Building durable social infrastructure for women and children through direct stabilization services and systems advocacy.

Lawmakers told witnesses that unsafe or unaffordable housing, scarce childcare and uneven health-care access undermine recruitment and retention; Master Chief Waldron and Vice Admiral Moore described efforts and requested sustained funding to improve family stability for service members.

In docket 26P0079, counsel for three children and the mother debated whether the Department of Children and Families proved adoptability and presented an adequate adoption plan; DCF urged affirmation citing harm and need for permanence.

An appeals panel heard arguments over whether a juvenile court properly found a 16/17‑year‑old child 'in need of care and protection' because of the mother's untreated mental‑health episodes and repeated violent outbursts; the mother argued educational neglect alone cannot justify removal after age 16, while DCF said the record shows safety risks and refusal to cooperate with services. The court reserved decision.

Community leaders emphasize childcare and education's role in fostering economic growth in Columbus.

Economic instability fuels anger among thirty-somethings, hindering marriage and family formation, experts warn.

Connie Kauk, who identified herself as a survivor and peer support specialist, recounted living in a tent with a toddler, a six-month shelter wait and the limits of short-term shelter stays, urging long-term supportive housing and praising SAFE Alliance’s programs.

The Legislature adopted AM17o1 to LB653 to require schools to accept younger siblings who seek to option enroll where an older sibling was accepted, and added a narrow exception allowing suspension of K–2 students for violent behavior capable of causing physical harm with a required parent meeting and action plan; the amended bill advanced to E & R initial.

Community advocates urged the Monroe County Legislature to pass a $2 million pilot to provide an add-on shelter allowance that would accompany families rather than landlords, estimated to serve about 125 families and reduce use of hotel placements.

Assistant Secretary Alex Adams said ACF is doubling down on efforts to prevent tech-facilitated abuse of vulnerable children, describing 'A Home for Every Child' to increase foster placements and 'Operation Hope' to locate missing foster youth at risk of online exploitation.

Carmen Rondash, a former Head Start parent and current ABCD board member, described how Head Start and ABCD supports enabled her to access child care, fuel assistance and later employment, stressing the program's role in family stability and opportunity.

Dr. Derek Brown reported outcomes from Connected Families: lower caseload standard (1:18), high sibling-placement rates and evidence that private/kinship placements reduce transfers to higher-level care, improving child outcomes and state costs.

Dr. Derek Brown of Arkansas Baptist Children and Family Ministries (Connected Families) told the committee his program keeps siblings together at high rates, uses lower caseload standards and reports improved stability and lower transitions to higher levels of care than statewide averages.

Randall Taylor, a former District 1 board director, urged Pittsburgh Public Schools to advocate for building family-sized affordable housing and criticized decades of public-housing demolition in the city.

Morgan Moore of TFI urged the commission to back a task force to recruit and support foster families in Butler County, stressing the harm when children must be placed hours away and the need for homes able to take teens and sibling groups.

Chancellor Kumar Samuels said the Department of Education and early childhood partners are focused on high‑quality programming and family convenience as the first 2K offers are issued, and pledged visits to centers in the fall.

Applicant Steps of Strategy said the proposed Pillsbury shelter will emphasize family services, onsite mental‑health care, counseling, tutoring and Hennepin County referrals and pointed to prior client outcomes as evidence of effectiveness.

A lawmaker told the Senate committee that cuts to home- and community-based services are forcing providers and families into hardship, citing a Minnesota autism provider who sold assets to continue services and a California mother who relies on in‑home supports to care for her disabled son.

Gov. Ron DeSantis reiterated support for universal school choice and tied education policy to family well-being and public safety during remarks to the Florida Sheriffs Association.

Lauderhill officials declare April 2025 Child Abuse Prevention Month to support vulnerable children.

Family Keys successfully finds housing for families within 30 days, supporting local landlords.

Family Keys saved Wisconsin County over $256,000 while supporting 53 children and families.

Proposed changes to FoodShare match rate risk reducing essential administrative funding for families.

Wisconsin's child support agency highlights impactful enforcement stories enhancing family assistance.