State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center

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Resources by State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center


Comments: SPARC on the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)

| July 23, 2018 |

State Policy and Reform Center’s (SPARC) comments in response to the request for public comments from the Department of Health and Human Services on developing a Clearinghouse of evidence-based practices in


Fostering Advocates Arizona Day

| March 31, 2017 |

This was originally published at YouthGoingPlaces.org. During our Fostering Advocates Arizona Day at the Legislature, I spoke on a panel to an audience of lawmakers.


Statement for the Record: Examining the Opioid Epidemic: Challenges and Opportunities

| March 11, 2016 |

On March 8, the First Focus State Policy and Advocacy Reform Center submitted a Statement for the Record in response to the hearing titled


Measuring the Impact of Children’s Rights to Counsel: Advancing Child Due Process and Well-being in the Juvenile Court Ecology

| February 8, 2016 |

The well-being of children that come into contact with the child welfare system often hinges on juvenile court decisions where critical decisions about that


Major child welfare reform legislation to come in new year

| December 9, 2015 |

Congress, and the Senate Finance Committee in particular, has long demonstrated leadership on and commitment to child welfare reforms. A number of critical reforms


New Report Urges Continued Support for Helping States’ Keep Kids in Families

| November 11, 2015 |

In the past decade, the percentage of children placed in congregate care settings has significantly decreased at a greater rate than the overall foster


State advocates convene at Strengthening Families Act implementation meeting

| June 15, 2015 |

On Tuesday, June 9, First Focus’s State Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) hosted a meeting in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the Jim Casey


A Major Victory for Former Foster Youth in New Mexico

| April 7, 2015 |

Today, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed legislation requiring the state to provide Medicaid coverage to former foster children up to age 26 regardless


Senator Bob Casey (PA) Offers Critical Amendment to Finance Markup

| January 28, 2015 |

Today, the Senate Finance Committee is marking up legislation to allow companies to hire veterans without requiring that they be counted as full-time workers


Children’s Advocacy Alliance Releases the 2014 Nevada Children’s Report Card

| January 21, 2015 |

Yesterday, our partner in the State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) the, Nevada Children’s Advocacy Alliance (CAA) released its biennial 2014 Nevada Children’s