The Children's Monitor

New Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative

YaMinco — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:42:01 +0000

Representative Nydia Velazquez recently introduced, H.R.4034, the Mentor-Mentee Teen Pregnancy Reduction Act of 2012, which would amend Title V of the Social Security Act (The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant) to provide grants for school-based mentoring programs for at risk teenage girls to prevent and reduce teen pregnancy, and to provide student loan forgiveness for mentors participating in such programs. Under this legislation, funding would begin in FY 2013, with priority being given to programs in States that have elected not to receive an allotment under section 510 (abstinence education) for the fiscal year. Grants to reduce or prevent pregnancy would only be available to local education agencies and community based organizations. In addition, this bill would provide funding for programs to assume the obligation to repay Federal student loans for individuals who meet certain qualifications. The total amount of loan forgiveness may not exceed $20,000 for an individual.

This year President Obama requested $640 million in his FY 2013 Budget for Title V, which is an increase of $1.4 million from the FY 2012. Title V is the only Federal program that focuses solely on improving the health of all mothers, adolescents and children, whether insured or not, through a broad array of public health and community-based programs that are designed and carried out through well-established Federal/State partnerships.

Filed under: Health, House legislation, Older Youth

Starting Life without a Home: Supporting Homeless Families in Nurturing Their Infants and Toddlers

Children's Monitor — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:39:44 +0000

On Thursday, February 16th, The National Center on Family Homelessness sponsored a briefing titled “Starting Life without a Home: Supporting Homeless Families in Nurturing their Infants and Toddlers.” The congressional briefing was hosted by Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Horizons for Homeless Children, and the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, in conjunction with the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness.

The briefing featured commentary from Mary Huber, Research Director from the National Center on Family Homelessness; Sarah Benjamin, Teacher Laison/Education Advocate from Eastern Suffolk BOCES and Family Education Outreach Services; and Kim Cosgrove, Program Director, PACT’s Therapeutic Nurseries and Clinical Social Worker from Kennedy Krieger Institute.

In 2011, one in forty-five children experienced homelessness. Forty-two percent of homeless children are under the age of six. According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, the developmental foundation established during these critical early years affects children and the quality of their contributions to society for the rest of their lives. The briefing highlighted innovative services different organizations are providing through the use of federal funding designed to respond to the needs of homeless across the country. The new Early Childhood Visiting Program, for example, was created under the Affordable Care Act to provide states with 1.5 billion dollars over 5 years to implement evidence-based and promising home visiting programs that improve the outcomes of children under age five. States are expected to target these resources to communities where risks of adverse outcomes are highest, such as communities with high concentrations of poor families, according to Strengthening at Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children.

In summary, planning, research, and data collection remain a continual need to improve understanding of the characteristics and needs of homeless children, youth, and families. To learn more about the event, visit www.homelesschildrenamerica.org

Filed under: General

Every Child Deserves a Family, on Valentine’s Day and Everyday

Children's Monitor — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:36:18 +0000

On Valentine’s Day, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) read a resolution on the Senate Floor expressing the sense of the Senate that children should have a safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent family and that it is the policy of the United States that family reunification, kinship care, or domestic and intercountry adoption promotes permanency and stability to a greater degree than long-term institutionalization and long-term, continually disrupted foster care. During her floor speech, she spoke of the 100,000 in the U.S. alone who are in need and waiting for permanent families. She also called on her colleagues to join her in her efforts to do more for all children in need, both in this country and abroad.

The following day, the Senate passed S.RES.378 by unanimous consent.

Filed under: People, Permanency, Senate legislation

Payroll Tax Cut Bill Also Extends TANF and Child Care

timbricelandbetts — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:35:13 +0000

Today Congress approved legislation to continue the payroll tax cut through the end of year. The bill includes an extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) which also includes funding for child care. This is an extension of current law but not the longer-term reauthorization which advocactes have been calling for. The extension is through the fiscal year which ends September 30. President Obama has promised to sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk. Without this extension, funding for TANF and the child care funding that is provided through TANF would have ended February 29^th.

Filed under: Budget, General, Grants, House legislation, Senate legislation

CWLA Issues Report on Child Welfare Workers’ Recommendations for Reform

SuzanneCWLA — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:04:48 +0000

CWLA today released a new report on what direct service workers recommend for reforming the child welfare system. The rich expertise of frontline workers and supervisors informs the report, Direct Service Workers’ Recommendations for Child Welfare Financing and System Reform. Front line workers carry out the logistical process of furthering children’s safety, permanence and well-being and their input is critical for uncovering the strengths and weakness of the child welfare system. CWLA Government Affairs staff conducted a series of survey and focus group discussions with the workers and supervisors to assess the state of the child welfare system, inform our policy position on financing reform, and most importantly, include the direct service worker voice in the national discussion on refinancing child welfare.

Key recommendations focused on strengthening families, keeping children out of care and supporting the workforce. Direct services workers see the lack of support for families as the most pressing need in the child welfare system. They called for increased resources and services to keep families healthy and steady. Particularly, the survey participants would like to see new resources geared towards prevention services. In addition, support for the child welfare workforce was also recommended highly.

The survey itself was a combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions completed through teleconference technology. Registration questions included basic demographic and workforce information. Teleconference questions focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the child welfare system. They were asked orally, with ample opportunity for clarification, feedback and nuanced comment.

This report is an important resource for advocates and legislators alike to move forward with child welfare refinancing in a way that best serves children and families.

Filed under: General