On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, the Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha Schomburg released a letter affirming the Bureau’s commitment to advancing equity through its work at the federal level and through its work with states, territories, tribes, and all other grantees. Associate Commissioner Schomburg describes advancing equity as: “Being committed to equity means that we
A new GAO report: CHILD WELFARE Pandemic Posed Challenges, but also Created Opportunities for Agencies to Enhance Future Operations, includes the result of a survey of state and local child welfare agencies on the challenges of the past year. The challenges included child protective services, the legal system, providing support for families and workers in foster
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI) eleven interns presented an experience and research-informed policy recommendation report in a Congressional Briefing entitled Building the Path Forward for Change in the Child Welfare System. The Foster Youth Interns (FYIs) shared their recommendations on a wide range of important topics, including maintaining sibling connections, racial equity, services for indigenous youth,
The House of Representatives moved on two significant bills last week that included funding for 9 of the 12 appropriations bills. The first “minibus” appropriations rolled together seven bills, including the appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS), Agriculture, Energy and Water, Financial Services, Interior, Military Construction, and Transportation-Housing are rolled
The House is scheduled to take up a “minibus” appropriations for full debate and vote on the House floor. Called a minibus instead of an omnibus, the appropriations legislation rolls together seven bills, including the appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS). There are twelve appropriations bills, and the combining of
The research team is seeking to learn about the needs of kinship caregivers, particularly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to recommend to local and national decision-makers the types of programs, services, and policies that best support this population. The study is recruiting child welfare professionals who have been working in the
The Child Tax Credit, part of the American Rescue Plan, is here to help families raising children make ends meet. Experts estimate that the new Child Tax Credit has the potential to cut child poverty in half. We need your help to spread the word and raise awareness of this major tax relief for working families.
Last week the House Appropriations Committee passed through the subcommittee (Monday, July 12, 2021) and then through the full committee on Wednesday (July 14, 2021) the appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (Labor-HHS). The $253 billion appropriations for the three departments passed out of full committee by a vote
As is custom, the House Appropriations Committee included important guidance and directives for some of the new and existing HHS funding. Some of these include: CWA data elements into AFCARS. Mental Health Screenings for Foster Youth. The Committee recognizes that States are required to develop a plan for the ongoing oversight and coordination of health
Last week, Chapin Hall and Howard University released a new study, Untold Stories: Young adult & racial dimensions of COVID-19. The report examines previously untold stories of the pandemic among young people, focusing particularly on food and housing insecurity, mental health, and the racial dimensions of those adversities. The researchers analyzed a large, nationally representative