On March19, 2020, the Children’s Bureau,in collaboration with Think of Us, hosted
a virtual town hall for older youth in foster care and child welfare leaders, including state commissioners and their staff.
Category: Children’s Bureau
Family Is A Compelling Reason
April 7, 2020
Opinion column in the Chronicle of Social Change by Jerry Milner and David Kelly of the Children’s Bureau
We have to commit to doing all within our power to protect parent-child relationships during separations, and to continue to work as diligently as we possibly can to achieve reunification for those families who are not yet together.
We cannot hit pause. We cannot allow a hiatus.
Children’s Bureau: New Guidance on Caseworker Visits via Videoconferencing
March 19
This letter outlines new policy changes to allow videoconferencing for monthly caseworker visits due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to changes related to program improvement plans, title IV-E reviews, and more.
Children’s Bureau Letter on Housing Support When Universities, Colleges Close Due to COVID-19
March 12, 2020
The Children’s Bureau encourages child welfare agencies to be attentive to youth and young adults affected by the circumstances. Youth may require assistance not only with housing, but also accessing food, health care, and emotional support. The CB urges child welfare agencies to act with a sense of urgency to reach out to and support youth/ young adults at this moment.
Children’s Bureau Information Memorandum on ACF grant flexibilities
The Administration for Children and Families released an Information Memorandum (IM-ACF-OA-2020-01) dealing with grant flexibilities in conducting human service activities related to or affected by COVID-19. The guidance provides short-term relief for administrative, financial management, and audit requirements for ACF applicants and grantees/recipients who are conducting human services activities related to or affected by COVID-19.
Children’s Bureau Letter to Child Welfare Legal and Judicial Leaders
March 27, 2020 The Children’s Bureau (CB) addresses questions and concerns regarding a number of child welfare issues in light of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including whether the Children’s Bureau can waive statutorily required judicial proceedings. In this letter, the Children’s Bureau urges attorneys, courts, Court Improvement Programs, and administrative offices of the courts to work together to ensure that requisite judicial proceedings continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. It states that the Children’s Bureau expects that courts and states will work together to determine how best to balance child-safety related statutory requirements against public-health mandates. As situations require, courts can and should use flexible means of convening required hearings.
Letter here
U.S. Children’s Bureau Resource Page on COVID-19
This website includes information and resources for child welfare agencies and their partners, including CDC guidance that is useful for foster families, case workers.