Pages tagged "News Article"
Program Targets Ventura's Young Homeless
12/15/16
By Arlene Martinez
At 10 months to the day, Jeremiah Dockery is on the go. He's crawling fast, pulling himself up, grabbing fish crackers with his thumb and forefinger and clanking two plastic cups together.
In short, Dockery is perfectly on target — even a little advanced — for his age. He's also, at this particular moment, heading straight for the dusty fireplace full of soot and ashes.
His mom Leilani Dockery tapped him playfully on the back and started singing his name as she gently guided him toward a plastic tub filled with baby-safe items.
Homeless Students in Texas at 113,000 Last Year, Likely More Now
12/13/16
By Diane Smith
In Texas, 113,063 students experienced homelessness in the 2014-15 school year, and homelessness is on the rise among public schools in 35 states including Texas.
That’s according to a federal report highlighted Tuesday in a news release by First Focus Campaign for Children and SchoolHouse Connection, two national campaigns aimed at supporting families.
According to the report...
Student Homelessness on the Rise in Most States, Data Shows
12/13/16
By Aubree Eliza Weaver
Thirty-five states saw an increase in homeless students between 2012 and 2014, according to new data released today by the Department of Education. Of those states, 21 saw an increase of 10 percent or more. Only five states saw a reduction of 10 percent or more in homeless students.
Legislation with Mental Health Reforms, Opioid Prevention Funding Heads to Senate
12/1/2016
A major medical innovation bill that could help children and families with mental health reforms and funding to fight opioid addiction is headed to the U.S. Senate.
The $6.3 billion bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, is largely devoted to changing the way medical drugs and devices are approved in the United States. But various other provisions hitched a ride on the bill the House approved Wednesday by a vote of 392-26.
The Senate is expected to consider the legislation next week, and the White House has weighed in with support for it.
Senate Leaves for Recess Without Acting on Family First Act
by Sarah Barr
7/18/16
WASHINGTON — Federal legislation that aims to address the nation’s opioid crisis cleared its last major hurdle this week, while another bill that also includes provisions to address substance abuse floundered.
Before leaving for a lengthy summer recess, the Senate sent to the president’s desk the sweeping Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S 524), which includes some programs focused on the needs of children and families.
But the Senate did not take up the Family First Prevention Services Act (HR 5456, S 3065), a bill that would ...
Lujan Grisham Introduces Legislation To Provide Stable Funding For Food Banks
4/28/16
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham introduced legislation to ensure stable and increased federal funding for emergency food banks that distribute food to communities throughout the state.
Lujan Grisham drew attention to the need for the funding last month at a food distribution site at Pajarito Mesa.
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Lujan Grisham voted for the 2014 Farm Bill that dedicated money for food purchases, along with $100 million a year for food banks to distribute food to communities. But the distribution money is usually whittled down to about $50 million a year, forcing organizations like the Roadrunner Food Bank to look for other sources of money.
Rep. Lujan Grisham’s Food Bank Assistance Act of 2016 (H.R. 4967) would ...
Luján Introduces Save For Success Act To Help Hard-Working Families Save For College
By Chris Clark
3/23/16
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District introduced legislation today to help hard-working families save for college.
At a time when 70 percent of graduating seniors have an average student loan debt of $28,950, the Save for Success Act reforms the American Opportunity College Tax Credit (AOTC) to increase its impact and encourage saving for college.
Created in 2009, the American Opportunity College Tax Credit allows families with college expenses to receive a $2,500 tax credit for a student’s first four years of post-secondary education, for a total credit of $10,000. This assistance, however, only comes after students have already incurred higher education expenses. In fact, students don’t often receive assistance until months after they have paid their tuition bills. Partly because of this, the latest research shows that the AOTC fails to boost college success.
Luján’s Save for Success Act improves the AOTC and makes higher education ...
Outside Groups: Cutting the Social Services Block Grant Harms Children, Seniors
Ways & Means Committee Democrats
3/16/16
Today, Ways and Means Republicans will vote to end the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) – a policy created under President Reagan that had Republican support for years – which plays an important role in providing child care for Americans working to stay out of poverty, preventing child and elder abuse, and helping seniors and people with disabilities to live independently.
Former Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp even supported it, until he didn’t: “Cutting funding for services that keep people in their communities and out of expensive institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes is short sighted and will lead to unnecessary suffering as well as increased spending in other federal programs.”
HERE’S WHAT OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE SAYING ABOUT HOW CRITICAL THE SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT IS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY:
Child Welfare League of America: “We can’t tell you ..."
Sinema, Katko Introduce Legislation to Help Arizonans Prepare, Save for Parenthood
Office of U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema
3/11/16
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09) and Congressman John Katko (NY-24) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to help Arizona families prepare and save for parenthood.
The Working Parents Flexibility Act allows an individual and his/her employer to contribute pre-tax income to a Parental Leave Savings Account, similar to a health savings account. Earnings on the account are not taxed and can be withdrawn tax-free by the owner during the first year of parenthood.
“Many parents are unable to take advantage of unpaid leave, because they simply cannot afford to go without pay for any length of time,” said Congresswoman Sinema. “The Working Parents Flexibility Act is a responsible, commonsense solution to provide new parents with financial certainty during the critical early weeks of parenthood. This bill strengthens our economy and helps Arizona families get ahead.”
This legislation is endorsed by First Focus, a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy.
“Without the assistance of paid leave while caring for a newborn, many new parents are faced with the choice between economic hardship, dependence on public assistance and returning to work prematurely,” said Bruce Lesley, President of First Focus. “This legislation is an innovative way to facilitate paid leave by allowing working parents to save pretax funds in a parental savings account, while also allowing employers to contribute matching funds to the plan to maximize benefits for the parents’ use in covering their wages during their maternal and/or paternal leave.”
Funds contributed to the Parental Leave Savings Account can also be rolled tax-free into a retirement or college savings account, but would face a tax penalty if withdrawn for other purposes.
###
Crowley Bill Extends Access to Affordable Quality Child Care
2/24/16
The Child Care Access to Resources for Early-Learning (CARE) Act, which would expand access to affordable, quality child care for hardworking American families, has been introduced in Congress by Congressman Joseph Crowley.
The lawmaker, Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, said that the bill, backed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a wide variety of advocacy organizations, would ensure that both parents and child care providers have the resources they need to ensure high quality early care and learning for children under the age of 4.
Crowley (D–Queens/The Bronx) stated: “When the cost of child care exceeds tuition ...”