overall rates and suggests big trouble as aid (including unemployment extensions) runs out at the end of this

Call for Expressions of Interest: Expanding Evidence on Replicable Recovery and Reunification Interventions for Families (R3)

Child welfare jurisdictions are increasingly turning to interventions that use recovery coaches in their efforts to improve access to and engagement in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support services, with the goal of improving parental recovery and child welfare outcomes. Yet, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions. The purpose

WEBINAR: The Multiethnic Placement Act and Transracial Adoption 25 Years Later

On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST, CWLA invites you to hear about a new suite of reports being released by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Research and Evaluation at US DHHS on findings from 25 years of the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) and transracial adoptions.  Register here.   Researched approximately

Children’s Bureau Provides Guidance on Virtual Adaptation of Evidence-Based Practices

On Friday, November 20, 2020, the Children’s Bureau issued a letter to child welfare leaders permitting Title IV-E Prevention programs and services to be adapted to a virtual environment during the current emergency (COVID-19 pandemic). In the letter, Commissioner Jerry Milner outlines that under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, adaptation

CR Likely Extended as Talks Continue, Relief Package Still In-Play

Members and staff continued to work on a final FY 2021 appropriations omnibus package that will cover all 12 appropriations bills. They continue to make progress, but it is increasingly likely that they will need another short-term continuing resolution (CR) to finalize the package. The current CR funding expires on December 11, 2020. It seems

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