ARTICLE TAG

Ron Wyden

1/16/2019

Will Shutdown-Ending Legislation Include Rubio, Feinstein Bill to Extend Foster Care Waivers?

Last week, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation that would allow scores of state and county child welfare agencies to delay implementing a new federal law that promises to reshape foster care.

Youth Services Insider

9/6/2018

Trump Administration Delays New Child Welfare Data Rules Until 2020, But Plans Changes to Obama Plan

Earlier this week, while reporting on the confirmation of new Administration for Children and Families (ACF) leader Lynn Johnson, Youth Services Insider speculated that perhaps an agreement had been reached, or assurances had been made, about a timeline to finalize new child welfare data collection.

Youth Services Insider
HHS

6/7/2018

Time Nearly Up to Comment on Trump Delays, Rollbacks to Foster Care Data

As Youth Services Insider reported back in March, the Trump administration has indicated that it might roll back some or many of the Obama-era changes to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), which is how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports state and national data on child welfare.

5/7/2018

To Fend off Family First Act, L.A. Hires Lobbyist Who Helped Write It

In mid-April, former Senate Finance staffer-turned-lobbyist Becky Shipp sent an e-blast to dozens of key child welfare insiders inviting them to an intimate conversation focused on health care and child welfare policy.

3/7/2018

Inside Game: The Key Players Behind Washington’s Biggest Foster Care Reform in Decades

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was furious and heartbroken. Nearly three years into an effort to fundamentally overhaul the nation’s foster care system, the bill Wyden had crafted alongside Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) was dying.

Former Children's Bureau head Jerry Milner.

2/14/2018

Trump’s Top Child Welfare Official: Family First a Good First Step, but True Prevention is Key

Last week, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Family First Prevention Services Act. It is an encompassing and complex piece of legislation that will take some time for states to figure out in terms of the opportunities, as well as the data collection, reporting, accountability and state plan requirements that accompany those opportunities.

    Youth Services Insider
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    10/19/2017

    Senate Finance Investigation A Possible Precursor to Renewed Family First Push

    The Senate Finance Committee quickly followed the release of its report on privatization of foster care on Wednesday with legislation that tracked many of the recommendations made in the report. You can read all about the report here, and the bill here.

    Youth Services Insider

    10/19/2017

    Senate Report Slams Public Management of Private Foster Care Industry

    On Wednesday, Senators Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a report scrutinizing the management of private foster care providers, and skewering one especially notorious foster care agency.    Stirred by news stories chronicling dozens of child deaths because of management of foster care services by The MENTOR Network, a national for-profit provider, Hatch and Wyden directed the Senate Finance Committee to study the matter.

    Youth Services Insider
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    9/19/2017

    Senators Introduce Home Visiting Bill Without State Match Requirement

    With less than two weeks before the federal program to support home visiting expires, the Senate has introduced a bill that sets up a showdown of sorts with the House over whether to make states match the money.