In the last week to ten days, a number of groups and leaders have submitted public letters outlining their greatest concerns. One of the most prominent was a letter by the National Governors Association (NGA), which is currently co-chaired by Governor Larry Hogan (R-MD) and Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) calling on Congress to provide an additional $500 billion in state relief funding. The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) outlined several priorities (some of which CWLA has included in our letter), including support for human service workers, increased funding for child welfare services funding, and more significant help through Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF.

A letter signed by advocates led by the Children’s Defense Fund and the National Child Abuse Coalition called for Title IV-B, the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program, more funding for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CB-CAP), CAPTA state grants and more funding for services under the new Title IV-E Family First Prevention Services. The National Association of Counties (NACo) sent a letter highlighting the need for billions more in increased funds, including Medicaid and SSBG, as well as several other areas targeted to local governments. The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Coalition (which CWLA has been a part of for over two decades) called for $4.1 billion to address hot spots and other program needs, CWLA also joined a letter in support of increased child care funding. That letter led by the National Women’s Law Center thanked Congress for the initial $3.5 billion in child care funds but calls for at least $50 billion to help the industry to survive. Voice for Adoption highlighted key areas of concern for adoptive families and other families within the child welfare system.

In addition, the National Center on Housing Child Welfare and the Foster Care Alumni of America released their letter on National Governor’s Association providing recommendations states could take to protect youth in midst of COVID-19. The letter called on Governors to act immediately including suspending emancipation proceedings for six months, allowed streamlined re-entry for former foster youth younger than 21, access to on demand housing vouchers and more.