Pages tagged "News Article"
Bill in Congress Affects Foster Kids Here
By David Gorn
California 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...
@Campaign4Kids in the news: New bill affects kids in foster care. From @CalHealthline. Read >> http://bit.ly/1MpyCEh | #InvestInKids
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Saying No to the Slog
By Nora Caplan-Bricker
When 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 and the son of a state senator from New Mexico; he also was a Senate page in high school.) It was, to say the least, a disheartening experience—"this wild goose chase across Capitol Hill," he recalls now. When he was able to talk to lawmakers at all, most told him they didn't have time for him, or promised to think about his resolution and then never called back. He left incredulous and frustrated with Washington in a way that only a digital native could be. Was this laborious, inefficient, unscientific process really how lobbying worked?...
Harvard students revolutionize lobbying in "Saying No to the Slog" http://bit.ly/1SAHgSY | @Campaign4Kids in the news #InvestInKids
Tweet this now.A federal focus on prevention would help in Minnesota
By Bruce Lesley
Yes, progress on child abuse and neglect will require real investments (“Better child protection is going to cost,” May 12). But reform in Washington could accelerate progress, by focusing on prevention. Federal funding shortchanges prevention efforts that help parents manage mental health, substance abuse, financial distress, and other abuse and neglect risk factors. Today, the federal government pays $4 for foster care for every $1 on prevention. And federal foster care funding is insufficient, covering less than half of eligible kids. Continued underfunding of prevention will only drain this already-shallow funding pool.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is developing legislation to invest in prevention. His plan would allow federal funds to help at-risk kids before they enter foster care, and it directs increased investments to prevention initiatives with proven track records of effectiveness. The likely result: stronger families, safer children and better value for taxpayers. Local and state resources are absolutely essential. But better federal child abuse and neglect policy would make every local and state dollar invested go further. If Minnesota wants better outcomes for kids, Minnesota’s leaders in Congress must also reform child abuse and neglect funding...
Bruce Lesley, Washington, D.C.
The writer is president of the First Focus Campaign for Children.
Count misses most homeless kids
By Bruce Lesley
It’s encouraging that Wichita is making progress on homelessness (“Yearly count finds 11% fewer homeless in city,” May 6 Eagle), but the numbers may not be as encouraging as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants us to believe.
Nearly a million homeless children lead transient lives – hotel one night, a friend’s couch the next. That includes more than 9,300 children attending Kansas schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The roof over their heads isn’t theirs, and they may lose it tomorrow. In every way that matters, they’re homeless...
Legislature's shortsighted decision will have terrible consequences
By Bruce Lesley
You rightly observed (“Sleep safer," May 11) that Missouri’s Legislature acted this month to protect kids from one danger, while increasing their vulnerability to another: child abuse and neglect. But Washington also has work to do, and National Foster Care Month is the time to do it.
Financial distress, unmet mental health needs, substance abuse problems and other risk factors contribute to abuse and neglect. By cutting supports for low-income families, the Legislature increased the risks. This shortsighted decision will have fiscal as well as terrible human consequences...
Letters on homeless kids, absent fathers, Deflategate
By Bruce Lesley
It’s encouraging that Wichita is making progress on homelessness (“Yearly count finds 11% fewer homeless in city,” May 6 Eagle), but the numbers may not be as encouraging as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants us to believe.
Nearly a million homeless children lead transient lives – hotel one night, a friend’s couch the next. That includes more than 9,300 children attending Kansas schools, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The roof over their heads isn’t theirs, and they may lose it tomorrow. In every way that matters, they’re homeless...
Reform foster funding
By Bruce Lesley
It’s ironic that child abuse prevention legislation was vetoed (“Senator considering options on veto override on child welfare bill,” April 30) during national Child Abuse Prevention Month, but Washington is an obstacle to progress, too.
Federal foster care's shrinking funding pool covers less than half of foster children today, and fewer by 2024. States tap other social services funding, but that just shifts resources from one set of kids and families to another. Worse yet, federal funding shortchanges prevention efforts that help parents manage mental health, substance abuse, financial distress and other abuse and neglect risk factors...
Fixing Foster Funding
With high caseloads, foster family shortfalls, and flat funding, it's no surprise that Philadelphia's child-welfare agency seems strained ("DHS tells Council: We're dealing with more cases," April 30). But an outdated federal funding formula doesn't help.
Federal funding covers less than half of foster children. Worse, it shortchanges prevention efforts that help parents manage mental health, substance abuse, and other risk factors.
Reform legislation in Congress would ensure that federal funds cover all foster children for a limited time, creating an incentive to find kids permanent homes...
Hanna among lawmakers to receive Champion for Children award
Rep. Richard L. Hanna has been presented a Champion for Children award by the First Focus Campaign for Children, recognizing his leadership on issues important to children during the 113th Congress in 2013-14, the group announced.
Hanna, R-22, Barneveld, was among 50 members of Congress recognized as “Champions for Children” for “their extraordinary efforts to protect and improve the future of America’s next generation,” said the national bipartisan children’s advocacy group. An additional 50 members were recognized as “Defenders of Children” for their support of policies that advance the well-being of children...