Every day, human services professionals and volunteers make important decisions in order to keep children safe and help families reach their full potential. The Quality Improvement Center on Helplines and Hotlines is conducting practical research to understand more about how these decisions are made. We want to hear from you to learn about how to keep children safe, target child protection resources effectively, and ensure all families can thrive.

We invite all mandated reporters and helpline and hotline staff to complete an anonymous survey about your experiences.

The survey deadline is Oct. 24. Respondents will be entered in a drawing to win one of five $50 gift cards.

Select the survey that is most appropriate for your role. All surveys are anonymous and take about 15 minutes to complete.

Please share the survey links widely. If you would like to distribute a printed copy of this information that includes the QR code, download this flier. These are some of the first national surveys of hotline and helpline staff, which means you can make an impact by participating and spreading the word.

Survey results will help the Center make recommendations on policies and practices for better decision making about families and develop new and improved pathways for families to get the help they need.

If you have any questions about a survey or this research project, email the Center.

The Center is administered by Evident Change in partnership with Social Current and the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance as part of a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau.

This project is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,500,000 with 100% funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS or the US Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website Administrative and National Policy Requirements.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a multifaceted approach to address rising rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Components of this plan include: 

Authorizing Treatment with Leucovorin: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a Federal Register notice outlining a label update for leucovorin for cerebral folate deficiency, which has been associated with autism. As a result, state Medicaid programs will be able to cover leucovorin for the indication of ASD. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will launch confirmatory trials and new research into the impact of leucovorin, including safety studies.   

Initiating a Safety Label Change for Acetaminophen: Due to conflicting literature and a lack of clear causal evidence between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, HHS aims to encourage clinicians to exercise their best judgment. The FDA will accordingly partner with manufacturers to update labeling and drive new research to safeguard mothers, children, and families. HHS will also launch a nationwide public service campaign to inform families and protect public health.   

Increasing Research Investment: NIH announced the recipients of the Autism Data Science Initiative (ADSI), funding 13 projects to transform autism research. ADSI integrates large-scale biological, clinical, and behavioral data using an exposomics approach, which examines environmental, nutritional, medical, and social factors in conjunction with genetics. 

Head Start Releases Information Memorandum Clarifying Policy Guidance for Vacant Slots  

The Administration for Children and Families released an information memorandum to all Head Start recipients, including Head Start Preschool, Early Head Start, Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships, Collaboration Offices, and National Centers. 

The memorandum clarifies when Head Start programs should consider a child’s slot vacant after prolonged absences, emphasizes the importance of regular attendance, and provides strategies for programs to enhance access and participation for children and families. 

Head Start Releases Information Memorandum Regarding the Monitoring Process for FY 2026 

The Administration for Children and Families released an information memorandum to all Head Start grant recipients. Aligned with the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, the Office of Head Start is required to monitor programs to ensure they meet quality and compliance standards. The information memorandum outlines the monitoring process for fiscal year 2026, including updates to review formats and the schedule for reviews during a grant period. 

Key updates to monitoring reviews include streamlining and clarifying review questions, reducing the total number of questions from 449 in FY25 to 203 for FY26, and shortening on-site review days from 5 days to 3 or 3.5 days. The changes focus reviews on the most critical elements for child safety and program integrity, as well as reviewing for compliance with all applicable state statutes and regulations for licensing. The updates are designed to strengthen systems early in the grant cycle, support fiscal integrity, and enable more on-site visits sooner in the process, ensuring a strong organizational foundation is established early in the grant cycle.   

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Outline Guidance for Third Round of Medicare Price Negotiations 

On Sept. 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued final guidance that details requirements and parameters for the third cycle of negotiations and the first cycle of renegotiations for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which will occur in 2026 and may result in negotiated maximum fair prices (MFPs) that would be effective in 2028. 

Federal Funding Lapses Without Further Appropriations Legislation 

The government has paused all non-essential operations as of Oct. 1st without continuing resolution or appropriations legislation to extend funding. 

While a continuing resolution that would fund the government at previous levels through November 21, H.R. 5371, was passed by the House of Representatives, it has failed to meet the required 60-vote threshold to pass the Senate. Central disagreements centered the extension of health care tax credits and language regulating recissions.  

Government shutdowns hold far reaching effects for the human service sector and the communities we serve. While mandatory benefits, such as Social Security, continue, reimbursements for key social service programs risk being delayed. 

States face a greater burden to stabilize funding if reimbursements are delayed. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) presents a critical challenge as it is currently funded by a contingency fund, but funding is not expected to sustain states for more than a few weeks. States may independently implement funding to safeguard the program and seek reimbursement once a continuing resolution is passed, but not all states are able to afford the cost. 

Additionally, vouchers for Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and Title IV-B are frozen until the government resumes its required funding levels. 

USDA Terminates Future Household Food Security Reports 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a press release notifying that future Household Food Security Reports would be terminated. The Household Food Security Report provides annual data from national food insecurity surveys to offer insight into the ability of low-income households to access adequate nutrition. 

HHS Publishes Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Head Start Program Performance Standards 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to propose new provisions to the Head Start Program Performance Standards. The standards aim to increase pay and support the Head Start workforce, improve the overall quality of Head Start program services, and strengthen mental health support. 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary  

Federal Court Rejects Conditions Placed on Disaster Funding 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island permanently blocked the enforcement of conditions placed on emergency preparedness funds. Judge William Smith determined that the sudden requirements that grant recipients certify that they do not “operate any program that benefits illegal immigrants or incentivizes illegal immigration” and promises to “honor requests for cooperation” in immigration enforcement are illegal. 

The verdict grants summary judgment to the plaintiff states, including Illinois, California, and New York.  

The decision also arrived shortly after the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction to prevent conditions from being placed on grant funds  The order stated that the funds cannot be used to further goals related to racial preferences, the denial of “the sex binary in humans or the notion that sex is a chosen or mutable characteristic,” illegal immigration, or other “anti-American values.” 

Reduction-In-Force Remain Paused for Certain HHS Subagencies 

The injunction against further reductions in force for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of Head Start and regional employees, the Center for Tobacco Products, and the HHS assistant secretary for planning and evaluation’s Division of Data and Technical Analysis will remain in place. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld the lower court’s preliminary injunction preventing further reductions in force as litigation continues. 

Shortly after, the First Circuit permitted the Department of Education to resume a planned reduction in force for its Office for Civil Rights, following a July Supreme Court order. The Supreme Court decision allowed the Department of Education to proceed with mass staff reductions. 

Appeals Court Warns Mandatory Implicit Bias Training May Give Rise to a Race-Based Hostile Work Environment 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit determined that mandatory implicit bias trainings are not inherently illegal. However, the court warned that the trainings may give rise to a race-based hostile work environment claim if the training discusses a particular race “with a constant drumbeat of essentialist, deterministic, and negative language.” 

Subscribe to the Policy and Advocacy Radar to receive our biweekly policy roundup, which includes commentary on issues in Social Current’s federal policy agenda, opportunities to take action, and curated news and opportunities.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released a strategic alignment initiative to foster a coordinated approach across agency programs. The approach is designed to enable ACF to concentrate funding on proven interventions, addressing complex human services challenges holistically, and achieving measurable results for children and families in communities throughout America. 

Additionally, ACF agencies are directed to evaluate funding allocations through the lens of their strategic objectives to ensure funding decisions that reflect their core priorities. ACF emphasized the importance of promoting quality early learning environments and improved child outcomes, promoting work and self-sufficiency, supporting family formation, ensuring efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and emphasizing personal responsibility. 

To determine whether grant programs align with ACF’s core priorities, the agency will develop and implement a value alignment assessment, prioritizing programs that demonstrably support: 

Aligned with recent executive orders, the Administration for Children and Families will not fund programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion or advance gender ideologies. Additionally, ACF will not support safe consumption sites or harm reduction activities. 

The Make America Healthy Again Commission Releases the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy 

On September 9, the Make America Healthy Again Commission released the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy. The recommendations encompass more than 120 initiatives to end childhood chronic disease, including advancing research, increasing public awareness, and strengthening private-sector collaboration.  

Key areas of focus include: 

Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittees Hold Hearing to Remove Barriers to Work and Support Opportunity for People with Disabilities 

The Social Security and Work & Welfare Subcommittees held a hearing to discuss Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Representatives and witnesses stressed the challenges people with disabilities face in pursuing careers, especially due to asset limits. They also discussed barriers to accessing return-to-work programs, opportunities to improve transitions, and challenges with administrative processes, particularly regarding overpayments.  

Witnesses highlighted the benefit of ABLE savings accounts that allow people with disabilities to keep benefits that support their health and independence while pursuing their careers. They also stressed the importance of trained benefits counselors to advise on complex rules governing related work programs, including Ticket to Work. 

Witnesses proposed encouraging and funding the collaborative model between employers and community-based employment agencies that provide expertise for career development and on-the-job training. They also recommended simplifying the Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit process and resuming previous investments in data and evidence to identify opportunities for program improvement.   

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Holds Hearing on the State of K-12 Education 

The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing regarding the state of K-12 education following the recent release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Often referred to as the nation’s report card, the assessment found significant decreases for eighth graders in science and twelfth graders in mathematics and reading. The results were the first published by NAEP since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Witnesses shared the ongoing challenges the pandemic presents as students work to recover key progress. However, they also noted pre-existing trends that were exacerbated by the rapid changes in learning formats marked stress, and profound mental health challenges countless students experienced during the pandemic. The witnesses discussed the disparate impact that contributed to a widening achievement distribution among the highest and lowest performing students. 

Witnesses and senators emphasized the importance of supporting school districts and their teachers while bolstering data collection and research. They expressed concern for the rise of smartphones, social media, and artificial intelligence. Witnesses also recommended researching chronic absenteeism and pathways to increase student engagement. They jointly encouraged a collaborative approach that partners families, educators, higher education institutions, businesses and industry leaders, policy makers, and community stakeholders to ensure students have the skills, confidence, and experiences needed to thrive in their classrooms as well as a workforce and economy increasingly shaped by science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

GAO Determines DHS Impounded Funding Appropriated to Serve Migrants  

On September 15, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report detailing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated federal appropriations law. GAO found that in withholding funding for local governments and nonprofits to provide services for migrants, the agency violated the Impoundment Control Act. 

The report specifically mentioned funding toward the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), Shelter and Services Program (SSP), and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program. 

CMS and SAMHSA Issue Joint Guidance for Crisis Services 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued joint guidance to states on the continuum of crisis services. The document is intended to serve as a guide for states and stakeholders regarding effective practices in crisis services as well as the federal authorities for states to finance and enhance the availability of crisis response services in Medicaid and CHIP. The guidance highlights effective strategies for crisis response services, describes specific Medicaid and CHIP authorities and flexibilities to support the full continuum of crisis services, and provides an overview of strategies for measuring and monitoring crisis response services. 

Office of Planning, Research, & Evaluation Publishes BASE Methodological Guide 

The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation published a methodological guide, entitled Estimating the Costs of Implementing Workforce Development Strategies in Child Care and Early Education. 

The report was published through the Building and Sustaining the Child Care and Early Education Workforce (BASE) project. The project aims to increase knowledge and understanding of the factors that drive staff member turnover in the child care and early education (CCEE) workforce and to build evidence about current initiatives to recruit, advance, and retain a stable and qualified CCEE workforce.  

The brief describes how to inventory the resources required to implement a workforce development strategy and estimate the associated costs using the ingredients method—a widely adopted, mixed-methods approach tailored to education settings. It aims to help users understand key methodological considerations involved in cost study design and ensure accurate cost estimates to support effective decision-making and avoid unintended consequences. 

Proclamation Issued, Temporarily Reforming the H-1B Visa Program 

On September 19, President Trump issued a proclamation restricting immigration for individuals to pursue specialty occupations through the H-1B program, unless their petition is accompanied by a $100,000 payment. The proclamation directs the Secretary of State to issue guidance to prevent misuse of B visas by beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions that have an employment start date prior to October 1, 2026. 

Notably, the proclamation does not extend to any previously issued H-1B visas or any petitions submitted prior to 12:01 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2025. Unless renewed, the restriction will expire 12 months following the date of the proclamation’s enactment. It also does not change any payments or fees required to be submitted in connection with any H-1B renewals. 

Sector Updates from the Judiciary 

Appeals Court Upholds Denial of Federal Medicaid Funding to Planned Parenthood 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit permitted the Department of Health and Human Services to withhold Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood following a provision within the recently passed tax and budget bill, H.R. 1. The provision temporarily prevents Medicaid from reimbursing health care centers that offer abortion care and received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023. The appeals court affirmed that the section does not violate the U.S. Constitution. 

Previously, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction, temporarily pausing the provision’s enforcement as litigation continued. U.S. District Judge Talwani determined that the law likely violates the Constitution by specifically excluding Planned Parenthood’s health centers due to their status as abortion providers. 

Federal Courts Pause Policy Requiring Immigration Status Verification for Certain Public Services 

Federal judges in Washington and Rhode Island temporarily prevented a policy recently issued by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services from taking effect. The policy required Head Start, certain public health programs, and adult education and career training programs to verify the immigration status of their participants.  

The judges emphasized the lack of clear guidance and the potential chilling effect on eligible individuals who lack documentation or fear enforcement. Judge Mary McElroy, for the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, additionally shared the challenges Head Start providers will likely experience in complying with the requirements. She emphasized the resulting financial challenges resulting from decreased enrollment. Similarly, Judge Ricardo Martinez for the Western District of Washington shared the immediate harm families will experience through childhood education loss, disability support, dual language instruction, and stable learning environments, leading to long-term harm to child development. 

A nationwide preliminary injunction is in place to temporarily prevent the directive’s enforcement against any health clinic, adult education, or Head Start agency, program provider, student, or family participant.  

Supreme Court Upholds Order Requiring South Carolina School District to Allow a Transgender Student to Use Restrooms Consistent with Their Gender Identity 

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request issued by South Carolina to pause a federal appeals court injunction that permitted a 9th-grade transgender student to use school restrooms consistent with their gender identity as the student’s lawsuit progresses. 

The student had filed the lawsuit to challenge a state law requiring students to use the bathroom aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The provision was introduced through South Carolina’s 2024 budget bill and renewed for their 2025-26 state budget. 

Although South Carolina’s circuit and appeals courts upheld the student’s right to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identity, the state petitioned the Supreme Court to prevent the student from using a bathroom that does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth. 

The Supreme Court noted that its decision exclusively followed the standard procedure for obtaining emergency relief. 

Appeals Court Resumes Enforcement of Texas Election Law 

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a district court’s decision, allowing key provisions of a Texas election law to proceed. SB1 regulates how individuals can assist voters in casting ballots.  

 Although a lower court found certain provisions could deter individuals from assisting disabled voters, the 5th Circuit upheld the disclosure provisions. The provisions require people assisting voters to disclose personal information, including their name, address, relationship to the voter, and whether they received compensation. The 5th Circuit ruled the law does not prohibit states from restricting who may assist voters if they’re paid. 

The court also upheld the amended oath provision, which requires individuals to swear under penalty of perjury that they did not pressure the voter, that the voter was eligible for assistance, and that they will not influence the vote. 

Supreme Court Pauses Los Angeles Restrictions Regulating Immigration Stops  

The Supreme Court temporarily paused an order issued by the U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong. The decision barred agents in the Central District of California from making immigration stops without reasonable suspicion that the person being stopped is in the United States illegally.  

Judge Frimpong maintained that reasonable suspicion cannot rest solely on any combination of four factors: “apparent race or ethnicity,” speaking in Spanish or accented English, being present at a location where undocumented immigrants are known to gather, and working at specific jobs, such as landscaping or construction. 

The lawsuit was filed following immigration-related raids, which petitioners argued violated the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. The plaintiffs maintained that reasonable suspicion must be grounded in “specific articulable facts,” rather than “broad profiles which cast suspicion on entire categories of people.” 

Although the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit largely upheld the order as litigation continued, the U.S. Solicitor General sought relief from the Supreme Court, contending the ruling strains law enforcement. 

The Supreme Court, by a 6-3 majority, affirmed that federal immigration officers can briefly detain and interrogate individuals regarding the legality of their status. The ruling permitted officers to rely on a “totality of circumstances” standard for reasonable suspicion, using all of the officer’s knowledge and observations at the time of the stop.  

US Court of Appeals Upholds Injunction Against Further Reduction-in-Force Workforce Notices 

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction, preventing the Department of Health and Human Services from issuing further reductions in force. The verdict follows an injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island that applies to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of Head Start and regional employees, the Center for Tobacco Products, and the HHS Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation’s Division of Data and Technical Analysis. 

The reductions-in-force will continue to remain paused as litigation continues. 

Federal Court Pauses Funding Restrictions for HUD Grantees 

The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the Department of Housing and Urban Development from imposing conditions on $75 million of grant funding through the Continuum of Care Builds program, which is allocated to build housing for unhoused individuals.  

The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of nonprofits that alleged funding became conditioned to prevent jurisdictions from supporting sanctuary protections, harm reduction practices, or inclusive policies for transgender people. 

Subscribe to the Policy and Advocacy Radar to receive our biweekly policy roundup, which includes commentary on issues in Social Current’s federal policy agenda, opportunities to take action, and curated news and opportunities.

Kinship care is the full-time care of children by relatives or other adults with whom they have a close, family-like bond, also known as “fictive kin.” This arrangement typically occurs when a child’s biological parents are unable to care for them due to various circumstances, such as illness, death, substance abuse, incarceration, or abuse. Kinship caregivers can be grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, cousins, or even close family friends. According to Kids Count Data Center, there are 2.5 million children currently living in kinship arrangements in the U.S.  

Benefits of Kinship Care 

Research consistently shows that placing children with kin leads to better outcomes than traditional foster care. For children, the emotional and psychological benefits are profound. Kinship placements help minimize the trauma of being separated from their parents by offering a familiar environment with people they already know and trust. Children in kinship care experience greater placement stability, with fewer school changes and a lower likelihood of re-entering foster care. Kinship care also helps children maintain vital connections to their family, culture, and community. This continuity provides a strong sense of identity and belonging, which is crucial for healthy development.  

Though kinship care has historically been practiced informally outside child welfare systems, child and family services are now recognizing and prioritizing a “kin-first” approach, where they actively seek out and support kin placements as the preferred option for children who are removed from their parents’ care. This paradigm shift, marked by the passage of a new federal rule giving states greater licensing and standards flexibility for kinship arrangements, must be matched with state policies and concrete resources that support kinship caregivers to improve child and family outcomes. 

Challenges for Kinship Caregivers 

Kinship caregivers, while providing a stable home for children, often face significant barriers that can make their role difficult. In a recent study of 868 kinship caregivers in Washington state, respondents reported an array of challenges that varied depending on income levels, region, and reason for placement.  

The most pressing challenges reported include: 

Financial Pressure: Kinship caregivers often take on the responsibility of raising children with little to no notice and without the same level of financial support that traditional foster parents receive. This can be especially difficult for grandparents or other relatives who may be retired or on a fixed income. Financial concerns were consistently reported as a “Top 3” need, regardless of income and region. Those in lower income brackets reported needing housing, food, and basic amenities, but even those in higher brackets reported financial uncertainty and strain.  

Emotional Strain: Taking on the full-time care of children, especially those who have experienced trauma, can take a heavy emotional toll. Caregivers often report feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unprepared. The challenges reported in this category include the need for more comprehensive mental health care, relationship counseling, and behavioral health support, particularly if the child was placed due to abuse.  

Legal Challenges: Gaining legal custody or guardianship can be a confusing, lengthy process. Without it, caregivers may find it difficult to enroll children in school, access medical care, or make critical decisions on their behalf. The requirements for approval and licensing are often strict and costly, and kinship caregivers may experience bias from caseworkers, making it hard to access information and understand their rights. 

Supporting the Future of Kinship Care 

To fully realize the potential of kinship care, systemic changes are needed. While a “kin-first” approach is gaining momentum, policies and procedures still create barriers for kinship caregivers.  

To provide genuine support for kinship caregivers, the system needs to evolve to: 

By strengthening the kinship care system, we can create a more family-centered approach that benefits children, caregivers, and communities alike. 

Key Resources 

Explore these three top resources to learn more about impactful practices in Kinship Care: 

Social Current Solutions 

Webinar: Kinship Care in Transition 

This on-demand webinar, originally held Sept. 22, provides practical tools and strategies for engaging and valuing kinship caregivers as true partners in the system. Whether you’re a frontline worker, administrator, or advocate, you’ll gain takeaways to strengthen kinship placements and elevate the voices of those caring for their own.  

The presentation clarifies what’s changing, what remains consistent, and how organizations can remain compliant while also honoring the lived experience of kinship families. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of recent federal rule changes, practical steps for organizational alignment, and approaches to supporting and empowering kinship families across diverse communities. 

COA Accreditation 

COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, supports organizations in effectively managing resources, implementing best practices, and creating an organizational culture of performance quality improvement. Our comprehensive accreditation reviews organizations’ administrative processes and infrastructure, as well as all programs with applicable service standards. 

Our Foster Care and Kinship Care standards were refreshed as part of our annual standards update in 2025. Learn more about the 2025 standards update on our website. 

To learn more about COA Accreditation, join a free upcoming webinar. 

Consulting 

We partner and co-create with communities and organizations to strengthen families and build supportive systems. Our tailored technical assistance and consultation utilizes recognized best practices, data, and lived experience to identify and move toward upstream solutions that reduce child abuse and neglect by building protective factors. 

Knowledge and Insights Center Resources 

Business, Media, & Research Databases 

From thousands of premium journals to the latest social sector news and media, Social Current Impact Partners and KIC subscribers have access to a wealth of evidence-based resources to support them in addressing any leadership challenge. 

About the Knowledge and Insights Center 

Social Current’s Knowledge and Insights Center equips social sector professionals with the research and resources they need to stay current on trends, implement best practices, and improve their organizations. It specializes in vetting information sources and systematizing information so that it is easy to understand. Gain access to the Knowledge and Insights Center by becoming a Social Current Impact Partner or purchasing access. 

About Social Current 

Social Current is the premier partner and solutions provider to a diverse network of more than 1,800 human and social service organizations. Together with our network, we are activating the power of the social sector to effect broader systemic change that is needed to achieve our vision of an equitable society where all people can thrive. We support, strengthen, and amplify the work of the social sector in five core integrated areas including brain science and trauma-informed approaches; COA Accreditation; child, family, and community well-being; government affairs and advocacy; and leadership and organizational development. 

Learn more by visiting our website. 
To learn more, subscribe to the Center’s announcements and visit the website.

Social Current has selected LifeWorks as the 2025 Innovative Impact Award winner for its Travis County Transformation Project. Based in Austin, LifeWorks serves youth and young families—many of whom have experienced homelessness—through its housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. The Travis County Transformation Project is a pre-arrest diversion program that deflects youth from juvenile justice into community-based respite services, case management, family counseling, and restorative healing circles to build well-being and prevent recidivism. 

LifeWorks will be recognized at the SPARK 2025 conference, Oct. 20-21 in Chicago. Leaders from LifeWorks and the Excellence Project, as well as the Travis County District Attorney will share their expertise in a workshop about the project. 

LifeWorks CEO Liz Schoenfeld recently sat down for an interview with Social Current’s Senior Director of Child, Family, and Community Well-Being Romero Davis to discuss key aspects of the project, collaborating with partners, and authentically engaging youth voice.  

Listen to the interview or check out the Q&A below. 

Could you please start by sharing a little bit of background and context around what led you to embark on the Travis County Transformation Project?  

Yes, absolutely! Our focus is really on solving youth homelessness, and a significant portion of unhoused young people in our community have experience with the juvenile legal system. So, our focus is not just putting roofs over people’s heads but also doing what we can to prevent the threat of homelessness in the first place.  

One of the things that was most shocking to me when we first started really embarking on this specific project was learning that the number one reason that young people end up in the juvenile legal system in our community is essentially family conflict. It is for a charge called assault family violence, which means that there is an argument in the home, it escalates, and the police are called. Because they are generally required to remove somebody from the home, they often will choose to remove the young person because that’s less disruptive to the family unit. It reduces the risk of CPS involvement, compared to if you were to remove the parent instead.  

And so that results in the young person being arrested and taken to our juvenile detention center and being booked. That experience of being arrested and essentially being processed like a criminal—that can have a profound effect on how young people see themselves and can open this cycle of further involvement with the criminal justice system. From 2013-2019, nearly half of young people who had been picked up for these types of offenses recidivated within a year.  

Often, when family conflict escalates to that point, the underlying root is stress. It’s stress that’s being caused by financial instability, by housing instability, by food insecurity, by strained coping skills, or by lack of mental health resources. At LifeWorks, we just refuse to be satisfied with that as the status quo, And we knew that we could do better. Like nearly 90% of the families that we’re serving, were in an area of Austin characterized by racial segregation and historical disenfranchisement. It was these patterns that inspired us to embark on this initiative, and we knew that our community could stand by our youth in a more effective way.  

This project involves cross-sector collaboration. Can you talk about your partners their strengths, and their contributions?  

Yes, there are three core partners that are involved in the Travis County Transformation Project. There’s LifeWorks, there’s another nonprofit in town called the Excellence Project, and then there’s the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.  

I’ll start with the DA’s Office. They are responsible for assessing eligibility for the program. This means that when law enforcement is called to a family’s residence, they are responsible for determining if the individual might be a good fit for the project. This means that the DA’s Office was also responsible for recruiting and training law enforcement in the deflection protocol.  

Then you have LifeWorks, and the component that we provide is the respite services. This means that instead of the young person being taken to the juvenile detention center, the families have the option for the young person to stay at our shelter for a cooling down period of three to 14 days. During that time, the young person can be connected with LifeWorks’ family counseling services.  

The Excellence Project provides wraparound case management services to the family to help address their basic needs. They also facilitate the healing circles, which are based on the Circles of Peace restorative justice model. The goal of this piece is to involve other supportive figures in families’ lives, create practical skills to help them resolve conflict, minimize social isolation, and build the supports to prevent future family violence. 

In working with these partners, I just have been so impressed because this is an incredible example of how this type of cross-sector collaboration can result in impacts that really exceed the capacity of any one organization.  

What has helped you all make the collaboration successful?  

There are really three core things that have contributed to the success of this collaboration. And I would say that first and foremost, simply just having a shared vision. So, from the very beginning, every partner was just really aligned on this shared goal of reducing harm and developing a non-punitive approach and, instead, coming up with a community-based solution. We all recognized that if we wanted different outcomes for youth and families in our community, we would need to do our work differently. That has been the through line every step of the way—from conceptualization to today. 

Another thing that has really been critical for the project’s success is continuous communication. Collaboration at this level only works if you are in lockstep with each other, and this project team is in contact with one another in some way, shape, or form on a near daily basis. 

And then finally, just really keeping youth and families at the center. Instead of adhering to a rigidly prescribed model, we’ve stayed flexible and have tried to adapt to the program to meet the needs of young people. If they tell us that one element of the program isn’t something that they need or responsive to the challenges that they’re facing, they don’t necessarily need to participate in that element of the program.  

You really are seeing impressive outcomes. In the first 18 months of operation, the project achieved a 94% reduction in recidivism. That is 3% for project participants, compared to 49% of youth receiving traditional juvenile justice interventions. What aspects of the project do you think have had the greatest impact on success?  

I think that the greatest impact has come from our ability to keep youth out of the justice system altogether—from having the experience of being handcuffed. Research is clear that the trauma of arrest and court can really increase the likelihood of reoffending, and so by deflecting young people before that point, we’re really interrupting that cycle. 

Additionally, the holistic supports, including case management, family counseling, and healing circles, makes huge difference. Being able to ground the intervention in community and in tools and resources that families can carry with them beyond the program is essential for them to recognize their inherent strengths and how to access additional resources when they need them.  

What have you learned by centering the voices of those that are directly impacted?  

Listening to youth and families is at the heart of everything that we do at LifeWorks, and the Travis County Transformation Project is no exception. We firmly believe that youth and families are the experts of their own lives, and we really try to listen and to let them guide the way—and we have the honor walking alongside them.  

When this project was being developed, folks told us that that conflict was directly tied to the stressors that they were facing in the home and challenges like food insecurity, housing instability, and financial strain. That’s why we built in case management. Families told us that the lack of accessible and affordable mental health services were a barrier, and so that’s why we built in the family counseling component. They told us that social isolation made conflict worse, so that’s why we brought in the healing circle approach—to help those in the program choose folks in their lives that are meaningful, natural supports and involve them in their journey toward healing. It was through listening that we were able to build a program that families want to participate in and that truly meets their needs. 

What’s next for the program, and are there plans to replicate it? 

Yes, and it’s one of the things that I’m most excited about. Communities across Texas and the U.S. have already been reaching out about replication. We are also partnering with the University of Texas at Austin to do a formal evaluation and ultimately create a formal implementation guide to support other communities in doing this work. 

On top of that, we’re looking at how we can potentially expand the model locally, whether that is through expanding the age range of participating young people, expanding it to other types of charges, or even adapting the model to be able to use a similar deflection approach for families that would otherwise become involved with the child welfare system.  Our hope is that communities everywhere can adapt this model to their unique needs, so that fewer youth are being pushed into the juvenile legal system and more families can access the healing and support they deserve.  

Listen to the full interview online. 

Meet with Liz Schoenfeld and hear from the Travis County Transformation Project team at SPARK 2025. Make sure to register by Sept. 20 to save with the early bird rate. 

It’s time to ditch the word “nonprofit.” The social sector powers 12.5 million jobs and contributes $1.4 trillion to the U.S. economy, yet outdated systems, myths, and funding models limit its full potential. Today, Social Current, a partner to 1,800+ human and social service organizations in the U.S., Canada, and beyond, launches Five & Rising, a bold national movement to change that.

Five & Rising is designed to unleash the sector’s full economic power and rewrite the rules for how it’s funded and valued.

“Five & Rising is here to break the limits placed on our sector and to prove what’s possible when we stop treating it as a secondary player in the economy,” said Dr. Jody Levison-Johnson, president and CEO of Social Current. “These pilot communities will demonstrate that when we invest in the real cost of impact and trust local leaders to innovate, we unlock change that ripples far beyond their borders. What they build will raise the bar for the entire nation.”

Five & Rising takes its name from the social sector’s 5.2% share of U.S. GDP. It is both a reminder of the sector’s economic force and a statement that this is only the beginning.

Inspired by the documentary UnCharitable, directed by Stephen Gyllenhaal, which challenges conventional thinking about how the social sector should operate, Five & Rising will work with communities across the country to co-create systems that match the sector’s true scale and unleash its ability to deliver lasting impact.

“I’ve seen firsthand how the stories we’ve told about charity have limited what’s possible,” said Gyllenhaal. “It’s time we rewrite the narrative—one that reflects the truth: the social sector is a force of innovation, impact, and economic power. Five & Rising is how we break the old frame and finally fund real change.”

About the Pilot Communities

To be considered as a pilot community, applicants identified the issue they most wanted to address, the rationale behind it, and what they hoped to achieve. They also shared what excites them most about this opportunity and why their community’s involvement is essential.

Today, Five & Rising proudly unveils its three inaugural pilot communities. Together, these communities represent the bold ideas and deep engagement the movement was designed for. They will serve as proving grounds for scalable strategies that can transform how the social sector is funded, valued, and supported.

Center for Community Impact (Northwest Ohio)
Building Shared Infrastructure for Rural-Serving Organizations
In Northwest Ohio, the Center for Community Impact is proving that collaboration is the innovation in rural America. By co-creating shared systems, collaborative strategies, and readiness that attract investment, and by launching leadership boot camps to strengthen capacity and a shared services ecosystem, they show the rural social sector is not just ready to lead, they are already rising.

ChangeMakers Hawai’i (Hilo, Hawai’i)
Centering Indigenous Wisdom and Trust-Based Philanthropy
In Hawai’i, ChangeMakers is driving economic equity and justice through community engagement, financial access, and support for purpose-driven professions. Through Philanthropono, a capacity-building initiative grounded in Indigenous knowledge, they are elevating the leadership of Indigenous-led nonprofits by partnering with funders to simplify grants, expand unrestricted multi-year funding, and build authentic relationships, they are creating a replicable, equity-driven model for trust-based philanthropy that can thrive in historically marginalized communities nationwide.

Progressive Life Center (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware)
Redesigning Foster Care as Healing Infrastructure
Across Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, Progressive Life Center (PLC) is working to transform foster care as a healing, family-centered system. PLC is leading a cross-sector coalition of caregivers, providers, policymakers and those with lived experience to stabilize care, reduce risk, and replace surveillance with support. PLC is tackling systemic fragility, naming the true cost of care, promoting trauma-informed approaches, and creating a model of sustainable, equitable care that can be replicated nationwide.

“These incredible organizations are already creating meaningful change in their own communities,” added Levison-Johnson. “From strengthening rural networks, to transforming foster care, to elevating Indigenous-led solutions, they are proving what’s possible. As they build and scale their work, their successes will offer models and inspiration that can benefit communities across the country.”

Social Current, along with a group of cross-sector partners and allies will support the three pilot communities every step of the way by providing technical assistance, securing sustainable investment, helping to shape a national roadmap and building systems that deliver a lasting impact.

In their first year, Five & Rising pilot communities will engage in a yearlong capacity-building curriculum that will equip them to dismantle harmful myths about the sector, strengthen organizational resilience through new approaches to fundraising and governance, and amplify influence through advocacy, communications, and cross-sector partnerships. That knowledge will enable them to bring philanthropy, government, business, social enterprises, and community members together to confront root causes of local challenges, co-create bold strategies, and launch shared action plans.

This approach ensures communities are strengthening from within and building collective solutions, creating a playbook that can be scaled nationally to reimagine philanthropy and unlock the full power of the social sector.

About Five & Rising
Five & Rising is a national movement led by Social Current to unleash the social sector from the restrictions that limit its impact. Working with communities across the country, Five & Rising co-creates bold funding models, challenges broken norms, and builds the infrastructure needed for systemic change. Five & Rising is more than a campaign; it’s a call to rethink how the social sector is funded, valued, and supported. Learn more and join the movement at FiveAndRising.org.

Three on-demand leadership courses are now available through Social Current’s online learning community. These courses are self-paced and include eight hours of learning. Participants can complete each course’s four sections over four weeks, but have access for an entire year. These trainings were developed by The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)®, a top-ranked, global, nonprofit provider of leadership development.

Managing Virtual and Hybrid Teams
While working remotely has its advantages, it can also be challenging. Today’s leaders need to effectively lead a large spectrum of teams, including co-located, virtual teams and situations where some members are dispersed and some in the same location. These teams need a strategy for thinking differently, communicating digitally, and making sure people feel included, connected, and aligned to perform at their best. Course takeaways include:

Innovation Leadership
Effective leaders need to champion innovation. Understanding design thinking concepts can help leaders target and champion innovation more effectively. Course takeaways include:

Burn Bright: The Resilience Advantage
This course will help leaders approach their energy and performance with a new mindset and invigorated toolset. In each of four sections, participants will complete multiple lessons designed to encourage engagement and interaction. Course takeaways include:

Learn more about Social Current’s Leadership and Organizational Development expertise and solutions.

For questions and technical assistance, contact Social Current.

September through November is the official season for Voter Education. Mark these dates on your calendar, learn why supporting voter registration is crucial to sustaining a healthy democracy, and gain tools to lead these efforts in your community.

National Voter Registration Day: Sept. 16, 2025

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday. The mission of this day is to support democracy by creating awareness of voter registration opportunities and ensure all eligible Americans are registered to vote and ready for their next election. Since its inception in 2012, National Voter Registration Day has helped more than 6 million people register to vote.

Millions of Americans are unable to vote each year because of financial barriers, limited access to transportation, and difficulty registering to vote. The voter registration process can be complex, and for those who have moved, changed their name, or are registering for the first time, it’s often a source of confusion and anxiety. National Voter Registration Day seeks to address these issues by providing a single, coordinated day of action. It brings together a diverse coalition of thousands of organizations, including community-based organizations, corporations, and libraries, for a nationwide effort to register voters and educate the public on election information.

National Voter Education Week: Oct. 6-10, 2025

National Voter Education Week (NVEW) is an annual, nonpartisan campaign held during the first full week of October. It’s a concerted, open-source effort by a coalition of organizations to provide voters with information and tools so they can confidently participate in elections.

The main purpose of NVEW is to bridge the gap between registering to vote and casting a ballot. Many eligible voters are registered but face barriers or have questions about the voting process. Organizations can address these issues during NVEW by helping voters find their poling locations, locate candidate information, and make an election day plan.

Why It’s Crucial for the Social Sector to Participate

For community-based organizations, participating in voter education activities is a natural extension of their mission. These organizations are often among the most trusted institutions in their communities and are uniquely positioned to reach people who might be missed by traditional political campaigns.

Here’s why it’s so important:

How Your Organization Can Support Voter Registration

Nonprofits can participate in National Voter Registration Day in many ways, from small-scale efforts to large, coordinated events. The key is to remain nonpartisan and make voter registration as easy as possible. The IRS explicitly allows 501(c)(3) organizations to conduct nonpartisan voter registration drives.

Here are some examples of how to can get involved:

By participating, organizations can play a vital role in strengthening democracy and empowering the people they serve.

Voter Registration Resources

Whether you want to launch a campaign or just provide some print or digital resources, there are numerous resources to help you participate in this year’s voter education activities.

Toolkits and Guides:

Trusted Voter Support Organizations:

Social Current Solutions

Government Affairs and Advocacy

Social Current offers training, tools, and consultation to help community-based organizations navigate the complexities of government relations, mobilize their communities, and influence legislation. Learn more about our Government Affairs and Advocacy solutions.

Knowledge and Insights Center Resources

Business, Media, & Research Databases
From thousands of premium journals to the latest social sector news and media, Social Current Impact Partners and KIC subscribers have access to a wealth of evidence-based resources to support them in addressing any leadership challenge.

About the Knowledge and Insights Center
Social Current’s Knowledge and Insights Center equips social sector professionals with the research and resources they need to stay current on trends, implement best practices, and improve their organizations. It specializes in vetting information sources and systematizing information so that it is easy to understand. Gain access to the Knowledge and Insights Center by becoming a Social Current Impact Partner or purchasing access.

The Quality Improvement Center on Helplines and Hotlines recently launched a website that offers practical, research-based solutions for child protection hotlines and community helplines to support all families in reaching their full potential. The website includes answers to common questions about child welfare, helplines, and hotlines, as well as curated news, op-eds, reports, and research briefs about hotlines, helplines, and the front door of the child welfare system.

The purpose of the Center is to develop practical strategies to keep children safe, target child protection resources effectively, and help families thrive. The Center is administered by Evident Change in partnership with Social Current and the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance as part of a cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau.

It has three goals:

To address these goals, the Center will:

By working together, we can support CPS agencies and mandated reporters to protect children from harm, create better pathways to meet families’ needs, and ensure all children and families have the chance to thrive.
To learn more, subscribe to the Center’s announcements and visit the website.

On Sept. 2, by a vote of 11 to 7, the House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations subcommittee approved the 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill allocates significant funding toward:

Notable funding decreases include:

Additionally, Child Care and Development Block Grants and Head Start will be funded at equal levels to fiscal year 2025. Behavioral health programs focused on criminal and juvenile justice and homelessness prevention will also be streamlined.

For additional information, the Appropriations Committee issued a summary of the bill’s main provisions.

Executive Branch Rescinds Foreign Aid Funding

The White House Budget Office advanced a proposal to rescind $4.9 billion in funding allocated to the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Typically, Congress would be offered 45 days to process the request. However, the proposal was advanced while Congress members had returned to their districts for August recess and with fewer than 45 days until the fiscal year ends.

The Government Accountability Office has previously determined that the maneuver, often referred to as a “pocket recission,” is illegal as it attempts to bypass Congress’ constitutional power to approve a budget and appropriate funds. Pocket recissions have also been criticized by Congress members who similarly claim that it is a violation of congressional authority.

CMS Issues Guidance to Expand Access to Affordable Catastrophic Health Coverage

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance intended to expand access to catastrophic health coverage. The guidance also aims to streamline access for people who are ineligible for advance payments of the premium tax credit or cost-sharing reductions.

Catastrophic plans are designed to protect consumers from very high medical costs in the event of serious illness or injury and generally have lower monthly premiums as a result. They also offer full access to preventive services without cost-sharing requirements. The guidance aims to improve healthcare access as health insurance premiums are expected to rise significantly for the 2026 plan year.

CMS Issues Final Rule to Expand Access to Prescription Drug Information by Certain Medicare Beneficiaries

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule, effective Oct. 1, intended to enhance transparency for patients and providers participating in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care, Medicare Part D, Health Insurance Marketplace, and commercial plans. Specifically, the rule aims to improve access to prescription drug information for physicians and patients to ease the identification of the most appropriate and cost-effective treatments. Through deregulatory actions, the rule will enable Medicare recipients to compare drug prices, view their out-of-pocket costs, and access information on prior authorization requirements.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary  

Federal Court Issues Temporary Restraining Order to Prevent Agencies from Enforcing Grant Conditions

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a temporary restraining order, preventing agencies, including the Departments of Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Health and Human Services, from conditioning congressionally approved grant funding.

States and counties filed the lawsuits alleging that the Trump administration imposed “vague and unauthorized conditions” on grant funds, which violated the Separation of Powers doctrine, the Spending Clause, the Fifth and Tenth Amendments, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Specifically, grantees were required, “to certify that they prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, prohibit the promotion of gender ideology and elective abortion, and promote federal immigration enforcement efforts.”

Judge Seeborg determined that the plaintiffs are likely to suffer irreparable harm by requiring grantees to certify compliance with “likely unconstitutional conditions or [surrender] key federal grant funding.” The judge also emphasized the potential harm to communities, as plaintiffs require clarity about their budgets and programmatic capacities to deliver public services.

Education Department Reaches Agreement to Release Frozen Education Funding

Beginning the week of July 28, the U.S. Department of Education will begin releasing funding for the current federal and education fiscal year for the following programs:

The decision to release frozen federal funding stems from an agreement the federal government made with 24 states and the District of Columbia. The U.S. Department of Education agreed to release any remaining funds between Oct. 1-3 to resolve a previously filed lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed following a notice sent to state-level school departments nationwide from federal officials, detailing that the above education funding was being returned to the federal government.

Federal Judge Declines to Reinstate Funding for a Maine Reproductive Health Care Provider

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine permitted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to proceed in halting Medicaid payments to Maine Family Planning, a network of 18 clinics that operate across the state.

The loss of funding follows the passage of H.R. 1, the recent budget bill, which prohibited Medicaid funding for organizations primarily engaged in family planning services that have received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023.

Maine Family Planning filed the lawsuit, alleging the withdrawal of Medicaid payments would cause the organization and its clients irreparable harm. Maine Family Planning stressed that Medicaid dollars are not directed toward its abortion services, but toward primary care services. The loss of funding would prevent the clinics from offering cervical cancer screenings, contraception, and primary care to low-income residents.

Judge Walker determined that Maine Family Planning failed to demonstrate the irreparable harm cited and further affirmed Congress’ right to “withhold federal funds and otherwise disassociate from conduct that is not enshrined” as a constitutional right.

Payments to Maine Family Planning will not resume, as litigation continues.

Federal Court Temporarily Pauses State Law Prohibiting DEI Initiatives in Schools

The U.S. District Court of New Hampshire issued a two-week temporary restraining order against a portion of a New Hampshire state law prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within local school districts. As a result of the verdict, certain school districts will not have to report any contracts or activities involving DEI initiatives until Sep. 18.

The requirement was issued through HB2, the state’s budget package. It prohibits any DEI initiatives in schools and public agencies that seek to improve outcomes for individuals who are grouped by age, sex, gender identity, race, or disability. Schools are required to report to the New Hampshire Department of Education any DEI-related programs and contracts they provided, detailing if any were funded through state allocations. Districts that failed to comply would be subject to financial penalties.

Judge McCafferty issued the temporary restraining order because of the harm school districts would face if they violate the law, even unknowingly. Additionally, the judge maintained that the state failed to demonstrate that it has the authority to withhold funding if schools fail to comply with the law’s deadline to report to the state’s Department of Education.

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