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 New York Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) commissioned a survey of the LGBTQAI+ youth in the New York City foster care system on their experiences and well-being compared to their peers who are not LGBTAI+. The report states that LGBTQAI+ “comprises persons who because of their gender and sexuality have specific needs and are treated
Hunger and homelessness in America is a problem that is impacting millions of children, youth, and families. 43.1 million of Americans live below the poverty line, 42 million Americans are at risk of suffering from hunger, and 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in poverty. “This year, the stakes couldn’t be higher: public
In response to the CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) data released in August 2020, “the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) foundation analyzed the data and found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth are living in a state of crisis.” The HRC’s Project THRIVE aims to build the knowledge, skills, and capacities
On Tuesday, October 6, HUD’s Secretary Ben Carson issued a notice expanding the Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program to reach more youth aging out of foster care. The FYI program is an initiative of HUD that expanded and enhanced the existing Family Unification Program (FUP) to reach more youth leaving foster care. Both FUP
One of the most popular provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is that part of the law that prohibits insurance companies from denying health insurance coverage because a patient has a “pre-existing condition.” A pre-existing condition could cover any number of previous illnesses, health history, or other circumstances that insurance companies, before the ACA,
In October 2020, SchoolHouse connection published a report, “FAFSA & Homeless Youth: Challenges + Recommendations in the COVID-19 Era,” regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) among homeless youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students that are filling out the FAFSA are “dependent students,” which typically means the student is under the age
The ABA Legal Center for Foster Care and Education, the Center, and CWLA held a special member call on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, to discuss the education needs of children and families involved with child welfare during COVID-19. In normal circumstances, foster students experience unique challenges in the education system, but now given the nature
Earlier this month, Congressmember Karen Bass (D-CA) introduced the Foster Youth Dental Act of 2020. The legislation attempts to strengthen dental coverage under the Medicaid program for young people in foster care by expanding eligibility, providing incentives for dental providers, enhancing outreach efforts for enrollment, and protecting existing coverage for foster youth. Youth enrolled
New York City foster care worker Guy Bryant has changed hundreds of lives in the course of his career. But his commitment doesn't stop at the office. In the last 15 years, he's welcomed 60 foster kids into his own family. Watch how Guy and all these essential people are making a difference in the
