A new study in NEJM concludes that trans and nonbinary teenagers who receive gender-affirming hormones experience less depression and anxiety and more satisfaction with life than before the treatment. This new study adds to a substantial body of research that shows gender-affirming care improves mental health and comes at a time when this care is
The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (or SUPPORT Act), passed in 2018, included a provision titled “Coverage Continuity for Former Foster Care Children Up to Age 26,” on page 10, which took effect on January 1st, 2023. This important provision requires states to cover youth under
On January 18th, 2023, the Children’s Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (CBLCC) hosted a national webinar with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) focused upon child trafficking. Featuring NCMEC Executive Director, Melissa Snow, the digital dialogue specifically focused upon understanding the types of child sex trafficking (CST), shifting the language and perspective
The Sentencing Project released their last publication of 2022 highlighting valuable data on youth incarceration rates and trends. This data and research showed that youth incarceration not only fails to deter youth delinquency, but many studies show that confinement increases negative behavior while reduction in confinement does not lead to an increase in youth criminal
A new CDC study, published November 11, 2022, found that close to 1 in 9 middle and high school students currently use tobacco products, accounting for an estimated 3.08 million students. For the ninth year in a row, e-cigarettes were the most popular product overall and cigars were the most commonly used form of combustible
On November 15th, 2022 the Children’s Bureau released a resource guide containing services and organizations that assist with their mission of empowering you to have hope and goals. Their publication highlighted the need to have tough conversations with youth and to express care, challenge growth, and provide support while acting on their feedback and act
On November 1st, 2022, the Administration for Children and Families released the AFCARs data for 2021. Again this year, the report shows a significant decrease in foster care placements decreasing from the 2020 figure of 407,493 to 391,098 children in care in 2021, a 3.9 percent decrease from 2020 and a more than 10.5 percent
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is accepting applications for the Foster Youth Internship Program until November 20,2022. CCAI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, DC that is dedicated to raising awareness about the millions of children around the world in need of safe and nurturing families and to eliminating the barriers
On November 1st, The Transition Age Youth Coalition, iFoster, and Project ID came together to host a webinar titled iFoster and Project ID: Helping Young People Get their Identification Documents. The webinar highlighted their combined effort to help youth transitioning out of foster care obtain their vital identification documents. Jill Bloch, the East Coast Director
On October 3rd, Senators Hassan (D-NH), and Young (R-IN) introduced the bipartisan Senate companion bill to the Foster Youth and Driving Act, originally introduced in the House by Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). The Senate companion bill makes no changes to the House bill. As previously covered, H.R. 7932 Foster
