The Family Room Blog

Earlier this week, our Department took action to make programs that help Americans find and keep a job even stronger.

Last week the Supreme Court made a landmark decision that will leave an indelible mark on healthcare history.  

New Chief Medical Officer will focus on social factors that impact the health outcomes of vulnerable children and families and work to treat these social determinants of health long before the need for a family’s visit to the doctor’s office or an emergency room.

The Administration for Children and Families commemorates June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. ACF is committed to honoring the diversity of its workforce and ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and dignity. We are working hard to ensure that our programs reach deserving individuals, including members of the LGBT community.

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of joining Lillian Sparks, Commissioner for the Administration for Native Americans, and Linda Smith, our Deputy Assistant Secretary for Early Childhood, at the ACF Tribal and Native American Grantee conference, co-sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, another Health and Human Services agency.  This meeting was an opportunity to come together to celebrate the many tribes and native organizations operating ACF programs and providing critical services to families and children in need.

June 20th marks the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in the “Turner v. Rogers” case, in which the Court held that states must provide procedures in civil contempt cases that ensure a fundamentally fair determination of whether an unrepresented parent is able to comply with a court order to pay child support.

It’s hard to be a parent. That’s why Father’s Day is so important. It gives us an opportunity to thank dads who are active in their children’s lives—who accept the challenges of raising a family and reap the benefits of their children growing up in a loving environment.

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Program releases crucial funds to states and territories during a time when local and state governments are slashing budgets.  Nearly $300 billion in state-level spending cuts over the past five years have decimated local funding for social services.

The stories are heartbreaking. A 14-year-old boy crossed into the United States to avoid joining cartel gangs back home in El Salvador. A 15-year-old Guatemalan boy came to reunite with his parents.  And a 15-year-old Salvadoran girl just wanted to live free from violence. These teens are part of an unprecedented influx of children being referred to ACF's Office of Refugee Resettlement by the Department of Homeland Security.

This month we celebrate the myriad contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States and honor the essential role that AAPI communities continue to play in enriching our nation’s legacy.