Senators
Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) and Representatives Tim
Walz (D-MN) and Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced the National Child
Protection Training Act, H.R. 6629, which aims to improve child abuse
training programs and enhance child protection nationwide. Co-sponsors
of the bills include Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and John Boozman (R-AR)
and Representative Steve Womack (R-AR). The legislation builds on the
efforts of child protection training centers in Arkansas and Minnesota
which have developed classes, certification and degree programs to help
improve child protection training. Under the bill the Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency Protection would establish four regional
training facilities to develop model undergraduate and graduate child
maltreatment curricula and disseminate them to community colleges,
colleges, universities, law schools, medical schools, and other
institutions of higher education. The centers would also assist
communities in developing evidence-based prevention programs.
This
week Senator John Kerry (D-MA) will introduce the Foster Youth Higher
Education Opportunities Act to better ensure youth in foster care know
about their eligibility for college assistance programs. The legislation
requires the Department of Education (Ed) to inform Free Application
for Student Federal Aid (FASFA) filers who check the box indicating that
they are in or were in foster care of their potential eligibility for
all federal higher education programs, including the John H. Chafee
Foster Care Independence Program. In addition, the legislation requires
Ed to add youth in foster care as a targeted population on their website
by providing a section on their potential eligibility for financial aid
and other specific assistance programs.
Finally,
Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), and Ed
Pastor (D-AZ) added their name to the long list of co-sponsors
supporting House Resolution 760. They join 91 other Representatives and
Resolution sponsor, Jim McGovern (D-MA) in rejecting reductions in the
availability or amount of benefits provided under the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps). Legislation
reauthorizing SNAP, known as the Farm Bill, still needs to be passed
before Congress closes this session.
Congressional action yet to be taken includes any alternative to
sequestration,
commonly referred to as the fiscal cliff. CWLA continues to urge
Congress and the President to spare programs serving children and
families in any deficit reduction plan. We have amassed over 13,000
signatures in support of holding children harmless and invite you to
join our growing voice on behalf of vulnerable children and their
families.
Sign and share the petition today. Help us reach 15,000 signatures before December 10.
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