Iowa s child welfare system is feeling the weight of the pandemic, with some counties in urgent need of foster-care families. At the same time, those involved with referrals say the state remains focused on reducing the cycle of trauma for the children. Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) said regions surrounding cities such as Council Bluffs and Sioux City have the biggest gaps in foster-care placement. .
The last two years have been devastating for children during the pandemic, dealing with isolation along with losing loved ones. A conference held in Baltimore this week focused on bringing conversations around child bereavement closer to the communities it impacts. The National Alliance for Children s Grief hosted its Baltimore regional conference at Roberta s House, a family grief support center. .
A change to Medicaid enrollment in the coming months could put health coverage for millions of children across the U.S., and thousands in Idaho, at risk. When the federal government officially ends the COVID-19 public health emergency, it will also end the requirement for states to provide continuous Medicaid coverage. Hillarie Hagen, health policy associate at Idaho Voices for Children, talked about what it will mean in the Gem State. .
Texas Rangers investigating reports of child sex trafficking at a shelter in Bastrop reported they did not find enough evidence to support the charges. The Refuge, a nonprofit shelter, was created to help girls, ages 11 to 17, who had been victims of sex trafficking. But after allegations some shelter employees could be trafficking the girls, Gov. .
The Virginia General Assembly has given bipartisan approval to a measure one advocate believes could lead to significant changes to the Commonwealth s youth justice system. The bill outlined how management of the state s juvenile justice system could transition from the Public Safety Secretary to the Health Secretary. Valerie Slater, executive director of the group RISE for Youth, said it could mark an important step away from Virginia s current punitive approach to youth justice. .