Category Archives: Children and Families

Congress Recesses, Home Visiting Extension Delayed

Congress left Washington Friday for its Easter recess without adopting legislation that would reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, and Early-Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program beyond March 31, when its current legal authorization expires. On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed an … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Home Visiting

Proposed Senate Budget Suggests Possible Evidence-based Child Welfare Bill Later This Year

The proposed Senate budget resolution for the coming fiscal year, released March 18, includes a section that would pave the way for consideration of an evidence-based, spending-neutral child welfare reform bill later this year. Section 306 of the resolution (full … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families

Home Visitation Program May Be Extended 6 Months

Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) announced March 17 that he has cosponsored legislation along with Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) that would extend authorization for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program (MIECHV) through September 30. The extension, if adopted, … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Home Visiting

Pay-for-Success in Child Welfare: A Case Study

On December 3, 2014, Cuyahoga County announced the nation’s first pay-for-success initiative that will address the interrelated issues of homelessness and foster care.   The initiative will provide $4 million in privately-funded housing and other supportive services to 135 homeless parents … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success

Building Evidence in Human Services: An Interview with ACF’s Naomi Goldstein

While many federal agencies have been building and increasing their use of research-based evidence in funding and other policy decisions, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is considered one of the leaders.  Programs within ACF’s purview are wide-ranging, including … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Evidence

Could Federal Ratings Be Applied to Human Service Providers?

Could draft federal ratings for colleges and universities, released by the U.S. Department of Education on December 19, become a model for human service providers?  At first glance, the sheer difficulty of the task, combined with a lack of time … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Government Performance, Performance Management

Foster Care Innovation Initiative Charts a Different Path to Evidence

While momentum appears to be building for the increased use of evidence in social policy, the ride has occasionally been a bumpy one, with pushback both on and off Capitol Hill over the appropriate definition of evidence. Some fear that … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families

Performance Partnership Pilot (P3) Grant Opportunity Opens

On November 24, the Obama administration released information about its Performance Partnership Pilot (P3) initiative, an innovative demonstration program focused on disconnected youth. The announcement from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is below: Today, five Federal agencies are … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families, Government Performance

White House Releases Report on Women and Girls of Color

Responding to criticisms of an Obama administration initiative focused on men and boys of color, called ‘My Brother’s Keeper,’ the White House on November 12 released a new report entitled “Women and Girls of Color: Addressing Challenges and Expanding Opportunity.” … Continue reading

Posted in Children and Families