Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 24. May 2013 06:47
On May 13, 2013, the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF’s) Children’s Bureau updated the Child Welfare Policy Manual’s (CWPM’s) Title IV-E section to incorporate changes to the manual that address those youth who are over the age of 18 and are considered to be Title IV-E eligible by the state’s Title IV-E State Plan. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 24. May 2013 06:39
On May 20, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) applauded Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) for amending the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform legislation (S. 744) with the Congresswoman’s bill, Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act (CTVPA). The measure was approved on the Senate floor by voice vote. The CTVPA will require that state child welfare professionals be outposted at Customs and Border Patrol stations to access and screen children as victims of persecution or trafficking and to ensure they receive treatment as appropriate. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 24. May 2013 06:37
On May 16, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invited comment on a proposed rule that will better ensure children’s health and safety in child care and promote school readiness. Under the proposed rule, states, territories, and tribes would be required to strengthen their standards to better promote the health, safety, and school readiness of children in federally funded child care. [More]
Author: Tom Entrikin | Posted: 23. May 2013 10:04
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) released on May 15, 2013 a $900 million funding opportunity announcement for health care innovation awards authorized under section 3021 of the Affordable Care Act. The purpose of these competitive awards is to fund applicants proposing new payment incentives and service delivery models to improve care and reduce costs under Medicare, Medicaid, and/or CHIP. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, public-private partnerships, health systems, academic/research organizations, and for-profit entities. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to set up necessary infrastructure within 6 months of the initial award date and to achieve net savings within 3 years. [More]
Author: Ryan Paiva | Posted: 21. May 2013 03:56
On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, the Senate approved President Obama’s nominee to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Acting Chief Marilyn B. Tavenner. The 91-to-7 vote for confirmation showed broad support for Ms. Tavenner, a former state health official in Virginia. She is the first confirmed chief of CMS in six and a half years. Ms. Tavenner, a professional nurse, worked for more than two decades at the Hospital Corporation of America. Ms. Tavenner has been Acting Chief since December 2011. During that time, she has been reputed to have developed a close working relationship with Congress. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 20. May 2013 10:31
Many state legislatures are wrapping up the 2013 agenda, with bills going to governors for signature and others remaining stagnant in the committee process. This year, as in many previous ones, there have been a lot of child welfare issues brought before state bodies for clarification, instituting, or developing opportunities for children involved in the child welfare system. Some of the legislation was brought forward in response to Fostering Connections for Success and Increase Adoption Act of 2008, [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 10. May 2013 04:24
On May 9, 2013, the Human Resources Subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to hear how federal rules and regulations often keep children in the foster care system from enjoying their youthful life. The opening comments by Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) highlighted the recent legislative changes that have attempted to improve the education success of foster youth, while ensuring that their health and education needs are met. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 10. May 2013 04:20
In an effort to reform the juvenile justice system and to end the practice of sentencing and incarcerating youth under 18 in the adult criminal justice system, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Campaign for Youth Justice (CFJI) have partnered. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 3. May 2013 06:39
The Office of Family Assistance has recently published the following guidance:
New Question/Answer on Use of Funds for TANF or MOE. A new question and answer (Q41) has been posted under the “Use of Funds” category. It responds to a question about the amount of a refundable tax credit that can be counted as a federal TANF or MOE expenditure when a portion of the refund has been intercepted to recover a debt owed to the state. [More]
Author: Kay Casey | Posted: 3. May 2013 06:37
On the Senate floor on April 16, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), backed with bi-partisan support, introduced Senate Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act to provide widespread immigration reform. While the legislation contains major proposals affecting border security, employment verification and obtaining citizenship, the bill also proposes to amend the Social Security Act as it relates to foster care and adoption assistance. [More]
