Samea Kim News Today

Republican-sponsored bills and amendments in the Legislature would eliminate the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. More than 1.5-million children live in Tennessee. TCCY said it is a critical component of keeping childrens issues front and center. ...

A recent report on the child welfare workforce shortage looks at how worker turnover, recruitment, and retention are impacting children and families in the care system. The Philadelphia Child Welfare Workforce Taskforce made recommendations to the Citys human services department to improve it. Samea Kim - Vice President of Legal and Public Affairs for the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth, and Family Services - said they surveyed 281 workers in Philadelphias child welfare system and fo...

By Gabes Torres for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service, reporting for the YES! ...

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow. Lindsay Schubiner, Momentum program director at the Western States Center, said the work is especially crucial because white nationalist groups are using the internet to recruit people. She pointed out young people are developing identities and ideas in relationship to everything around them, including what they see and hear online. ...

A grim reminder is out - that Arizona could be doing more to keep its youngest residents safe and healthy. The states 29th annual Child Fatality Report says a total of 863 Arizona children died last year - and almost half of those deaths were considered preventable. They include fatalities from abuse and neglect, COVID-19, drowning, firearm injuries - as well as substance-related causes, and sudden unexpected infant deaths. ...

In just two months, it should be easier for providers of childrens services in Pennsylvanias child-welfare and foster-care system to get the liability insurance they need. Governor Tom Wolf signed a bill into law that outlines who takes responsibility when an incident or accident occurs in the child-welfare system. Some counties contracts require the private childrens service provider to take full responsibility, even when they are not at fault. ...

Groups in Missouri are urging Congress to pass a full-year, fully funded appropriations bill, instead of a parade of stopgap continuing resolutions to fund support programs for low-income and working people across the state. Between 2010 and 2021, many programs serving low-income people nationwide lost ground taking inflation into account, according to the Coalition on Human Needs. Jill Gaikowski, executive director of the Happy Bottoms diaper bank in Kansas City, said many low-income families...

Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering Gov. Tom Wolfs final budget proposal, which includes raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour by July. Child behavioral health agencies warn that increasing wages without more funding could affect the quality of care. ...

A bill moving through the West Virginia Legislature would cut unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12. Lawmakers cite cost and the need to push people back into the workforce. Critics say Senate Bill 2 does not tackle obstacles preventing people from finding employment or staying employed. ...