News
Homeless Children
Wilmington Star NewsBy Bruce LesleyThe rise in local child homelessness (“Schools see more homeless students,” July 24th) is alarming. But what’s appalling is that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development policy doesn’t prioritize homeless families with children. In fact, America’s housing agency prefers to pretend they’re not even homeless...Read moreRead: New letter from @BruceLesley and @Campaign4Kids about the problem of childhood homelessness. http://bit.ly/1LUYDen | #InvestInKids Tweet this now.
Work to resolve child poverty has hit a snag
The Columbus DispatchOhio’s rising child poverty rate is alarming (“More kids in Ohio living in poverty,” Dispatch article, Tuesday). But what’s appalling is that political gridlock obstructs action to reduce devastating child poverty levels.Today, Democrats and Republicans offer solutions that are nonstarters for the other party. With no incentive to compromise, nothing gets done...Read moreWork to resolve child poverty has hit a snag http://bit.ly/1MRRnyl @DispatchAlerts via @First_Focus in the news Tweet this now.
Readers React: Children cut adrift by poverty in San Bernardino
Los Angeles TimesBy Bruce LesleyTo the editor: Millions of homeless children face daily horrors like those depicted in your story. Adding insult to injury is that U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) policy doesn't consider them homeless.Most homeless children — including nearly 260,000 attending California schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education — lead transient lives: motel one night, a friend's couch the next. In every way that matters, they're homeless...Read moreReaders React: Children cut adrift by poverty in San Bernardino http://lat.ms/1fBKxSI @LaTimes | via @Campaign4Kids in the news #HCYA
Bill in Congress Affects Foster Kids Here
California HealthlineBy David GornCalifornia former foster children get Medi-Cal coverage till age 26 -- but that's not the case with Medicaid benefits in 37 other states.That means those who were in foster care in California and now are ages 18 to 26 can't move to nearby states such as Oregon or Nevada without losing medical benefits...Read more@Campaign4Kids in the news: New bill affects kids in foster care. From @CalHealthline. Read >> http://bit.ly/1MpyCEh | #InvestInKids Tweet this now.
Support Casey Healthcare Bill for Former Foster Youth, Advocates Urge
Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, today endorsed the Health Insurance for Former Foster Youth Act. The legislation, introduced by United States Senator Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), ensures that young adults who grew up in foster care remain eligible for health care through Medicaid until they reach age 26, regardless of their state of residence.“We applaud Senator Casey for his leadership and urge his colleagues to quickly advance this common-sense reform,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.The Affordable Care Act required states to extend Medicaid eligibility to age 26 for...
Advocates Urge Yes Vote on Senate Bipartisan Education Bill
Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children, a bipartisan children’s advocacy organization, today sent a letter to members of the United States Senate urging passage of legislation to reauthorize federal primary and secondary education initiatives. A passage vote is expected today on the Every Child Achieves Act (S. 1177), championed by Senate education committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Washington).“It’s been 13 years since Congress updated America’s education law – action is well overdue, and we applaud Chairman Alexander and Senator Murray for finding a path forward,” said Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley.As...
House amendment would fund landmark child poverty study
Washington – The First Focus Campaign for Children applauded today Congresswomen Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) for offering an amendment to a House funding bill that would measure the impact of and help reduce child poverty in the United States. The amendment passed today in a voice vote of the appropriations committee.The amendment would direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to provide an evidence-based, non-partisan analysis of the macroeconomic, health, and crime/social costs of child poverty. It would also provide recommendations to reduce the...
160 leading child welfare advocates urge Congress to adopt President Obama’s proposals
Washington – A letter sent today by 160 leading children’s advocacy organizations urges Congress to support President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2016 proposed investments in child welfare. The letter was coordinated by First Focus Campaign for Children, Children’s Defense Fund, Child Welfare League of America, Foster Family-based Treatment Association, Generations United, National Foster Care Coalition, and Voice for Adoption.“The federal budget reflects our nation’s priorities,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus Campaign for Children. “Congress can make our most vulnerable children and families a priority by supporting President Obama’s child welfare proposals.”The letter is addressed to the leadership...
Saying No to the Slog
National Journal MagazineBy Nora Caplan-BrickerWhen Alex Wirth was a freshman at Harvard, he became smitten with the idea of creating a presidential youth council to give young people a direct say in government. So, when summer came, the then-18-year-old did what any preternaturally political college student would: He went to Washington to make it happen.Wirth asked the White House for an executive action, but he spent most of his summer trudging around the Hill, seeking allies for his idea the old-fashioned way: via moderately educated guesswork and contacts. (Wirth is the great-nephew of former Sen. Tim Wirth of Colorado...
Bill Offers Proven Plan on Child Poverty
Washington – The bipartisan children’s advocacy organization First Focus Campaign for Children today endorsed legislation to set a national target date for the elimination of child poverty. Other endorsers included Child Welfare League of America, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, National Network for Youth, Save the Children, and Save the Children Action Network. The Child Poverty Reduction Act (H.R. 2408), introduced today by Congressman Danny Davis (D-Illinois), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California), and Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) aims to cut child poverty in half in 10 years and end child poverty in America within 20...