Children's Services

Lawsuit Pits Faith-Based Adoption Agencies Against Michigan’s Anti-Discrimination Policy

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Spotlight on Baltimore pipeline deal … Los Angeles Sheriff putting aside misconduct investigations … Washington state works on debt-collection bills.

By John Tomasic
April 16, 2019

Lawsuit Pits Faith-Based Adoption Agencies Against Michigan’s Anti-Discrimination Policy

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Spotlight on Baltimore pipeline deal … Los Angeles Sheriff putting aside misconduct investigations … Washington state works on debt-collection bills.

By John Tomasic
April 16, 2019

Children's Services

Lawsuit Pits Faith-Based Adoption Agencies Against Michigan’s Anti-Discrimination Policy

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Spotlight on Baltimore pipeline deal … Los Angeles Sheriff putting aside misconduct investigations … Washington state works on debt-collection bills.

By John Tomasic
April 16, 2019

As Drug Crises Surge, Babies Enter Foster Care at Higher Rate

The trend can have a big impact on state budgets.

By Teresa Wiltz
April 9, 2019

Navigating the Justice System, Victims Find Comfort with Courthouse Dogs

Courthouse companion dogs offer emotional support for victims and witnesses in 39 states.

By Kate Elizabeth Queram
April 4, 2019

As Need Grows, States Try to Entice New Foster Parents

States are using new campaigns, including online ads, to recruit foster parents.

By Teresa Wiltz
March 1, 2019

The Soaring Cost of Child Care In 5 Charts

The cost of raising children has gotten so overwhelming for so many families that policymakers on both the federal and state levels are floating proposals.

By Heidi Steinour, The Conversation
February 22, 2019

The Coming Care Crisis as Kids With Autism Grow Up

The number of adults with autism diagnoses is soaring, but there aren’t enough programs and services to meet the demand.

By Noah Remnick, The Atlantic
February 20, 2019

Foster Parents Have Become Professionals in Some States

The idea of hiring professional foster parents to take care of children is controversial, but is being tested as a solution to the shortage of families in these state systems.

By Teresa Wiltz
February 20, 2019

New Survey Finds Big Increase in U.S. Teen Vaping

One in five high school seniors vaped in 2018.

By Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz
December 18, 2018

Fears Raised of ‘Chilling Effect’ on Kids If Trump Proposal Is Adopted

Changes to the “public charge” rule could make it harder for immigrants to secure green cards if they seek government services like Medicaid.

By Laura Maggi
December 10, 2018

Measuring Results of Early Childhood Spending

Finding more resources to help struggling populations “needs to be reframed as an economic imperative, even a national security issue.”

By Timothy B. Clark
December 6, 2018

New Rules Could Open More Homes to Foster Kids

The proposed federal guidelines would eliminate square footage and bedroom requirements, among other changes.

By Teresa Wiltz
December 5, 2018

Report on Uninsured Children in the U.S. Shows Distressing Trend

“With an improving economy and a very low unemployment rate, the fact that our nation is going backwards on children’s health coverage is very troubling,” said Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families.

By Laura Maggi
November 29, 2018

If Parents Get Deported, Who Gets Their Children?

One in five children being raised by extended family members—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins—live in an immigrant household, more than half a million children, a new report shows.

By Teresa Wiltz
October 25, 2018

Summer Food Programs Face Challenges in Rural Areas

Paperwork, administrative burdens and transportation issues can lead to lower participation among children in rural areas, experts said at a House subcommittee hearing.

By Kate Elizabeth Queram
July 17, 2018

Watchdog Projects Ongoing Drop in Share of Federal Spending on Kids

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released its estimates as the nation's debt and deficits are on the rise.

By Bill Lucia
July 9, 2018

More Money—and Stricter Scrutiny—for Child Care

“What we’re seeing is an influx of state policymakers starting to wrap their arms around the fact that learning doesn’t start in kindergarten,” said Bruce Atchison of the Education Commission of the States.

By The Pew Charitable Trusts
July 8, 2018

Share of Kids Facing Food Insecurity Still Above Pre-Recession Levels

“In 16 states, more than one-in-five children live in food insecure households,” new research from The Hamilton Project notes.

By Bill Lucia
June 29, 2018

Federal Judge Asked to Appoint ‘Special Master’ for Illinois Child Welfare Agency

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Intergovernmental ‘venom’ in S.C. … Colo. to adopt Calif.-style auto emission standards … and coral disease heading to Key West.

By Michael Grass
June 20, 2018

Houston Officials May Try to Foil Trump Plans for ‘Tender Age’ Shelter

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | D.C. voters approve measure to eliminate tipped minimum wage … Del. blood emergency … and a Calif. mayor ends up with 5,000 purple water bottles.

By Michael Grass
June 19, 2018

Will the New Foster Care Law Give Grandparents a Hand?

Some advocates for children being raised by grandparents worry that a new federal law will make it more difficult for caregivers to get help from state agencies and financial assistance.

By The Pew Charitable Trusts
June 5, 2018

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Spotlight on Baltimore pipeline deal … Los Angeles Sheriff putting aside misconduct investigations … Washington state works on debt-collection bills.

The trend can have a big impact on state budgets.

Courthouse companion dogs offer emotional support for victims and witnesses in 39 states.

States are using new campaigns, including online ads, to recruit foster parents.

The cost of raising children has gotten so overwhelming for so many families that policymakers on both the federal and state levels are floating proposals.

The number of adults with autism diagnoses is soaring, but there aren’t enough programs and services to meet the demand.

The idea of hiring professional foster parents to take care of children is controversial, but is being tested as a solution to the shortage of families in these state systems.

One in five high school seniors vaped in 2018.

Changes to the “public charge” rule could make it harder for immigrants to secure green cards if they seek government services like Medicaid.

Finding more resources to help struggling populations “needs to be reframed as an economic imperative, even a national security issue.”

The proposed federal guidelines would eliminate square footage and bedroom requirements, among other changes.

“With an improving economy and a very low unemployment rate, the fact that our nation is going backwards on children’s health coverage is very troubling,” said Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families.

One in five children being raised by extended family members—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins—live in an immigrant household, more than half a million children, a new report shows.

Paperwork, administrative burdens and transportation issues can lead to lower participation among children in rural areas, experts said at a House subcommittee hearing.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget released its estimates as the nation's debt and deficits are on the rise.

“What we’re seeing is an influx of state policymakers starting to wrap their arms around the fact that learning doesn’t start in kindergarten,” said Bruce Atchison of the Education Commission of the States.

“In 16 states, more than one-in-five children live in food insecure households,” new research from The Hamilton Project notes.

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Intergovernmental ‘venom’ in S.C. … Colo. to adopt Calif.-style auto emission standards … and coral disease heading to Key West.

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | D.C. voters approve measure to eliminate tipped minimum wage … Del. blood emergency … and a Calif. mayor ends up with 5,000 purple water bottles.

Some advocates for children being raised by grandparents worry that a new federal law will make it more difficult for caregivers to get help from state agencies and financial assistance.

Thank you!