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July 2025 Policy Updates

Thursday July 10, 2025

NACC Joins Sign-On Letters

  • Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA): RHYTPA would reauthorize and update the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. If passed, funds would continue to be provided to community-based organizations focused on providing housing and supportive services to young people, preventing youth from experiencing trafficking, and supporting those who have experienced trafficking.
  • House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Letter: NACC joined over 300 organizations to encourage Congress to fund the Full-Service Community Schools Program at the highest level for FY26. If fully funded, the program could reach over 250,000 students in schools and communities that have a need for this program.
  • Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act (JJDPRA): The JJDPRA will give greater flexibility to states to use Title II grants and strengthen protections for kids involved in the legal system.
  • Protect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Older Youth: This letter raised concerns about the provision in the Senate Agriculture reconciliation text that eliminates the bipartisan agreement to exclude young people exiting foster care from the work requirement for SNAP.

Amicus

  • Ocean S.: NACC and partners filed this brief in the Ninth Circuit, explaining the importance and effectiveness of federal courts as forums for systemic relief for young people in foster care.
  • MD v. Abbott: NACC joined partners in this amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the Court to grant a petition for certiorari and provide guidance on the proper standard for reassignment of district court judge.
  • CLSEPA et. al. v. HHS et. al: NACC and 23 children’s rights organizations filed this amicus brief educating the Ninth Circuit about the importance of counsel for kids.

Other

  • NACC sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee following the hearing on “Aging Out is Not a Plan: Reimagining Futures for Foster Youth.” The letter explained the importance of guaranteeing youth legal representation in the context of their TAY (transition aged youth) experience.

Resource

Counsel for Kids

To support state-level advocacy and policy reform ensuring the right to counsel for children and youth, NACC offers a continuum of technical assistance (TA) services. Technical assistance services include policy analysis, data review, policy drafting/review, resource development, campaign strategy support, youth engagement, coalition building, and litigation strategies. These services are provided at no cost to selected sites. Technical assistance may be offered to any state advocate or organization seeking to engage in strategic policy reform to ensure the right to counsel for children and youth involved in abuse and neglect proceedings. Visit our technical assistance page to learn more and apply.

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