SNAP recipients need to prepare for some major changes this month. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits low-income Americans and helps them access healthy foods each month. Specific SNAP maximum allotments, deductions and income eligibility change each year in line with the beginning of the … Read More
Author Archives: Jamar Little
Recognizing National Youth Justice Action Month
The National Governors Association is celebrating National Youth Justice Action Month this October. During this period, we recognize the actions taken by states to support system-involved youth. This includes Governors’ Offices from across the country that have championed and adopted … Read More
Coordinating Integrated Prevention Approaches to Serve the Whole Person
OVERVIEW Supporting families and individuals means understanding that their needs are complex, interrelated, and affected by the particular opportunities available in their environments. Integrated service approaches to prevent homelessness or involvement in systems like child welfare may be best positioned … Read More
Case Studies in Supporting Prevention Through Human Services Program Integration
OVERVIEW Human services have an opportunity to build and enhance people’s strengths and resilience by shifting services from responding to crises like eviction to preventing these crises by reducing risk factors, promoting protective factors, and creating the safety and stability … Read More
The Legal Assault on Pregnant People’s Personhood: Unpacking Fetal Personhood
Introduction Fetal personhood is a radical legal doctrine that seeks to endow fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses with full rights and legal protections. Fetal personhood directly challenges the rights of women and anyone capable of pregnancy and creates a direct … Read More
State Medicaid Approaches to Respite Care for Children and Youth with Chronic and Complex Needs
Introduction Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting children and youth with chronic illness, behavioral and special health care needs, and medical complexities. Without access to adequate services and supports, family caregivers are often relied upon to fill gaps … Read More
The Critical Role of Parent Partner Programs: Policy and Practice Considerations
INTRODUCTION Maintaining a secure relationship with a trusted caregiver is critical for the health and well-being of infants and toddlers. When very young children are placed in out-of-home care, including foster and kinship care, problems can be compounded if the … Read More
KIDS IN CARE: Unaccompanied Children in Federal Government Custody
When established in 2003, the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Services cared for roughly 6,000 children in thirteen facilities. Twenty years later, ORR’s program has grown to over 240 facilities and programs spread across 23 states. … Read More
PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS K-12 Education Support for Kinship and Grandfamilies
About 2.5 million children across the United States are being raised in grandfamilies,1 families in which grandparents, other adult relatives, or close family friends are raising children with no parents in the home. These are also known as kinship families, … Read More
Bipartisanship Across the Nation: A Review of State Child Welfare Legislation
Introduction Policymaking in child welfare has a long tradition of bipartisanship, with dedication on both sides of the aisle to improving outcomes for children, youths, and families. Despite progress, many troubling outcomes persist for children and families involved in the … Read More