Federal Legislative Updates

NEW

Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Budget

Summary of the President's Proposed FY 2013 Budget on Select Children's Issues

Child Welfare Briefing: Strategies towards Successful Reunification

Children and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

Children and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

National Working Group on Foster Care and Education: Facts on Education and Foster Care

Education Summit Program

Summary Education Meeting By National Working Group

Foster Care Research Date Sheet

Senator Franken Education Amendment

Franken Title I Amendment 3

Public Policy: Advocating for Children & Families

American Humane Association’s Office of Public Policy & Government Affairs advocates for policy and legislation that will benefit children and keep them safe from abuse and neglect. Through our advocacy in Washington, D.C., we can provide decision-makers in the Administration and Congress with what they need most: effective strategies that can help children despite tough budget times.

You can make a difference too! Check out our legislative agenda and write to your member of Congress to let him or her know that these issues matter to you!

CAPTA Reauthorization

In December 2010, Congress passed the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).  CAPTA is the preeminent federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect and sets forth a minimum definition of child abuse and neglect and authorizes federal funding to states in support of prevention, identification, assessment, investigation and treatment activities. Download the PDF to learn more:

CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (PDF)

A Call to Action on Behalf of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers

Abuse and neglect threaten the healthy futures of thousands of infants and toddlers. Every year, almost 200,000 children from birth to 3 years old come into contact with the child welfare system; more than a third of them are placed in foster care.  American Humane Association, Zero to Three, the Center for the Study of Social Policy the Child Welfare League of America, and the Children’s Defense Fund and have joined together to call on policymakers and program administrators at all levels of government to address the developmental and other needs of these extremely vulnerable infants and toddlers.

Read the full report to learn more (PDF)

Child Welfare Financing & Budget

Summary of the FY 2012 Budget

FY 2012 Budget Analysis

Federal Budget Chart FY 2012

Federal Budget FY 2011 Final

Federal Funding for Child Welfare Services

112th Congress - Testimony

American Humane Association testifies before the Ways and Means Committee

Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support: Innovations in Child Welfare Waivers: Staying on the Pathway to Reform

112th Congress - Policy Briefings

Reunification Days: Celebrating families being reunified with their children from foster care

• Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Child Welfare Workforce
• ABA Policies Related to Family Reunifications of Children from Foster Care
• One Parent’s Story
• World Herald Bureau Article
• Exits from Foster Care Graphs
• Reunification Celebration
• Reunification and Federal Funding
• State of Colorado Reunification Proclamation
• Reunification Day Description
• Speaker Biographies

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Strategies to Address Child Abuse & Neglect

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Prevention

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Foster Care 2010

111th Congress - Testimony

Testimony Before the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support: Effectiveness of Responsible Fatherhood Programs.

Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support: Review the Use of Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Projects to Promote Child Well-Being.

111th Congress - Policy Briefings

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Fatherhood

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Differential Response

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Family Group Decision Making

Child Welfare Policy Briefing: Chronic Neglect

Federal Notices and Comments

Joint HHS Letter on Children in Foster Care and the Use of Prescription Medications

Senate Letter on Education and Foster Care

Comments on Child and Family Services Reviews 

Federal Register Notice: Child Welfare Agency Compliance

Joint comments on Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

HHS-Department of Education Letter to States on Education and Foster Care 

HHS Regulatory Review By Presidential Order, August 22, 2011

American Humane Association remains committed to working with Congress and with other coalitions to continually urge the federal government to institute policies that recognize the needs of children and ensure that they are protected from abuse and neglect.