Published on Alliance1 (http://alliance1.org)
Washington Insider: August 2012
Federal Memo Prepares States for Big Shift in Child Welfare Reviews
A just-released Federal Information Memorandum strongly encourages states to start using a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) system in anticipation of projected changes to how the federal government conducts reviews of states’ performance on child welfare outcomes. According to the memorandum, during the previous two rounds of Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSR), the Children’s Bureau discovered that many state quality assurance systems “needed extensive refinements to assess and measure improvements on an ongoing basis specifically with regard to CFSR outcomes and systemic factors.” … more
Title IV-E Waiver Applications Posted for Public Comment
Eight states have posted their applications detailing their plans for Title IV-E waivers. The proposals, which must be finalized by Sept. 30, are posted for public comment.
Below are some highlights:
Arkansas
Arkansas proposes to develop a comprehensive model of practice that includes in-home services based on evidence-based and evidence-informed practices. Services will include:
- Screening tools and assessments
- Family team meetings
- Parenting education
- Differential response
Colorado
Flexible funds would include major initiatives planned by the state: … more
Report and Interactive Maps Show Psychotropic Med Use in Foster Children
PolicyLab, based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, has created two interactive data maps on psychopharmacology and foster children. The maps show state statistics on polypharmacology and psychotropic drug use among foster children. According to the PolicyLab: … more
Foster Youth Report Inspires Congress to Act
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute recently released its 2012 foster youth report, Hear Me Now, which contains comprehensive, well-researched articles written by former foster youth serving as Congressional interns.
The report covers current hot topics, such as psychotropic medication use and human trafficking, as well as enduring systemic issues, such as quality foster parenting, preparing foster youth for adulthood, and Native American issues. … more
The 2012 Tax Debate
Once the U.S. Congress returns, it will vote on a continuing resolution (CR) to provide six months of funding, rather than enact appropriations legislation. The CR will allow it to focus on the so-called “fiscal cliff,” a combination of the tax provisions that will be expiring at the end of the year, including the hotly debated Bush tax cuts, and the automatic spending cuts scheduled to go into effect in January 2013.
Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have passed tax bills (S. 3412 and H.R. 8) that address expiring tax items. … more
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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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