Federal social welfare policies are a critical support for vulnerable children and families. The best way to keep kids safe is to ensure that their families are stable and able to meet their basic needs. It’s our responsibility to create communities with an array of supports and services so families have the best chance to be self-sufficient. A strong safety net with springs will enable families to bounce back from hard times or offer a first chance in generations for families to find sure footing.

CWLA tracks the following key policy topics and prioritizes others with their own section under “Family and Community Supports.”

• Poverty
• Promise Neighborhoods
• Social Security Act
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

• CWLA Statement to House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support for the hearing on TANF’s Role in Providing Assistance to Struggling Families (4/11/2010)
• CWLA Testimony Submitted to the House Ways and Means Committee for the Hearing on the Economic and Societal Costs of Poverty, (1/24/07)
• CWLA Testimony Submitted to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for the hearing on Implementation and Reauthorization of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (5/10/02)
• CWLA Testimony Submitted to the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy for the Hearing on Issues in TANF Reauthorization: Helping Hard-To-Employ Families (4/25/02)
• Testimony of Shay Bilchik, CWLA President/CEO, before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources for the Hearing on Welfare Reform Reauthorization Proposals (4/11/02)
• CWLA Comments on the Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Authority (12/18/01)