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February 19, 2009To submit an announcement to the FYA Weekly Bulletin, email bulletins@fosteryouthalliance.org. |
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In This Issue |
California Legislature Approves Budget PlanThe state budget has been approved by the Legislature and now awaits the Governor’s signature. State Legislature passes emergency budget plan By After five days of Capitol arm-twisting, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senate Democrats secured a breakthrough GOP vote this morning that gave the necessary two-thirds majority to their plan to save the state from what they warned was impending financial ruin. The Legislature began voting at 3:40 a.m. on a package of 33 bills to close a $41 billion budget deficit through June 2010 – a record shortfall resulting from a faltering state economy and the collapse of the housing and banking markets. By 6:55 a.m., both houses of the Legislature had passed the plan. “I’m absolutely delighted about the budget passing and the great job the Legislature has done,” said Schwarzenegger moments after the vote. “This is a historic budget.” The governor is expected to sign the bills Friday. (Click the link above to read the full article.) The Los Angeles Times summarizes key elements of the budget plan here. *********************************************************************** Thanks to your support, the California Conservation Corps Has Been Spared From the Friends of the CCC: The initial budget plan, proposed by the Governor in January, called for the elimination of the CCC. That has now been taken off the table, and, as part of the proposed compromise, we are pleased to advise you that the Budget states “This budget deletes the January proposal to eliminate the California Conservation Corps.” The response in favor of the CCC was tremendous! We saw a groundswell of support that included national press, thousands of letters and faxes, and much more. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to write a letter, send a fax, and help spread the word. We know this positive development would not have happened without all of your help! *********************************************************************** California’s Medi-Cal program was also in the news today: Health care: State Medi-Cal to get $10 billion infusion By John Howard (published Thursday, February 19, 2009) California’s Medi-Cal program, a state-federal system that provides health care to 6.7 million people, is expected to receive at least $10 billion – more than a fourth of its entire budget – as part of federal legislation intended to boost public health care funding. For the strapped state struggling to cover an unprecedented budget deficit, the money comes at a crucial time. However, to obtain the funds, which by one estimate could be as high as $11.23 billion, the state will have to reverse restrictions on eligibility that it imposed last year. (Click the link above to read the full article.) FYA News & EventsNext FYA Training: Youth Depression and African American Culture Join us on Tuesday, March 10th, from 9:30 to 12:30, for the next FYA training at at 675 Hegenberger Road, Oakland. The topic will be Youth Depression and African American Culture. This training is provided in partnership with Seneca Center & Chabot College FKCE. To register for this training, please email mclemmons(at)acfya.org or call 510-667-7640. Next FYA Meeting: March 20th The next FYA meeting will be Friday, March 20th, from 9:30 to 11:30, at 675 Hegenberger Road, Oakland. Foster Care MonthsSave the Dates for HEY’s Foster Care Month Events: * Foster Youth Leadership Awards – May 1, 2009 * Foster Youth Connections Breakfast – May 7, 2009 * Voices of Foster Youth – Resource Fair – May 16, 2009 Drug Discount ProgramUnited Way of the Bay Area and East Bay Community Foundation invite you to an informational meeting on how your constituents can benefit from a drug discount card program and access lower prescription prices. Nationwide Drug Discount Program with Ramsell Corporation Date: Friday, March 13th Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am Location: James Irvine Foundation Conference Center, 353 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland (around the corner from East Bay Community Foundation offices) The Drug Discount Card Program is a free program designed for both the insured and uninsured. The program provides the ability for individuals that do not qualify for safety net programs to purchase drugs at a significant discount. The discounts average 10% to 85% on brand and generic drugs. To RSVP, please provide your name and organization to Sylvia Crater at scrater@uwba.org by no later than Friday, February 27th. Research & ResourcesFrom the Chapin Hall Alert: Chapin Hall Conducts National Review of Policies and Programs for Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care This report provides a comprehensive review of state efforts to support youth transitioning out of foster care. As part of the review, Chapin Hall administered a web-based survey of state independent living services coordinators that covered a number of domains including conditions under which foster youth can remain in care after turning 18, independent living and transition services provided, opportunities for youth to reenter care, and how state dollars are used to supplement federal funds. Read the report, Review of State Policies and Programs to Support Young People Transitioning Out of Foster Care by Amy Dworsky and Judy Havlicek. *********************************************************************** Chapin Hall Researchers Recommend Strategies for Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities Occurring in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems A Chapin Hall paper, “Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice,” first presented at a symposium cosponsored by Chapin Hall and Georgetown University’s Center for Juvenile Justice Reform last spring, is now available in a compendium of the symposium proceedings. The paper offers five intervention strategies, applicable to both child welfare and juvenile justice: (1) increasing transparency, (2) reengineering structure and procedures, (3) changing organizational culture, (4) mobilizing political leadership, and (5) partnering in developing community and family resources. Read the Chapin Hall paper in Racial and Ethnic Disparity and Disproportionality in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice: A Compendium. ************************************************************************ From the NRCFCPPP Weekly Update 2/18/09
Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs Develops New Website The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs recently announced the launch of FindYouthInfo.gov, a collaborative effort of 12 Federal departments and agencies developed out of a shared goal of strengthening community resources to support our Nation’s youth. This site provides Federally-developed interactive tools and targeted information to help youth-serving organizations and community partnerships plan and implement effective youth programs. The site offers customized strategies and practical resources designed to help communities: Build and sustain effective community partnerships; Generate maps of community resources; Develop evidence-based youth programs addressing risk and protective factors; and, Access up-to-date information on Federal programs, funding opportunities, and youth-related issues. Online tools include social bookmarking, a calendar of events, news feeds, mapping tools, searchable youth program database, and much more. http://findyouthinfo.gov/ |
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