ACF News

Today, the Office of Head Start at HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) unveiled a rule to better improve the quality of Head Start services by refining the Designation Renewal System (DRS). The new DRS rule holds Head Start and Early Head Start agencies accountable for delivering high-quality and comprehensive services by ensuring the best grantees are providing services to Head Start children and families in each local area.

The newly released FY 2019 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data show the number of children in foster care dropped to its lowest level since 2015. The number of children achieving permanency through adoption increased for the fifth straight year to its highest level ever, and the number of children entering foster care dropped for the third year in a row after going up every year since 2014.

Today, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded $19 million to child welfare agencies of all States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 11 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. This funding will be used to develop, enhance or evaluate kinship navigator programs and solidify the Administration’s commitment to permanency for children in the child welfare system.

President Trump strengthens America’s child welfare system by signing a historic Executive Order (EO) aimed at improving outcomes for children and families. This EO focuses on three key areas of action: improving partnerships, improving resources, and improving oversight.

In addition to the 2020 appropriation of $10.6 billion for the Head Start program, the recently signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act designates $750 million more for the federal program to help prepare low-income children for kindergarten.

Safe and affordable child care is a necessity for essential workers and all families who are eager to get back to the workplace. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic ChildCare.gov has created a new page where parents can connect with state specific resources to help them find, and pay for child care now during the COVID -19 pandemic and as the economy rebounds.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter earlier this week encouraging U.S. governors to consider designating child welfare workers and child service providers in their state as level 1 emergency responders.

On March 27, the President signed a $2 trillion emergency relief bill aimed at providing economic relief to the nation’s families, workers, and businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) with $6.3 billion in additional funding that will aid in the continuation of work protecting, supporting, and uplifting our vulnerable communities during this public health crisis.

On March 27, the President signed a $2 trillion emergency relief bill aimed at providing economic relief to the nation’s families, workers, and businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will provide the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) with $6.3 billion in additional funding that will aid in the continuation of work protecting, supporting, and uplifting our vulnerable communities during this public health crisis.

Last week, the President signed a $2 trillion emergency relief bill aimed at providing economic relief to the nation’s families, workers, and businesses. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will provide the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) with $6.3 billion in additional funding that will aid in the continuation of work protecting, supporting, and uplifting our vulnerable communities during this public health crisis.