PUBLIC POLICY and CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Joint Activities of the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America

New Voices at the Civic Table

Mission-Based Advocacy Toolkit

Washington Staff

Joint Alliance/UNCA Public Policy Committee

Analysis 
 

 BUDGET                                                                     

Earmark Reform: In recent years, Congress has instituted a number of changes in the federal earmark process. This analysis provides an overview of the earmark debate and discusses current earmark reform proposals. (April 21, 2009)

2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill: An overview of the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations package signed into law on March 11, 2009. The omnibus contains funding increases for many key education, health, and child welfare programs of concern to the membership of UNCA and the Alliance. (March 13, 2009).

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: This paper summarizes economic stimulus legislation enacted on February 17, 2009, with a focus on issues of concern to Alliance and UNCA members. This document will be updated as more information becomes available. (Updated February 27, 2009)

Outlook: The Obama Administration: On January 20, Sen. Barack Obama will be inaugurated as our nation’s 44th president. As the new administration is being assembled, this paper outlines what can be expected on issues of concern to member agencies of the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America. (Updated November 20, 2008)

Pathways to Economic Recovery: The current economic downturn is taking a toll on low-income families. Congress should enact an economic stimulus package that includes new funding for Head Start, Medicaid, public housing, and youth employment programs. (August 15, 2008).

Reverse the Trend: The Federal Budget Fails to Prioritize Programs for Children: The upcoming fiscal 2009 appropriations process presents an opportunity to increase investments in America’s youth. In recent years when adjusted for inflation, valued programs such as Head Start, 21st CCLC and CCDBG have suffered sharp funding cuts. Congress should prioritize these programs during the FY 2009 appropriations process (August 7, 2008).

 CHILD WELFARE                                                     

Residential Treatment Health and Safety Act: Summary of proposed legislation supported by the Alliance for Children and Families that would ensure minimum health and safety standards for all residential treatment programs for children. (July 2, 2009)

For Many Residential Programs, Regulatory Framework in H.R. 911 Would Be Duplicative and Ill-Suited to Those Served: H.R. 911, while well-intentioned, should ensure baseline regulation for all residential treatment programs by focusing on those not already covered by existing federal laws. For others, changes should be adopted through those existing laws. (Updated June 29, 2009)

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: During the likely reauthorization of CAPTA this year, lawmakers should promote inter-agency collaboration, differential response and family group decision making in planning for the permanency and well-being of children who have been victimized by abuse and neglect. (April 7, 2009)

The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009: This legislation would establish standards and enforcement provisions to prevent child abuse and neglect in residential programs. (Updated February 27, 2009)

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008: Signed into law by former President Bush on October 7, 2008, this new law makes a number of improvements to the child welfare system, including allowing states make kinship guardianship payments for children being raised by relative foster parents, creating new Family Connection Grants, notifying relatives of children in care and other provisions. (Updated February 20, 2009)

New Help for Children Raised by Grandparents and Other Relatives: A resource developed by eighteen collaborating organizations to help advocates, providers and caregivers understand the kinship care provisions in the new Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. (Updated February 9, 2009)

Child Welfare Reform Sign-on Letter: The Alliance and UNCA drafted and circulated a sign-on letter to House and Senate leadership urging the passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (H.R. 6893). The letter garnered almost 600 signatures and the bill was signed into law in October 2008. (Updated September 15, 2008)

Child Welfare Reform - Issues and Recommendations: An overview of the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America’s child welfare legislative priorities for 2008. (January 15, 2008)

Aging Out of Foster Care:  S. 1512, introduced by Senator Boxer (D-CA) in May 2007 would provide continued federal funding through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act for foster care services to children aged 18-21. States would have discretion in determining the upper age limit of youth qualifying for foster care services. This is an important first step in providing for “aging out” youth. (December 4, 2007)

Tribal Child Welfare in Washington State: Washington state provides an estimated $6.5 million in foster care services to Native American children, but services provided through tribes are severely under-funded. The Tribal Foster Care and Adoption Access Act of 2007 (S.1956), introduced by Sen. Max Baucus, would increase tribal access to federal funding in the state of Washington. (October 23, 2007)

Tribal Foster Care and Adoption Access Act of 2007: S. 1956, introduced by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)would provide tribal communities direct access to Title IV-E funding for foster care services for the first time. (September 13, 2007)

Kinship Caregiver Support Act: The Kinship Caregiver Support Act, introduced in both the House (H.R. 2188) and the Senate (S. 661), would provide assistance to relatives who become the legal guardians of children in foster care. The legislation would help transfer custody of up to 20,000 children now in foster care from the state to relatives willing to assume legal guardianship (June 21, 2007)

Building Bridges Initiative: Joint Resolution on Core Principles: This document lays out the core principles of the National Building Bridges Initiative, an initiative aimed at better integrating and linking residential and community-based services and supports. (September 15, 2006)

 EDUCATION                                                             

Funding Hurdles Create Challenges for Effective After-School Programs: Federally funded after-school programs struggle to provide the same level of services after their federal grants end, according to a new Alliance / UNCA survey of 21st Century Community Learning Center program state coordinators. Although programs struggle to replace 21st CCLC funds, most states decrease 21st CCLC funding over the course of a grant cycle. The study also confirms the positive impact of 21st CCLC programs on student performance. (July 22, 2008).

Sustaining Quality After-School Programs: A legislative proposal to sustain quality after school programs by making 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grants renewable on a competitive basis. (February 11, 2008)

Strengthening After-School and Tutoring Programs in No Child Left Behind: A summary of key recommendations for strengthening after-school and supplemental educational services as Congress considers the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. (Updated January 22, 2008)

Expanded Learning Time: A comparative analysis of Congressman Donald Payne’s Expanded Learning Time Demonstration Act and Congressman George Miller’s Expanded Learning Time Demonstration Program in the House discussion draft for reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. Both proposals authorize funding to increase the amount of time students spend in school. (January 18, 2008)

T-FELAS Act: The Teaching Fellows for Expanded Learning and After-School Act of 2007, or 'T-FELAS Act (S. 778), introduced by Senators Kennedy and Burr, would provide fellowships to up to 10,000 recent college graduates and graduates of accredited two year institutions to support after-school and expanded learning programs. (December 10, 2007)

Supplemental Educational Services (SES) And No Child Left Behind: The House discussion draft of NCLB contains a number of proposed changes for supplemental educational services (SES) for students in low performing schools. While some of these changes are positive, the proposal to limit funding to so-called "high-priority" schools would hurt children in schools that do not qualify. (November 5, 2007)

Improving 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Alliance and UNCA recommendations to Congress for improving the 21st CCLC program during reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. (September 14, 2007)

 HEALTH                                                                   

Medicaid Services Restoration Act Sign-on Letter: The Alliance, CWLA, and the Foster Family-based Treatment Association circulated this sign-on letter for national organizations supporting S. 1217, the Medicaid Services Restoration Act of 2009. The letter was sent to Sen. Stabenow, the author of the bill, with over 40 groups signed on. (June 24, 2009)

Medicaid Exclusion for Institutes of Mental Disease: Medicaid law prohibits federal financial support for the cost of health services received by patients of institutes for mental disease (IMDs). This policy brief describes the history of the IMD exclusion, its impact on the treatment of mentally ill Medicaid enrollees, and several proposals for repealing or relaxing the exclusion. (Updated May 14, 2009)

Alliance/UNCA Health Care Priorities: One-page summaries of our public policy recommendations in the health care arena.

• Improving Foster Children’s Health Through Health IT (April 21, 2009)

• Raising Reimbursement for Medicaid Providers (April 10, 2009)

• Protecting Therapeutic Foster Care (April 8, 2009)

• Defining “Rehabilitation” (April 8, 2009)

• Allowing Bundled Payments for Child and Family Services (April 8, 2009)

• Evaluating Low-income Children’s Access to Health Services (April 8, 2009)

Medicaid Provider Reimbursement Rates: Low reimbursement rates limit providers’ participation in Medicaid and decrease children’s access to health care. This brief describes the problem of low reimbursement and offers recommendations to improve provider payment. (Updated April 8, 2009)

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC): Describes the history of Medicaid and Medicare payment reform commissions, summarizes the new MACPAC law, and guesses at a few of the potential benefits that could result for Alliance and UNCA members. (March 2, 2009)

Financing Health Treatment for Children in Child Welfare: A brief that describes the funding streams used to pay for the health treatment of children in out-of-home care and recent proposed regulatory changes that threaten their ability to access these services. Recommendations are presented to ensure a permanent source of funding for the behavioral and developmental health needs of these children. (February 12, 2009)

Children's Health Sign-on Letter: The Alliance and UNCA circulated a letter urging the Senate leadership to consider the unique health care needs of children in any health reform proposal. Similar letters were sent to the House leadership and President Obama. (Updated February 9, 2009)

Electronic Health Passports for Foster Children: Electronic health passports are abbreviated medical records used to view and document certain information about a patient’s health. This policy brief outlines the basic elements of health passports, describes states’ efforts to use them in improving foster children’s health, and recommends strategies to expand their use. (February 4, 2009)

Addressing the Health Needs of Children in the Child Welfare System: A brief that describes the unique health needs of children in the child welfare system and recommendations to improve health insurance coverage, access to health services, screening, prevention, treatment, and data collection. (September 26, 2008)

Ensuring State Health Care Services: The economic downturn means states may implement cuts to health care programs, such as Medicaid, which serve vulnerable children and families, at a time they need it most. A temporary increase in the FMAP rate would help states to maintain current health care services and eligibility levels while providing an overall economic stimulative effect. (August 19, 2008)

Economic Recovery in Health Care Act of 2008:  S. 2819, a bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Rockefeller (D-WV), Sen. Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Kennedy (D-MA), would delay implementation of seven administration-sponsored Medicaid regulations. It would also provide targeted fiscal relief to states through a combination of raising the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage rate and providing targeted grants. (May 23, 2008)

Reauthorization of SAMHSA: Highlights from the legislative draft released in December 2007 by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. (Updated January 17, 2008)

The Mental Health in Schools Act of 2007: A comparative analysis of bills to expand school-based mental health services. The House largely improves on the Senate version, but removes the Senate's preferred requirement that grant applicants must partner with community-based organizations or community-based programs involved in mental health. (December 12, 2007)

Mental Health Parity in SCHIP: The House and Senate-passed SCHIP bills both have been portrayed as ensuring parity for mental health services. However, while the House bill improves upon current law, it falls short of full parity. (August 28, 2007)

Mental Health Parity Act (S. 558): A general summary and analysis of legislation pending before the Senate that, if enacted, would increase parity between the coverage of mental health and addiction treatment and other medical treatment in group health insurance plans. (July 18, 2007)

Proposed Federal Law Would Expand Mental Health Coverage Provided Under New York’s ‘Timothy’s Law’: S. 558 would extend parity to at least 7.1 million New Yorkers, more than a third of the state’s population, who are enrolled in plans not currently covered by New York’s recently-enacted mental health parity law, Timothy’s Law. (July 18, 2007)

 NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATIVES                           

Building Neighborhoods Blog: UNCA's blog covering federal urban policy, with a focus on President Obama’s Promise Neighborhoods initiative and similar state and local place-based efforts. (June 24, 2009)

Promising Practices and Promise Neighborhoods: Lessons from the Community Services Block Grant: As the Obama administration formulates the Promise Neighborhood initiative, it should consider the history of and lessons learned from the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a similar neighborhood-based anti-poverty program. CSBG’s history suggests the need for realistic goals, community involvement, and adequate, targeted, and sustained funding. (June 4, 2009)

Tipping Neighborhoods to Success: Recommendations on the Obama administration's Promise Neighborhoods initiative, a proposal modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone that would provide continuing school and community-based programs in 20 neighborhoods to help children reach college and transform the communities they live in. (Updated May 31, 2009)

The Community Development Block Grant: An overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a program that disseminates funding to build strong neighborhoods and promote economic opportunities for predominantly low- and moderate- income populations. (November 5, 2008)

 NONPROFIT ISSUES                                              

Some States Are Delaying Payments to Nonprofits: Government agencies in at least 19 states are delaying payments promised under existing grants or contracts to nonprofit agencies, according to a survey conducted by the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America in April 2009. The resulting cash flow problems have produced job cuts and service reductions by many affected nonprofits. (April 29, 2009)

Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act: The Edward M. Kennedy Act, signed into law on April 21,2009, by President Obama, will expand existing national service programs and create new jobs and new service opportunities for all Americans. By taking advantage of the new provisions, Alliance and UNCA member agencies should benefit from new grant, volunteer management and social innovation opportunities. (Updated April 22, 2009)

GIVE Act (H.R. 1388): This bill would amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to triple the number of AmeriCorps volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000, establish five new service corps and several new programs whose aim is to engage students in service and service-learning, and authorize appropriations for the Corporation for National Community Service through fiscal year 2014. (March 23, 2009).

Creating a Human Services Corps: In 2009, Congress is expected to consider legislation reauthorizing and expanding existing national and community service programs, including AmeriCorps. As this legislation moves forward, Congress should consider creating a new human services corps to help address the workforce issues facing the social service-providing nonprofit sector. (February 18, 2009)

Serve America Act (S.277): This act would amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to create two new service-learning programs and four new accounts, similar to AmeriCorps, that will expand the number of national service participants to 250,000 Americans. (January 26, 2009).