On Friday, November 20, 2020, the Children’s Bureau issued a letter to child welfare leaders permitting Title IV-E Prevention programs and services to be adapted to a virtual environment during the current emergency (COVID-19 pandemic). In the letter, Commissioner Jerry Milner outlines that under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, adaptation
Members and staff continued to work on a final FY 2021 appropriations omnibus package that will cover all 12 appropriations bills. They continue to make progress, but it is increasingly likely that they will need another short-term continuing resolution (CR) to finalize the package. The current CR funding expires on December 11, 2020. It seems
Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a 460-page report highlighting a range of urgent needs to address during this pandemic. The report, Urgent Actions Needed to Better Ensure an Effective Federal Response, summarized: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in catastrophic loss of life and substantial damage to the global economy, stability, and security. According to federal
On November 18, 2020, the Century Fund released a new report and analysis that indicates 12 Million Workers Facing Jobless Benefit Cliff on December 26. People across the country have enrolled in different programs that have expanded unemployment compensation due to the pandemic. All of these different programs will expire the day after Christmas, December 26,
On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Senate Appropriations Committee released a full package of 12 appropriations bills nearly a month before the temporary funding for fiscal year 2021 runs out. Last week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had agreed to complete the FY 2021 appropriations with an omnibus
On Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Supreme Court considered another significant case with national policy implications for the second week in a roll when they considered challenges to the Affordable Care Act. The concern of supporters of the ACA, including CWLA, is that the Court could strike down the entire law as requested by the
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 a press conference held the morning after the election, Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said that he expected a new relief package would get passed before the end of this year. With some Senate seats still uncertain, McConnell is likely to return as Senate Majority Leader, but that is still
On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, the Supreme Court considered the Sharonell Fulton et al. v City of Philadelphia. A case involving a local Catholic Charities agency claiming that the city of Philadelphia is unfairly targeting them due to the city's non-discrimination policy regarding child welfare placements and recruitments. In 2018 a report in the
