The University of Missouri Extension requested the assistance of the Welfare Peer TA Network to plan and conduct a 2-day statewide Roundtable on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)/Child Tax Credit (CTC) and strategies to help eligible current and former TANF participants and low-income families apply for the credits. The principal goal of the Roundtable was to build and enhance partnerships statewide between social services providers, Missouri’s TANF Agency, business leaders, and community and faith-based organizations, with an aim toward helping low wage earning families achieve financial self-sufficiency through the Earned Income Tax Credit

The RAND Corporation authored this report on the effects of work-conditioned welfare programs on marriage or child well-being. By using a theoretical framework and past research in this area, authors find that welfare programs can increase family income, which will affect child outcomes.

This brief from the Urban Institute reviews four key service systems that serve vulnerable families with young children: Early Head Start; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; the child welfare system; and the Part C Early Intervention Program. Authors review data on the demographics of infants and toddlers served by these programs.

Published through Child Trends, this newsletter includes information from the National Survey of Children’s Health, which provides state-level data on children’s health and wellbeing. Additionally, authors provide information on new data tools and resources on child welfare.

This report from the Government Accountability Office reviews how States are preparing youth in foster care for independent living. In 1999, the funding for independent living programs was increased to $140 million. GAO evaluated the funding allocations by State, the services provided, State coordination of programs to provide services, and the Administration for Children and Families' progress in meeting its accountability requirements.

The National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning authored this toolkit on kinship care as a strategy to promote permanency for children and families in the child welfare system. Kinship care has grown among families in the United States, and researchers have found that placements with relatives tend to last longer than non-relative placements.

This is a fact sheet on the Quality Improvement Center on Non-resident Fathers, which was designed to promote additional knowledge development regarding the engagement of non-resident fathers and their children who are involved in the child welfare system. The project will determine what impact non-residential father involvement has on child welfare outcomes.

This bulletin addresses the specific challenges of permanency planning with older youth and highlights successful strategies and programs from across the country. From the Child Welfare Information Gateway, recommendations include making kinship care a priority to improve permanency among older youth.

Senators Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced legislation in Fall 1999 aimed at protecting the youngest victims of domestic violence. The Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Protection Act of 1999 (S. 1321) includes many of the same provisions as Title II of the Violence Against Women Act of 1999 (H.R 357), as well as authorization for new grant programs. The bill provides for partnership-building between domestic violence service agencies and child welfare agencies; training for child welfare workers and police officers; and training for elementary and secondary school officials on recognizing and meeting the needs of children and teenagers who are witnessing or experiencing domestic violence in their homes or relationships. The "Children Who Witness" bill also makes funds available for the creation of supervised visitation centers and crisis nurseries for victims of child abuse. This bill is not yet legislation.

For more information on S. 1321, contact National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 's Public Policy Office at (202) 745-1211 or ncadv2@sprynet.com

The U.S. teen birthrate has continued to decrease over time -- although it is the highest among industrialized countries. This research reviews the impact of teen pregnancy and how this rate can affect the public. It is estimated that teen childbearing costs taxpayers around $9.1 billion annually; costs included public health care, child welfare and prison system costs.