The Urban Institute hosted a webinar on March 7, 2023, that reviewed their recent research report on Education and Training Vouchers (ETVs). The report highlights the various barriers that prevent youth in foster care from attending higher education and ultimately had a sample inclusion of over 125,000 young people (ages 16 and above) in foster
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) released a new report exploring the impact of President Biden’s Child Tax Credit proposal. ITEP estimates that 55 million children would be impacted by the expansion and that millions would be lifted out of poverty. Under the American Rescue Plan Act, the temporary expansion of the CTC
In an article by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the racial disparities in sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) were examined. While general infant mortality rates have continuously fallen in the US through 2020, SUID rates have remained stagnant. Moreover, in 2020 researchers discovered a rise in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates, as well as
On March 15th, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a new report about the harms of work requirements in safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. The report notes that most working-age adults receiving assistance from these programs are already working for pay or they are temporarily between
On March 8th, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report on Kinship Navigator programs titled, “HHS Is Taking Steps to Help States Support Relative Caregivers with Evidence-Based Programs.” This report was requested in 2019 by then-Chairman of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Danny Davis (D-IL) and then-Ranking Member late-Representative Jackie Walorski
On February 14th, 2023, Mathematica announced the release of their collaboration with the Social Security Administration on the five-year impacts of a focus aimed at assisting youth with disabilities achieving economic security in their transition into adulthood. Promoting the Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income (PROMISE) is the largest cross-agency initiative that involved a
A new study in the American Journal of Psychiatry indicates that childhood adversity leaves a mark on the brain, changing regions that process stress and trauma. By analyzing MRI scans, researchers found small differences in certain brain structures that they believe could accumulate over time and lead to mental health problems later. Black children were
On February 16, 2023, SAMHSA held a virtual round table discussion focused upon behavioral health disparities within the Black community. Moderated by Brandon Johnson, several guest speakers spoke about their personal experiences and subsequent work in reducing the stigma and taboo associated with receiving therapy in Black communities. This problem is urgent, as the Black
On February 9, 2023, the Children’s Bureau released the annual child abuse and neglect report: Child Maltreatment 2021. This year’s report, which covers the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, reveals that of the nationally estimated 3,016,000 children who were the subject of a child welfare agency response in FY 2021, 600,000 children (estimated) were
Last Thursday, February 2, 2023, the Council for a Strong America hosted a briefing on childcare and presented findings from a study conducted by ReadyNation, a coalition advocating for public investment in early childhood. The event opened with a statement from Rep. Jeff VanDrew (R-NJ), who emphasized the importance of ReadyNation’s work and the findings
