CWLA Endorses: Housing for Homeless Students Act

Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) introduced the Housing for Homeless Students Act on February 7, 2024, which would increase access to affordable housing for students who are homeless, including veterans and youth formerly in foster care. From the press release: “The Low Income Housing Tax Credit reduces the tax liability for developers

CWLA Comments: Hearing on Services for Older Youth

On January 17, 2024, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee hosted a hearing, “Pathways to Independence: Supporting Youth Aging Out of Foster Care.” CWLA submitted comments for the record. “Nearly 20,000 young people transition from foster care to independence without the benefit of formal reunification or an alternative permanency outcome each year. We share the

Imagining the Future of Extended Foster Care: Webinar

The Youth Law Center (YLC), the Institute for the Future (IFTF), and the California Youth Connection (CLC) hosted a webinar on Wednesday, January 31st to release a report they published titled “On the Threshold of Change: Forces that Could Transform Future Conditions for Youth in Extended Foster Care.” This report contains strategic foresight to better

The Case for Extended Foster Care

The Children’s Bureau hosted a webinar on Thursday, October 19th entitled “Proving Extended Foster Care Works for Young Adults”. Presenters Angie Schwartz, the Deputy Director for the California Department of Social Services and Mark E. Courtney, a CalYOUTH researcher, Co-Director of the Transition Age Youth Research and Evaluation Hub, and Professor emeritus at UC Berkeley’s

New Regulations Supporting Children and Families in Foster Care

On Thursday, September 28, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions to support children and families in foster care. These actions include releasing three regulations to strengthen services and supports for children and families in the child welfare system. Final Rule: Support kinship caregivers – family members and loved ones who step forward to care

Poverty & Youth with Foster Care History

The Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison published an issue (Vol. 39, No. 1) titled "Youth with Foster Care Histories: Emancipation and Well-Being" in June 2023. The issue explores the complexities of foster care and addresses key areas related to the well-being of youth with foster care histories. The issue acknowledges

Homeless Youth at Risk

SchoolHouse Connection hosted a webinar on Wednesday, June 22, 2023, titled "Homeless Youth at Risk: Lessons from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey." This webinar focused on presenting the findings from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control every two years. Jennifer Smith-Grant, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public

Foster Youth and Driving Act Briefing

On Wednesday, June 14, 2023, the National Foster Youth Initiative (NFYI) and Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP) held a briefing on the Foster Youth and Driving Act. The bill has been reintroduced by House Ways and Means Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth Co-chair

Supporting the Rights of LGBTQ+ Youth in Care

A publication released by the Child Welfare Information Gateway in 2023 provides a legal overview of the rights and supports available to youth in foster care who identify as LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, Two-Spirit, or other gender or sexual identities), children who are often subjected to adverse experiences while in care.

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