NACC Joins Sign-On Letters
- Protect Basic Needs in Reconciliation: This letter urges Congress to reject cuts to basic needs programs.
- Oppose Congressional Republicans’ Child Care Fraud Bills: This letter urges member of Congress to reject a package of child care bills–or the “Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026”–that amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Policy Update
- NACC submitted a comment opposing proposed changes to HUD’s Equal Access Rule, which would force otherwise well-functioning programs to turn away transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse young people seeking shelter or force them to access programs based on their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity.
- How One Attorney Can Change Everything for a Foster Youth: A powerful op-ed in the Imprint by Eunice Mejiadeu.
Federal Update
- “Fostering the Future” Bank Accounts
- The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed significant changes to the federal grantmaking process. The National Council of Nonprofits has put together helpful resources to help respond:
Amicus News
- Jonathan R. Case – The 4th Circuit affirmed that youth in foster care should have access to federal courts, aligning with the position of NACC and other amici.
- In re A.H. (Utah) – A new court opinion speaks to the importance of sibling relationships and concerns about ambiguous loss, which NACC had elevated .
Counsel for Kids Legislative Session Report
The 2026 legislative session ends with small steps in the right direction.
The Alaska legislature passed HB 36, amending Child in Need of Aid Rules of Procedure R. 12.1 to require the court to appoint legal counsel to a child in the department’s custody who is placed in a hospital to receive psychiatric care. The Alaska Department of Family and Community Services is required to notify the court and parties to the case within 24 hours of the child’s admission. The court must then review the admission within 7 days. HB 36 became law without the Governor’s signature on June 22.
Illinois’ policymakers passed the Secure Act (HB 4966), which includes a provision to guarantee the right to client-directed counsel for youth age eight and older placed out-of-state. The proposal intends to reinforce the state’s continuing responsibility to children in out-of-state placements. The bill was transferred to Governor Pritzker for signature on June 26.
Colorado’s legislators passed HB26-1227, which clarifies that, as parties, children and youth have standing regarding all matters related to their interests and the right to have their GAL or Children’s Attorney fully represent those interests. The bill also states that children and youth have procedural rights to object if the agency attempts to dismiss their case. Governor Polis signed the bill into law on June 1.