Excessive Washington red tape forces state child welfare programs to spend more time on paperwork instead of helping children.

In fact, these rules do NOTHING to increase accountability or outcomes for how these programs perform, as one witness testified today. ...

Relatives are an important source of care for kids who can’t live with their parents.

Too often, these caregivers are overlooked and don’t get the support they need.

One kinship provider shared that she faced an “uphill battle” getting help for her sister. ...

@replahood asked Tori Petersen about the importance of work in helping lift people out of poverty.

A former foster youth and current foster parent, Tori explained how every parent must recognize the point “when helping hurts” and too many government resources can delay growth and keep people trapped in poverty and crisis ...

Chairman Smith asked @parishilton, based on her lived experience as a survivor of abuse in a residential youth facility, what should be done to help children in crisis.

Here’s what she said. ...

For the last year, the Ways & Means Committee has conducted a top-to-bottom review of child welfare.

Here’s just some of what we’ve found:
❌Relatives taking care of kids need more support
❌A severe caseworker shortage
❌D.C. red tape
❌Unfair barriers faced by Native American tribes
❌Slow court system ...

During our hearing, @repbethvanduyne asked Talia Dror to describe her experience at Cornell and her reaction to the failure of university leaders to appropriately respond to and condemn those spreading antisemitism and threats of violence. ...