LSA CYF Members,
If you have any questions, would like to be added to the CYF Update mailing list, or have recommendations for future webinars, please contact Paula R. Young at pyoung@lutheranservices.org.
To view all previous issues of our CYF Update newsletters, prior webinars on a wide variety of EBPs and other topics, Family First Act resources, and more, please visit our CYF members-only resource page. Contact pyoung@lutheranservices.org for the login and password.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Hub
As Lutheran Services in America continues to update its COVID-19 Vaccine Resource Hub, we are asking members to share strategies to increase access and reduce barriers to COVID-19 vaccination. Please submit your organization’s programs or strategies to awashington@lutheranservices.org
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Advocacy and Legislative Updates
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Advocacy Update
ACF Disburses $350 Million in Additional American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Prevent and Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect
HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding for the Children's Bureau, which has been disbursed to states and territories. ARP includes critical funding to support state and community efforts to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect during a time when children and families are experiencing increased hardship as a result of the pandemic. This is a funding opportunity for communities to further address the complex structural issues that contribute to families becoming involved in the child welfare system. Read more here.
Senators Introduce Bill to Curb Child Welfare Worker Burnout
Protecting the welfare of the hundreds of thousands of children at risk of abuse or neglect will always be a difficult job, but Democractic Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin want the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to lighten the load for these workers. Studies suggest that a stable workforce of child protective services officials, caseworkers and supervisors can have a major impact on the families and children who come under scrutiny. Read more here.
Van Hollen, Warner, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Work with States to Prioritize Foster Youth Outcomes in COVID-19 Recovery Efforts
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) and a group of 11 colleagues in urging the Biden administration to work with states, tribes, and territories to prioritize young people in the foster care system, who have been particularly afflicted by the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. In a letter to the Administration for Children and Families at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the senators stressed the disparate outcomes faced by young people in foster care in the areas of educational attainment, employment rates, and earnings, and urged the administration to ensure that states take full advantage of existing flexibilities to mitigate these outcomes. Read more here.
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Virtual Meetings and Resources
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Webinar: Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for a More Perfect Union
Many nonprofit leaders want to ensure that their organizations are inclusive and welcoming to all staff and community members, that their programs provide equitable and lasting solutions, and that they play a role in changing systems to address the root causes of inequities. However, it can be difficult to know where to start and be daunting to know how to sustain and grow efforts over time. To help your organization fully embrace EDI and build a plan that will help you and your team achieve your goals, participate in a dynamic virtual workshop.
Three opportunities to participate:
June Session: June 2, 10, 24
July Session: July 15, 22, 29
November Session: Nov. 2, 9, 16
Learn more and register here.
Webinar: BEYOND JDEI: Advancing Racial Equity in Organizations
Over the past year, Covid-19, the murder of George Floyd, and the Black Lives Matter protests compelled awareness of institutional racial disparities in this country. Nonprofits have committed to Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (JDEI) work. However, with the goal of racial justice, organizations need to move beyond JDEI work toward solutions that address institutional and structural racism.
This webinar covers the following: Understanding Structural Racism. How do we analyze problems holistically to identify root causes? Challenging Structural Racism. What questions should we ask to strategically address structural racism? Developing Solutions. How can nonprofits advance viable solutions?
Register here.
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2021 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Recording: Episode 63: Foster Care Alumni - Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 1 - Child Welfare Information Gateway
Successfully engaging foster care alumni requires more than asking youth to share their personal experiences with an audience. This episode, “Foster Care Alumni – Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 1,” shares perspectives, personal stories, and guidance from members and former members of Foster Care Alumni of America external link(opens in new window) to help agencies understand the value of alumni of all ages, provide information on how to look for and find the right alumni partners, and discuss the impact sharing has on alumni, especially alumni who work as child welfare professionals.
Listen here.
Recording: Webinar Recording: Supporting Foster Youth & Families - Leveraging New Opportunities | FosterClub
Members of the National Foster Care Youth & Alumni, Jacob Carmi & Ke'Onda Johnson, presented a webinar on April 29, 2021 to discuss their priorities and opportunities available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Council Members shared how new opportunities available under this Act directly incorporate several priorities the Council has elevated, particularly in the areas of preventing unnecessary entry into foster care (2017 & 2019 priorities) and support for transition age youth (2020 Priority), and how participants can leverage those priorities to support foster youth and families. Council Members reflected on how imperative lived experience leadership is at every level - from identifying issues that are priorities for reform to engaging young people in the implementation of laws and policies - to ensure children, youth and the families they belong to are meaningfully supported.
Listen here.
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Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Education, and Behavioral Health News
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New Child Welfare Tools: Discover new tools and strategies to strengthen meaningful connections for youth in foster care at every stage and understand how engaging youth can even have a positive impact on youth development. Explore these resources and share them with your staff and community:
Check out the full set of tools here.
Rural Kids More Likely To Be Reported to Child Protective Services, But Why?
In the first study to compare national data on the rate of rural versus large urban child maltreatment reports, researchers found that kids living in the country are about one-third more likely to be reported to authorities, but the rate of substantiation was about the same in both settings. Read more here.
Study: Connecting the Brain to the Rest of the Body: Early Childhood Development and Lifelong Health Are Deeply Intertwined
This Working Paper examines how developing biological systems in the body interact with each other and adapt to the contexts in which a child is developing—for better or for worse—with lifelong consequences for physical and mental health. It explains in clear language how these systems are affected by adversity early in life, and shows how those adaptations can result in costly, common chronic illnesses. Read here.
Reclaiming Indigenous identity
The Indian Child Welfare Act became law in 1978 with a goal of keeping Native children with their families and tribes. As Blackfeet citizen and Salish descendant Brooke Pepion Swaney found out, the law was overlooked when Kendra was adopted by the Mylnechuk family. Brooke's first feature-length documentary, "Daughter of a Lost Bird," premieres at the prestigious Human Rights Watch Festival in New York, and everywhere online. Read more here.
Also: Daughter of a Lost Bird (Video): https://www.daughterofalostbird.com/
New Report from the Center for the Study of Social Policy on Adolescent Health
This new report from the Center for the Study of Social Policy summarizes the lessons learned and resources from six years of work with the getREAL initiative. Understanding and acting on these lessons can help changemakers to create a welcoming and affirming child welfare system to support youth and their families. We detail critical components to supporting system change and provide an extensive list of resources from the getREAL initiative and our partners in the field. Read the report here.
It Takes a Multigenerational Village to Raise Foster Kids
Planned, intergenerational communities can help support families raising foster children, as well as youth and elders seeking low-income housing and community. While the problems of foster children, adoptive parents, and older adults are different and difficult to solve, well-planned, “multigenerational villages” can help address them simultaneously. High-quality, affordable housing and supportive environments that intentionally bring together young and older people of diverse races, backgrounds, and ages promote deep connections among residents who help one another improve their lives. Read full article here.
CMS Data Shows Vulnerable Americans Forgoing Mental Health Care During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released data today highlighting the continued impact the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) is having on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries and utilization of health services. The data show that, from March through October 2020, beneficiaries have foregone millions of primary, preventive, and mental health care visits due to the COVID-19 PHE, compared to the same time period in 2019. Although utilization rates for some treatments have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, mental health services show the slowest rebound. Read more here.
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Federal Grant Opportunities
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Maternity Group Home Program Grant
The Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families' Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) announces the availability of funds under the Transitional Living Program’s Maternity Group Home (MGH) grant program (hereafter referred to as the MGH program). The purpose of FYSB’s MGH program is to provide safe, stable, and appropriate shelter only for pregnant and/or parenting youth ages 16 to under 22 and their dependent child(ren) for 18 months and, under extenuating circumstances, up to 21 months. Service providers must accommodate for the needs and safety of the dependent children to include facility safety standards for infants and children on the premises. MGH services include, but are not limited to, parenting skills, child development, family budgeting, and health and nutrition education, in addition to the required services provided under the Transitional Living Program to help MGH youth realize improvements in four core outcome areas. The MGH combination of shelter and services is designed to promote long-term, economic independence to ensure the well-being of the youth and their child(ren). Link to apply here.
Closing date: June 18, 2021
Basic Center Program: DHHS ACF
The Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families' Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) announces the availability of funds under the Basic Center Program (BCP). The purpose of BCP is to provide emergency shelter and counseling services to youth who have left home without permission of their parents or guardians, have been forced to leave home, or other homeless youth who might otherwise end up in the law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Find the details here.
Application Closed: June 21, 2021
Transitional Living Programs Grant
The Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families' Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) announces the availability of funds under the Transitional Living Program (TLP). The Purpose of FYSB’s TLP grant program is to implement, enhance, and/or support effective strategies for successful transition to sustainable living for runaway and homeless youth ages 16 to under 22 and/or pregnant and parenting youth ages 16 to under 22 and their dependent child(ren). Learn more here - Grants & Funding | The Administration for Children and Families (grantsolutions.gov).
Application Due Date: June 28. 2021
FY 2019/FY 2020 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, Notice of Funding Opportunity.
This is the fourth and fifth round of funding for this innovative process. The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program supports communities in leveraging the expertise and experience of youth and young adult leaders, technical assistance, guidance from federal agencies, and importantly, significant financial investment in developing their local coordinated community plans to prevent and end youth homelessness.
Building on national momentum, the purpose of the FY 2019/FY 2020 Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program is to advance local community efforts, build evidence, and create resources to advance the field. Learn more here.
Deadline for submissions is July 27, 2021.
FY 2021 Model Demonstration Projects to Improve Services and Results for Infants, Toddlers, and Children with Disabilities
Technical Assistance and Dissemination To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Model Demonstration Projects To Improve Services and Results for Infants, Toddlers, and Children With Disabilities. The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for Model Demonstration Projects to Improve Services and Results for Infants, Toddlers, and Children with Disabilities, Assistance Listing Number 84.326M. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1820-0028. Learn more here.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 20, 2021
RWJF/DOT Pioneering Ideas Brief Proposals
Grants for innovative projects that are working to build a culture of health, ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need and all families have the opportunity to make healthier choices. Read more here.
Closing date: On-going
FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program
The application period for $110 million in Emergency Food and Shelter Program supplemental funding has opened. This funding is available to organizations that provided, or will provide, services to families and individuals crossing the southern border into the United States. Read more here.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. Read the Funeral Assistance FAQ for more information. Apply here.
The Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program Now Open
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a temporary FCC program to help families and households struggling to afford broadband internet service during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program opened on May 12th. Check out www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit for a Consumer FAQ and other program resources.
Three Ways to Apply:
- Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
- Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
- Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application
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