Differential Response Resources: Published by American Humane, the newest volume of Protecting Children, "Exploring Differential Response: One Pathway Toward Reforming Child Welfare," discusses practice, policy, and research related to understanding and implementing a differential response approach as an alternative to traditional child abuse and neglect investigations. Nine articles were written, including a 15 state survey on differential response and articles on initiatives in the county-administered states of California and Minnesota. Single free print copies are available for order through The Child Welfare Information Gateway's online catalog at www.childwelfare.gov/catalog. For multiple free copies (up to 100), please contact American Humane at info@americanhumane.org.

Child Welfare Staff Recruitment and Retention: High turnover in the child welfare workforce continues to challenge many human services directors. In 2003, the federal Children's Bureau funded eight projects around the country to study, develop, implement, and evaluate recruitment and retention strategies for the child welfare workforce. Eight sites were awarded funds for five year projects to address difficulties in recruiting, screening and selecting new child welfare workers and retaining them. Information is now available from each of the sites that received grants. A four-page summary of the findings is also available.

State Responses to Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: The National Campaign and the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) are working together to help raise awareness about the magnitude and consequences of teen and unplanned pregnancy.  As part of this partnership, APHSA surveyed state public human services agencies to learn more about effective service delivery and innovative and effective strategies to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancies. Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: Challenges to Systems and Families are Met by State Best Practices in Prevention compiled examples of the challenges that this issue presents to public human service systems as well as ways in which states are addressing the issue.

CBPP Food Stamp Study: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has updated its paper entitled Food Stamp Benefits Falling Further Behind Rising Food Prices. The six page paper demonstrates that the current economic slowdown has coincided with a sharp increase in food prices, which has exacerbated hardship for many low-income families who face high gas and utility prices. Food stamp benefit levels are supposed to be sufficient to enable households to afford the "Thrifty Food Plan," a low-cost but nutritionally adequate diet established by USDA. Since 1996, however, when Congress cut food stamp benefits, the level of benefits has fallen short in almost every month.

Food Stamps, Federalism, and Working Families: After dipping below 6 million during 1999 and 2000, the number of working families participating in the Food Stamp Program rose to just under 10 million in 2006. This Urban Institute brief reviews the changing federal and state program options and their potential effects on working families. It contains a state-by-state table on page five outlining each state's approach to seven policy options for working families: more liberal vehicle rules, expanded categorical eligibility, transitional benefits for families leaving cash assistance, outreach efforts, longer certification periods, reduced reporting requirements, and waivers of the required face-to-face interviews at recertification.

Older Americans and the Mortgage Crisis: The AARP Public Policy Institute has released a mortgage crisis study showing that homeowners age 50 and over represent 28 percent of all delinquencies and foreclosures in the U.S.  Older African Americans and Hispanics had higher foreclosure rates than whites of all ages. The study also finds that older Americans appear particularly vulnerable to home price declines and to subprime loans. This article points out that losing a home is a loss from which many older Americans may not be able to recover.

October 30 Webcast on the Economic Crisis and Low Income Families: Sponsored by the Coalition on Human Needs and other human services advocacy groups, this free webcast will try to avoid finance jargon and the finger-pointing about blame, and describe how the tumultuous economic situation affects families and, most important, how to evaluate the solutions being proposed. Slated for 2:30 pm to 4 pm Eastern Time on October 30, you'll learn from experts what you need to know about the current crisis in the economy and in housing, and what Congress and a new administration may do about it. The presenters include:

·         Jared Bernstein, Economic Policy Institute: Author of Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed? (And Other Unsolved Economic Mysteries). Jared is famous for plain-English explanations and wit. His quotes and advice are widely sought out by press, candidates, and public officials.

·         Barry Zigas, Consumer Federation of America: Barry is Housing Policy Director at the Consumer Federation of America, and is a leading expert on low-income housing policy, with previous experience at Fannie Mae and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

·         Deborah Weinstein, Coalition on Human Needs: Debbie is Executive Director of CHN. She will discuss what Congress is considering and will offer practical suggestions about how to help shape the national agenda.

Register for the webcast at: www.bostonconferencing.com/chn