BUILD Initiative to Host Immigration and Trauma Webinar

On Wednesday, July 24, at 2 p.m., the BUILD Initiative will host a webinar on Immigration and Trauma. 

Recent changes in immigration policy are creating new and intense challenges, including increased trauma, for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families, and the teachers and programs that work with them. With funding from the Irving Harris Foundation, the BUILD Initiative, in partnership with the Center for Law and Social Policy, has organized a series of webinars and blogs intended to help providers, state policy leaders, and advocates work most effectively in this climate.

Please join the BUILD Initiative in the final webinar in a four-webinar series in which they shared important areas for consideration in the provision of trauma-informed care as it relates to immigration and US immigration policies. Topics have included immigration policy and trauma; the impacts of immigration trauma on the health and development of young children; using a trauma-informed approach in working with providers and families; and promising practices and strategies for policy and legislation.

This webinar will provide an update to federal policies as well as practical steps programs can take to support vulnerable families and children and the providers who care for them.

To register for the webinar, click HERE.

What is the Fate of the ACA?

A few weeks ago, we noted that arguments were being made before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, regarding the constitutionality of the ACA, minus the individual mandate. A ruling is due in early fall, but no matter which way it goes, the judgement could be appealed to the Supreme Court. If that's the case, and the Supreme Court takes up the case, it would be the third time the ACA has been ruled on by the Supreme Court. The Coalition on Human Needs has put together a brief blog post regarding ACA and its uncertain future.  

Budget Deal Could Head to a Congressional Vote Soon

President Trump and Congressional leaders have apparently reached a budget deal. The new deal calls for raising federal spending levels and lifting the debt ceiling for two years. It still requires Congressional approval. Budget hawks are worried about the significant increase this budget would create to the national debt. The deal would raise spending by $320 billion. To read more about it, click Washington Post, USA Today

3 Million People Could Lose SNAP Benefits

Citing loopholes, the Trump Administration announced Tuesday that as many as 3.1 million people could lose their SNAP benefits, as a new USDA rule would no longer provide benefits to families solely because they are enrolled in food assistance programs run by the states they reside in. Some states have extended eligibility to recipients who would otherwise not qualify for SNAP (based on asset or income limitations) through state food assistance programs, making them eligible for SNAP. Forty states and Washington, D.C. currently participate in this option. The USDA rule would close that loophole. NPR has more on this possible change. The public has 60 days to comment.

Pritzker Community Survey Seeks Input

The National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers, funded by the Pritzker Children's Initiative, is conducting a survey of communities (cities, towns, counties, regions) in order to form a better understanding of the landscape of local initiatives aimed at improving child and family outcomes prenatally through age 3 (PN-3). If you are working at a community level or know of others doing great work at the community level related to PN-3, please consider filling out the survey or forwarding to other community level leaders. Ultimately, Pritzker plans to use the data collected from the survey to form a map of Prenatal to Three initiatives across the U.S. and to add to a growing repository of model policies and programs through the NCIT Online Solutions Center. The survey shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to complete. The deadline for completion is July 29.

40 Worst Cities for Child Poverty: None are in Connecticut

Using data from the 2017 American Community Survey, USA Today has compiled a list of the 40 cities that see the highest rates of child poverty in the country. There are no cities north of New Jersey (Vineland-Bridgeton, number 21). The article points out what many people already know - the impact high-quality early childhood education has on fighting child poverty and how it continues to serve as a benefit for years to come.