Published on Alliance1 (http://alliance1.org)
Washington Insider: April 2012
Senate Finance Committee Well-Being Roundtable
On Friday, April 27, The Alliance for Children and Families participated in a roundtable hosted by The Senate Finance Committee and led by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who was joined by Committee Chair Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the staff of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). The meeting was held so that Committee members could hear from the child welfare community about well-being and foster care issues.
Sen. Wyden said he was interested in coordination of services and innovation at the state and local level. He mentioned health care as a top priority for children. He cited the shift in culture and practice brought about by the passage of The Violence Against Women Act 20 years ago and suggested he would like to see a similar shift occur in child welfare. … more
House Action Eliminates Social Services Block Grant
Looking for ways to cut spending, the House Committee on Ways and Means, through the budget reconciliation process, eliminated the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). SSBG has survived many threats over the years, including last year’s House Budget Resolution.
According to ACF (Administration for Children and Families), some of the services for both children and adults funded by SSBG include: day care, protective services, case management, transportation, foster care, substance abuse and housing. It has been estimated that 12% of federal child welfare funds come from SSBG. … more
Federal Plan to Address Psychotropic Med Use
A recent IM (Information Memorandum) issued by ACF (Administration for Children and Families) lays out a plan to guide states on appropriate use of psychotropic medication in the foster care population. The IM anticipates a meeting in August 2012 which will bring together state leaders from child welfare, mental health and Medicaid to learn about best practices and craft their own state action plans. … more
Bryan Samuels Introduces Well-Being Memo that Charts New Child Welfare Course
This week, on April 18 2012, at the Children’s Bureau Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect celebrating the agency’s centennial, ACYF (Administration on Children Youth and Families) Commissioner Bryan Samuels introduced a federal Information Memorandum (IM) that charts a new course in child welfare, emphasizing the well-being of children. Samuels said since ASFA (the Adoption and Safe Families Act) was passed 15 years ago we have a done a good job on safety and permanency and now it is time to focus our efforts on well-being. … more
New ACF Guide on Integrating Protective Factors into Abuse Prevention
In recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has produced a downloadable resource guide to help practitioners integrate the six protective factors into their work.
Preventing Child Maltreatment and Promoting Well-Being: A Network for Action 2012 Resource Guide supports service providers in their work with parents, caregivers, and their children to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. It focuses on the six protective factors, which have been proven to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, and provides tools and strategies to integrate the factors into existing programs and systems.
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About the Author
Katherine Astrich is senior vice president of public policy and mobilization for the Alliance and UNCA.
She previously worked as a consultant for The Lewin Group, a national health and human services consulting firm. She has advocated for Medicaid, early education, and workforce assistance programs that benefit vulnerable children and families.
Her expertise includes regulatory and information collection policy. She also has eight years of experience working for the Office of Management and Budget. ... more
About the Author
Cecilia Fiermonte is director of child welfare policy at the Alliance. An attorney, she previously was assistant director at the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, advocating for policy change and providing training and technical assistance.
She also previously:
- Supervised the child welfare program of the County Attorney's Office in Wyoming County, N.Y.
- Worked in research and evaluation at the Quality Improvement Center on the Representation of Children
- Represented children in family court matters ... more
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