Author: Jessica Pika

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How Public Systems Can Strengthen Community Service Providers

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“A recent­ly released report from the Cen­ter for the Study of Social Pol­i­cy (CSSP) high­lights the chal­lenges encoun­tered by com­mu­ni­ty-based pro­grams that serve cul­tur­al­ly diverse fam­i­lies. Fund­ed by the Annie E. Casey Foun­da­tion, Cul­ture Is Heal­ing: Remov­ing the Bar­ri­ers Fac­ing Providers of Cul­tur­al­ly Respon­sive Ser­vices, pro­pos­es con­crete pol­i­cy rec­om­men­da­tions to address obsta­cles to the avail­abil­i­ty, financ­ing and sus­tain­abil­i­ty of

The Biden Administration’s New TANF Rule: a Pragmatic Step Forward

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Today, the Administration of Children and Families published an interim final rule that creates a framework for how states will report employment and education outcome data for their Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) programs in the years to come. The rule is intended to implement the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which places new requirements on states to report on employment, earnings, and high school attainment of families after they stop receiving TANF.

Let’s get REAL.

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All children and their families deserve to thrive, living in communities that promote their safety, health, and happiness. We must remember that we owe all of our children this level of care and support and to achieve this we have to reimagine policies and programs in ways that center and support gender expansive and LGBTQ+ children, youth, their families and communities. This requires recognizing, engaging, affirming, and loving our young people—in short, it requires us to getREAL about what they need to thrive. 

Children Deserve Better: Policy Attacks on LGBTQ+ Children Violate Their Rights and Harm Us All

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Children need access to affirming, supportive, and inclusive health care; to caring adults who fully support and honor their development; to schools that promote their growth and learning; and to communities and friends that respect and support them. Unfortunately, despite knowing what children need, policymakers in many states have done the exact opposite, and are doing so at a staggering rate.

Forward Ever: A Year in Review

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As I reflect on my first year as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the work that CSSP has done in advancing our mission and honing our focus on health justice, economic justice, and family autonomy

Parents are Struggling with High Prices this Year

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The Automatic Benefit for Children (ABC) Coalition is a cross-cutting group of national, state, and grassroots organizations working together to create a child allowance, or a guaranteed minimum income for children, that provides regular, meaningful assistance to families, promotes racial equity and justice, enjoys broad public support, and serves as a foundation for a more

Spotlight on MLPB’s DULCE Partners: A Discussion with Jalyn Alzate, DULCE Family Specialist

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This post was originally featured on MLBP.health, and was written by Amy Copperman. Click here to view the blog in full. DULCE (Developmental Understanding and Legal Collaboration for Everyone) is an innovative early childhood intervention that is spearheaded by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and was co-developed by MLPB. Since 2013, the national DULCE initiative

A Message from Leticia Peguero, Chair, CSSP Board of Directors

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During the short time I have served on CSSP’s board, I have seen the vision of this organization begin growing into something even bigger and bolder than what it was initially built on. That is to say, CSSP has long had big ideas about ensuring that all children, youth, and families have what they need to thrive.

Direct File: How Parent and Family Engagement in Design Can Improve Access to Refundable Credits

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This tax filing season, some people can file their taxes for free, directly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), as part of a pilot program to provide taxpayers a free, high quality alternative to paid tax preparation businesses. The IRS, with the support of partners like the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), has been ensuring that families who are most impacted by barriers to tax filing, such as the complexity and costs, have been delivering feedback throughout the design and development process of this new Direct File program.

CSSP Welcomes New Members to Board of Directors; Leticia Peguero Assumes Chair of Board of Directors

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The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) welcomes three new members to its Board of Directors: Dr. Leon Caldwell (joined Summer 2023), Senior Director Health Equity Strategy and Innovations at American Hospital Association and Founder, Ujima Developers; Elliott Hinkle, Principal and Founder, Unicorn Solutions LLC; and Helly Lee, Director, Frontline Solutions. In addition,