LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Increased Funding for Child Welfare

Training, Title IV-B, a Possibility--

Final Calls Needed to Make It a Reality

Revised, September 30, 1997

Senate-House Conference Committee Will Decide on Funding Level

ISSUE: On September 11th the Senate approved their Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education appropriations bill, S. 1061, which includes $8 million for the Title IV-B, Child Welfare Training Program. NASW and the Action Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER) successfully lobbied for this increase, which doubled this year’s funding. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Kit Bond (R-MO) championed this issue as members of the Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

The House-passed version of the appropriations bill, H.R. 2264, provides only current funding, $4 million, for the Title IV-B, Child Welfare Training Program. Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) was a vocal supporter for an increase.

The different funding levels for the Child Welfare Training Program will be one of a number of issues that must be reconciled in a joint Senate-House Conference Committee, which began meeting Friday, September 26. The fiscal year ends September 30, and the congressional leadership had hoped to get a final bill to the President before October 1. However, Congress is not expected to complete action on the Labor, HHS, Education bills, and other unresolved appropriations bills, until possibly the third week of October. In the meantime, Congress has approved a Continuing Resolution that would fund federal programs, where there is not an approved 1998 appropriations bill, at the fiscal year 1997 levels.

Your calls and letters are critical by October 17th. The Conference Committee must be convinced that increasing the funding to $8 million is imperative if we are to improve the quality of child welfare services and make a difference in the lives of vulnerable, high-risk children and their families. All members of Congress on the Senate and House Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittees will participate in the Conference Committee.

TARGETS: The House and Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee (see list below). The House Subcommittee members are particularly important, because they approved a lesser funding amount. If you do not have a Member on the subcommittees, contact Representative John E. Porter (R-IL), chair of the House Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), chair of the Senate Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

ACTION NEEDED: Call, fax, or e-mail by Friday, October 17th your senator and/or representative.

By Telephone: Call the Capitol switchboard, 202-224-3121, and ask for the representative or senator’s office.

By Fax/E-Mail: For fax and e-mail addresses, contact the individual member’s office or check on the Internet for direct access: http://www.house.gov/appropriations/ and http://www.senate.gov/committee/appropriations.html or use the NASW web page (http://www.naswdc.org/ and click on Links to Friends). Address letters to The Honorable (first name, last name); United States Senate; Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator (last name) or United States House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; Dear Representative.

By Telegram: Call Western Union, 1-800-325-6000.

MESSAGE:

Fund the Title IV-B, Child Welfare Training Program at the Senate-approved level of $8 million.

With the staggering numbers child abuse and neglect cases and complex needs of families in our public child welfare systems, the need for more skilled and qualified child welfare workers is greater than ever.

If you have direct experience in or with the child welfare system, share your personal experiences and the need for more trained social workers in child welfare.

INFORMATION: Contact Madeleine Golde, Government Relations Staff Associate, 1-800-638-8799, ext. 237, fax: 202-336-8311, or e-mail: mgolde@naswdc.org.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

* Members of the Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee
** Chair, Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee
*** Ranking on Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

* Indicates Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittee Members
** Indicates Labor/HHS/Education Subcommittee Chair