Joint Council Update - Senate Hearings on Children in Adversity

Last week Senator Mary Landrieu chaired the Senate Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs’ unprecedented hearing on U.S. Foreign Assistance for Children in Adversity.   While our participation was limited as the hearing was held the same day as our Symposium, many of our colleagues with whom we have been working on the U.S. Action Plan for Children in Adversity testified and were present for the hearing.

The hearings were live streamed and are now available as a webcast.  Due to the length of the hearings we have broken down the various testimonies and questioning so that you can view all of the hearing or specific witnesses.  The entire hearing is well worth watching but recognizing everyone’s time constraints we have highlighted just a few sections that we feel you would find particularly interesting and relevant.

We extend our thanks to Senators Leahy and Landrieu for convening this unprecedented hearing and for bringing the needs of children living without family care to the attention of Congress.

Best Wishes,

Tom DiFilipo
Senate Hearing on U.S. Foreign Assistance for Children in Adversity

Hearing on a Review of US Foreign Assistance for Children in Adversity

May 21, 2013: View the "Hearing on a Review of US Foreign Assistance for Children in Adversity" chaired by Senator Landrieu (D).  This hearing is in regards to a new National Action Plan for Children in Adversity which is setting the stage for children in foreign countries to have strong beginnings, families first through all possible options, and protection from violence, abuse and exploitation. 

Forward to the 1:03:03 mark of the video to hear the Dr. Susan Bissell, Chief of Child Protection, Program Division for UNICEF respond to Senator Landrieu's pointed and thought provoking questions. Senator Landrieu asks questions about UNICEF's budget allocation toward permanency efforts for unparented children, methodology and inability to account for the true number orphans living outside of parental care, narrowly defined as a single orphan (one parent living) or a double orphan (both parents living). 

Thank you to Chuck Johnson, President and CEO of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), for sharing the link and keeping us informed. 

Around the World in 60 Minutes

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Want the latest on Russia, the Adoption Tax Credit, Universal Accreditation legislation, and the Action Plan on Children in Adversity? Grab your passport! Jet around the child welfare world and discover all the latest news, and our role as a community in impacting the lives of children and families around the world. Can this be done in 60 minutes? Tune in and find out.

Title: Around the World in 60 Minutes

Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013

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