The Keys to Fixing Child Care are Now in the Hands of States. They May not be Ready for the Task
Biden’s American Rescue Plan allocated $39 billion for child care — a historic infusion. But states are relying on small staffs, old systems and a short timeline to get the money out equitably.
Some States Update Child Neglect Laws to Allow 'Reasonable Independence' For Kids
A handful of states have clarified neglect laws to allow parents to permit their children to walk to school and play outside alone without fear of intervention from police or Child Protective Services.
Only Some Parents Can Use Campaign Funds for Child Care When Running for Office. Here’s Why.
A new report highlights the financial barriers to parents of young children running for state and local office.
One State’s Plan to Ease the ‘Invisible’ Diaper Gap for Families
A third of families nationwide experience diaper need, regardless of age, race or income, data shows. Washington state will allocate funding for diaper banks in its latest budget to help close that gap.
A Simple Approach to Ending Extreme Poverty
COMMENTARY | Buried deep in the latest pandemic stimulus package is a transformative idea for helping families.
Child Care Benefits at Work: This App Helps your Employer Pay Your Family and Friends for Babysitting
Helpr, one of the fastest growing apps offering backup child care, is behind new legislation in California that would require big employers to give their workers subsidized backup care.
A Roadmap to Rebuilding an Early Childhood System of Care
COMMENTARY | The pandemic has exposed the need to fundamentally reshape early childhood care systems.
Pandemic Could Hurt Home-Based Care for Kids With 24/7 Needs
“It’s horrifying, it’s inhumane, and it doesn’t make any financial sense.”
New Hampshire Sued Over Treatment of Foster Youth with Mental Health Issues
Civil and children’s rights groups allege that the state has been negligent in its treatment of older foster youth and those with mental health issues.
Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Wave of Mental Illness
Efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus in the United States have led to drastic changes in the way children and teens learn, play and socialize.
USDA Extends Free School Meal Program for Children
The U.S. Department of Agriculture loosened requirements for children receiving free meals through their schools at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and announced Monday it would keep those flexibilities in place through the end of the year.
Word Count Program Helps Expand Early Childhood Language Exposure
The Providence Talks program expanded to five cities, where educators are working with parents to increase the number of words per day that their children hear.
Will Child Care Be There When States Reopen?
Closures may make it harder for parents to return to work.
COVID-19 Put Her Husband in the ICU. She Had to Be Hospitalized Next. The State Demanded to Know: Who Would Care for Their Children?
When Laura Whalen went to a hospital with COVID-19, she brought her kids. Her husband was already in an ICU, and she couldn’t risk them exposing their grandma. But the state told her to find someone to take them or it would.
Thousands of Foster Children Were Sent Out of State to Mental Health Facilities Where Some Faced Abuse and Neglect
State officials are supposed to send foster children to out-of-state facilities only as a last resort, but in Illinois alone, it has happened dozens of times. In many cases, officials failed to adequately monitor their treatment and well-being.
Supreme Court to Hear Dispute Over Same-Sex Foster Parents
Catholic Social Services is fighting Philadelphia’s decision to stop working with the foster agency because it will not place children with same-sex couples.
Facing a Foster Care Crisis, One State Seeks to Increase Payments to Foster Parents
A proposal in the West Virginia Legislature would increase monthly payments to foster parents, pay child-placing agencies for finalized adoptions and create a foster parent's bill of rights.
Behind on Child Support? In Some States that Means No Fishing or Hunting
A proposal in Utah would prevent certain people from obtaining hunting or fishing permits if they're behind on child support. Similar policies have been adopted by other states.
Foster Care Adoptions Reach Record High
The most recent data shows an increase of nearly 25% from fiscal 2014 to 2018.
Federal Spending on Kids Falls, as More Dollars Flow Toward Older Adults and Debt
The findings are included in the latest edition of an annual report. “In a sense in our budget, we’re treating kids worse and worse,” said one of its authors.
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