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Greetings NACHSA Members: | |
This week, the House Budget Committee adopted a budget blueprint which proposes sweeping policy changes and spending cuts to a number of federal programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The budget resolution provides direction and options for the various congressional policy and appropriations committees to consider when crafting their bills. The resolution is expected to reach the House floor next week. Like last year, however, once the House adopts the budget resolution the actual policy proposals contained in it are likely to die in the committees. Instead, the budget will serve as a political document during the campaign season.
Identical to last year's proposal, the House budget proposes to block grant both Medicaid and SNAP so that each state may tailor the programs to meet the needs of its low-income population. Last year, the House committees did not mark up legislation to advance those proposals. There is no chance that the block grants will be enacted into law this year. Click here to read the House budget plan. For an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, click here.
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| Human Services Resources | |
Congressional Foster Youth Caucus Formed: Late last month, the House of Representatives formed the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. The Caucus provides a forum for Members to discuss the challenges facing all foster youth and will enable Representatives to collaborate to develop policy recommendations for improving child welfare outcomes. It will examine reforming the child welfare system, with the ultimate goal to reduce the number of children in care. The bipartisan Caucus is recruiting more Members to join it and urges county directors to encourage their U.S. Representatives to join. A list of current members may be accessed here.
A series of nationwide listening sessions are underway as well as briefings on Capitol Hill. To learn more about the Caucus, click here to view the website.
Domestic Violence Webinar Materials: The Welfare Peer TA Network recently held a webinar on the relationship between economic security and the empowerment of domestic violence survivors. The session outlined models of asset-building programs for survivors of domestic violence; and explained partnerships between TANF agencies and the domestic violence community that work to ensure the economic security, safety and self-sufficiency of survivors of domestic violence. Click here to view the materials and listen to the webinar.
Health Reform Implementation Facts: Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), NACo has provided county officials and staff with information and resources about health reform implementation issues that are important to counties. Please visit this link for further information, including the recording and slides from a recent webinar about possible opportunities for incarcerated individuals pending disposition of charges to gain health coverage through the ACA.
TANF Drug Testing Background: This HHS Issue Brief examines recent state and federal legislative proposals to require drug tests as a condition of TANF program eligibility. During 2010 and the first half of 2011, 82 bills on this subject were proposed in 31 State legislatures and the U.S. Congress. The brief describes potential uses and limitations of drug tests in the context of welfare programs.
Financial Lives of Families on Public Assistance: Published by the New America Foundation, "We Don't Do Banks": Financial Lives of Families on Public Assistance" aims to get beyond the narrow focus on families' banking status to develop a richer appreciation of how low-income families manage their money. As the paper documents, being a low-income consumer and a public assistance recipient has unexpected costs. In addition to the emotional toll of relying on friends and family, there is stress from accruing unexpected banking fees, fear of disqualifying oneself from benefits programs by saving "too much", and an ongoing challenge to find cost-effective ways to manage money.
Veteran Poverty Rates: With 100,000 veterans expected to return home with the end of the Iraq War and the drawdown in Afghanistan, the Center for American Progress (CAP) reports some staggering numbers on veteran poverty: 1 in 7 homeless adults is a veteran; on any given night in January last year, 67,000 veterans were counted homeless, and 4 in 10 homeless veterans were found unsheltered.
Older Americans and Behavioral Health: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Administration on Aging (AoA) commissioned a series of Issue Briefs to address behavioral health issues that are important to older Americans. The Issue Briefs identify key information and opportunities for action that can improve the lives of older people. The first brief offers an overview of issues, facts, evidence-based programs and practices, partnering opportunities, financing and other resources. Click here to read it. (4 pp)
NYC Program Helps Low Income Students Succeed in Community College: Graduation CUNY ASAP is a successful New York City Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) program that has doubled the three-year graduation rate of participating community college students from 25 to 55 percent. The program offers a range of academic and financial supports, including cohort-based classes, block-scheduling, and one-on-one advisement, as well as free tuition, books, and MetroCards. New ASAP cohorts are primarily made up of low-income students who require some remedial course work in the areas of reading, writing, and math. An analysis of the fall 2009 cohort (N=429) demonstrates that ASAP students are graduating at significantly higher rates -- two-year graduation rate for the fall 2009 ASAP cohort is 27.5%, vs. 7.2% for comparison group students. Click here to read an overview and the full report. |
| Course Opportunity | |
Advanced Analytics for Child Welfare Administration: In partnership with Casey Family Programs, Chapin Hall and the Center for State Foster Care and Adoption Data are pleased to offer a five-day course for child welfare managers, on June 25-29, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois. The June 2012 course is designed specifically to support public child welfare systems seeking to build or strengthen their relationships with their private partners. The purpose of the course is to enable participants to become critical users and consumers of child welfare administrative data as a means toward making continuous quality improvements in their organizations.
Participants accepted for the Advanced Analytics course will receive full support for tuition, room, and most meals. Travel, ground transportation, and three evening meals are the responsibility of the student. The course is limited to eighteen participants. New or experienced child welfare managers in policy, finance, program, quality assurance, research, and computing are encouraged to apply. Advanced Analytics is particularly recommended for individuals seeking or beginning a career as a child welfare manager or a policymaker within public, private, or advocacy organizations.
Applications are due on or before Wednesday, May 2, 2012. To facilitate the review process, interested applicants should send an email to Rosemary Gill at rgill@chapinhall.org indicating their intention to apply at the time they begin to prepare an application. Applicants will receive notification of acceptance no later than Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Accepted applicants will be expected to confirm participation by Monday, May 23, 2012. To view the application and other materials, click here. |
| NACHSA News | |
NACHSA Jobs: The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has openings for its Chief Deputy Director and Senior Deputy Director. Other recent postings may be viewed by clicking here. To post senior job opportunities, contact Tom Joseph at tj@wafed.com |
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Tom Joseph
National Association of County Human Services Administrators
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