Kidlaw

ACNJ

Navigating child and family law can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Our YouTube channel and podcast program are designed with you in mind, delivering clear, digestible breakdowns of the laws, regulations, and government programs that affect children and families at every level: federal, state, and local. No legal jargon. No confusion. Just real information you can actually use.

Our signature Whiteboard Explainer Videos walk you through everything from landmark Supreme Court decisions and upcoming legislation to benefits programs and advocacy resources. Every whiteboard video is also available as a podcast on Apple or Spotify, so you can tune in if you prefer to learn on the go. No screen required.

Kidlaw's content also powers the Digital Content Kits used by community seminar leaders across the country — so what you're watching and listening to is the same trusted material being used in classrooms, churches, and community centers everywhere.

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Saturday · 7 min
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. A cheerleader's angry Snapchat reached the Supreme Court and redrew the line between a school's authority and a student's private voice. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why one off-campus Snapchat post produced a landmark 8-1 ruling 2. How Tinker's substantial disruption test applies beyond the campus 3. Three features that give off-campus speech greater protection 4. When schools may still act: bullying, threats, school computers 5. What changed for administrators, parents, and students afterward 6. Where courts are still drawing the digital discipline line in 2026 In 2017 a Pennsylvania freshman missed the varsity squad, vented in a weekend snap from a convenience store, and lost her junior varsity spot for a year. Four years later her case reached the nation's highest court. Justice Breyer's majority opinion held that a district's regulatory power shrinks sharply once a student steps past the schoolhouse gate: districts rarely stand in loco parentis after hours, cannot supervise a child around the clock, and share a democratic interest in shielding unpopular views. We walk through the reasoning, the exceptions that survived, and the heavy burden now carried before disciplining anything posted on a student's own time. Learn more about Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. 2021 by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/04/mahanoy-area-school-district-v-b-l/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan, Esq. - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
Friday · 9 min
FHA Federal Fair Housing Act
FHA Federal Fair Housing Act Where you live shapes your school, your safety, your future. The Federal Fair Housing Act decides who gets to live where — and who gets turned away. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. The seven protected classes and what each one actually covers 2. Illegal acts: refusals, false vacancies, unequal terms, harassment 3. How disparate impact works, and why Inclusive Communities limits it 4. Why families with children under 18 are a protected class 5. FHA duties for campus and school-managed student housing 6. HUD's 2026 move to rescind its discriminatory effects rules The FHA reaches rentals, sales, lending, appraisals, insurance, and advertising, covering private, public, and government-assisted housing alike. This broadcast traces enforcement from HUD's administrative track to DOJ pattern-or-practice suits and private federal lawsuits carrying a two-year statute of limitations. It explains post-1991 design and construction standards, reasonable accommodations and modifications, and the Bostock-driven reading of sex discrimination. It also examines advocacy testing, algorithmic bias in tenant screening, appraisal bias, state layers such as New Jersey's criminal-history limits, and a 25-point homeownership gap that has not closed. Learn more about The FHA Federal Fair Housing Act by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/20/fha-federal-fair-housing-act/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #FairHousingAct,#FHA,#HUD,#HousingDiscrimination,#FamilialStatus,#DisparateImpact,#ReasonableAccommodations,#TenantRights,#DisabilityRights,#Redlining,#AppraisalBias,#AlgorithmicBias,#AffirmativelyFurtheringFairHousing,#HousingPolicy,#CivilRights,#Kidlaw,#ACNJ,#ChildAdvocacy,#StudentHousing,#EqualAccess Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
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Thursday · 10 min
Your Rights to Attend School in New Jersey
Your Rights to Attend School in New Jersey A parent hears "We can't enroll your child." In New Jersey, that answer is almost always wrong. School is a right, not a privilege — and the law spells out exactly what a school can and cannot do. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Who has the legal right to attend NJ public schools 2. Where children can enroll, including affidavit students 3. What schools cannot use to deny enrollment 4. Documents schools are legally barred from requiring 5. The step-by-step process for enrolling a child in NJ 6. Immunization rules and provisional admission options 7. How to appeal a denied enrollment decision 8. Special protections during domestic violence or family crisis 9. Rights guaranteed to students experiencing homelessness 10. Language access rules and where to find free legal help Every school-aged child in New Jersey has a legal seat waiting for them, but too many families are turned away by mistake. This broadcast breaks down the exact statutes, regulations, and court decisions that protect a child's right to enroll — no matter their housing situation, immigration status, or missing paperwork. We walk through who qualifies, where a child is entitled to attend, and the specific documents a district can and cannot demand. We cover immunization grace periods, the appeal process when a district says no, and the strong protections available to students facing family crisis or homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Act. Whether you're a parent, guardian, caregiver, or advocate, this guide translates dense legal language into clear, actionable steps — so every child can walk through the schoolhouse door. Learn more about Your Rights to Attend School in New Jersey by visiting https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/23/your-rights-to-attend-school-in-new-jersey-a-simple-guide/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #NJEducationLaw,#SchoolEnrollment,#StudentRights,#NewJerseyLaw,#McKinneyVento,#HomelessStudents,#PlylerVDoe,#SpecialEducation,#AffidavitStudents,#SchoolDistrict,#EducationRights,#ACNJ,#KidLaw,#ImmigrationStatus,#FamilyCrisis,#DomesticViolence,#Immunizations,#EnrollmentAppeal,#FreeLegalAid,#KnowYourRights,#EducationAdvocacy,#NJSchools Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 31 · 9 min
NJ Charter Schools 2026 NJ A-5936_S-4713 and A-5935_S-4716
NJ Charter Schools 2026 NJ A-5936_S-4713 and A-5935_S-4716 Thirty years without a serious overhaul. In January 2026, New Jersey rewrote its charter school law, and accountability will never look the same. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why NJ's 1995 Charter School Program Act needed a full rewrite 2. How a random lottery replaces selective admissions screening 3. What a student placement liaison does and why it matters 4. Why new for-profit and virtual charter schools are now banned 5. New contract, budget, and ethics rules boards must follow 6. How ten-year renewals reward high-performing schools On January 16, 2026, Governor Phil Murphy signed A-5936/S-4713 and A-5935/S-4716 into law as P.L. 2025, chapters 276 and 277. Together they impose stricter operating standards: public posting of budgets, contracts, salaries, and board minutes; training and residency rules for trustees; annual IRS Form 990 filings from Charter Management Organizations; and thirty days of public notice before amending leadership contracts. The Commissioner of Education gains expanded power to review, place on probation, or revoke charters. Students gain guaranteed re-enrollment, weighted lotteries for diversity, and access to NJSIAA athletics. Some provisions took effect immediately; others phase in over three years. Learn more about Charter Schools 2026 NJ A-5936_S-4713 and A-5935_S-4716 by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/09/nj-a-5936-s-4713-and-a-5935-s-4716/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #CharterSchools,#NewJersey,#NJEducation,#A5936,#S4713,#A5935,#S4716,#PhilMurphy,#EducationLaw,#SchoolAccountability,#PublicEducation,#NJEA,#CharterReform,#StudentRights,#SchoolBoards,#EducationPolicy,#NJSIAA,#SchoolTransparency,#Kidlaw,#ACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 29 · 7 min
CAPTA Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
CAPTA Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Every child deserves to grow up safe. When abuse or neglect threatens that promise, one 1974 federal law decides who steps in—and how. Meet CAPTA. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. How CAPTA funds prevention, investigation and treatment nationwide 2. Why national definitions of abuse and neglect matter in every state 3. How mandated reporting built today's child protective services 4. The role of Guardians ad Litem and CASA volunteers in court 5. What schools and administrators must do under CAPTA protocols 6. How reauthorizations are shifting CAPTA toward public health Passed in 1974, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act remains the backbone of America's child protection system. This broadcast breaks down its four pillars—grants, national standards, reporting guidelines, and data collection through NCANDS and the Child Welfare Information Gateway—then follows their impact into courtrooms, classrooms, and communities. See how multidisciplinary teams speed response, how therapeutic services treat trauma rather than merely documenting it, and why advocates now push prevention first, evidence-based care, and answers to emerging crises like opioid exposure. A living law, still evolving, still promising a safer childhood for every child. #CAPTA,#ChildAbusePrevention,#ChildWelfare,#MandatedReporter,#ChildProtectiveServices,#CPS,#GuardianAdLitem,#CASA,#FosterCare,#SchoolAdministration,#ChildSafety,#NCANDS,#ChildAdvocacy,#ChildProtection,#FamilySupport,#TraumaInformedCare,#Kidlaw,#LetsTalkKids,#ACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 28 · 9 min
Building Values Based Families
Building Values Based Families You spent a lifetime building a family around your values. Now a courtroom decides whether those values are allowed to stand. Here's how to make sure they do. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why incentive trusts protect wealth and where courts strike them down 2. How Shapira and Feinberg define legal "dead hand control" 3. The three tools that guide heirs without overreaching 4. Where parental rights end and the state's power begins 5. Mahmoud v. Taylor and the fight over classroom opt-outs 6. Contracts that protect LGBTQ+, chosen, and surrogacy families Values-based families, whether faith-driven, cultural, or progressive, collide with public law at predictable pressure points. This broadcast maps them: estate conditions that judges enforce versus those they void, custody disputes where "best interests of the child" meets religious conviction, vaccine and gender-affirming care fights between divorced parents, and the patchwork protecting non-traditional households. You'll learn why letters of wishes, no-contest clauses, co-parenting and cohabitation agreements, second-parent adoptions, healthcare powers of attorney, and pre-birth parentage orders turn belief into enforceable instruments. Your values are the blueprint; the law is the building code. Learn more about Building Values Based Families by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/18/values-based-families/ #EstatePlanning,#IncentiveTrust,#FamilyLaw,#CustodyBattle,#ParentalRights,#ValuesBasedFamily,#DeadHandControl,#BestInterestsOfTheChild,#MahmoudVTaylor,#LGBTQFamilies,#SecondParentAdoption,#Surrogacy,#CoParentingAgreement,#Kidlaw Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 27 · 10 min
NJSBR (S1034) New Jersey Siblings' Bill of Rights
NJSBR (S1034) New Jersey Siblings' Bill of Rights She's the person who's known you the longest—not a parent, not a spouse. For thousands of foster kids, losing that person isn't rare. It's routine. New Jersey just made it a right. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why siblings are the longest relationship most people have 2. How many foster children are separated from a sibling 3. NJ numbers: over half of kids in care have a sibling in care 4. The real reasons siblings get split up (it's rarely malice) 5. How foster youth themselves wrote this law from scratch 6. The unanimous vote that made it Chapter One of 2023 7. The right to be placed together or as close as possible 8. The right to regular visits, transportation, and phone access 9. Why visits can no longer be used as a behavioral punishment 10. Who actually enforces these rights when no lawsuit exists This law wasn't written by lobbyists. It was written by twenty-four foster youth who told the state the one thing they wanted wasn't money, it was their brothers and sisters. That request became Senate Bill 1034, passed without a single dissenting vote, and signed into law as Chapter One of 2023. The New Jersey Siblings' Bill of Rights guarantees more than good intentions. It mandates joint placement whenever possible, guaranteed visitation with transportation included, annual updated contact information, and a voice in each other's adoption and custody decisions. Perhaps most striking: sibling visits can never be revoked as punishment. Research backs the instinct. Children placed with siblings face fewer disruptions, lower anxiety, and better long-term outcomes. New Jersey now places the vast majority of sibling groups together, proof that a right written by kids who lived the loss can actually change what happens next. Learn more about NJSBR (S1034) New Jersey Siblings' Bill of Rights by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/27/njsbr-s1034-new-jersey-siblings-bill-of-rights/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #NJSBR,#SiblingsBillOfRights,#FosterCare,#NewJerseyLaw,#ChildWelfare,#SiblingBond,#FosterYouth,#KidsLaw,#ACNJ,#LetsTalkKids,#S1034,#ChildPlacement,#FamilyReunification,#YouthAdvocacy,#FosterCareReform,#SiblingRights,#ChildWelfarePolicy,#NJLegislature Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 27 · 10 min
WPR Work Participation Rate TANF
WPR Work Participation Rate TANF A hidden number quietly controls benefits for millions of American families. It's not the jobless rate you hear on the news, it's the WPR, and missing it can cost states millions. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. What the WPR is and why it differs from the labor force rate 2. How TANF work targets work: 50% and 90% thresholds 3. Why WPR only counts hours, not real economic outcomes 4. How the Caseload Reduction Credit shrinks state targets 5. Penalties states face for missing WPR requirements 6. How WPR reshapes fair hearings and administrative law 7. Effects on child welfare, poverty, and foster care rates 8. Real benefits and risks for children in TANF families 9. How WPR pressures ripple into school administration 10. Major 2025 reforms under the Fiscal Responsibility Act The Work Participation Rate (WPR) is a federal TANF performance measure requiring states to engage a set percentage of welfare recipients in documented work activities. It's a process metric, counting hours, not earnings, employability, or wellbeing. States that miss their targets face reduced federal block grants, starting at five percent and climbing with continued noncompliance. Beyond the welfare office, WPR pressure reshapes state law. It drives full-family sanctions, clogs administrative fair hearings, and pushes caseload restrictions that deepen poverty, increase neglect cases, and complicate family law. Schools absorb the fallout too, as sanctioned families face housing and food instability, student mobility, and chronic absenteeism. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 is now rewriting these rules, resetting the Caseload Reduction Credit baseline to 2015 and tightening minimum benefit thresholds, changes that will make WPR compliance far harder for states starting in fiscal year 2026. Learn more about WPR TANF Work Participation Rate by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/12/wpr-tanf-work-participation-rate/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #TANF,#WPR,#WelfareReform,#WorkParticipationRate,#SocialSafetyNet,#PublicPolicy,#FamilyLaw,#ChildWelfare,#PovertyPolicy,#WelfareToWork,#FiscalResponsibilityAct,#CaseloadReductionCredit,#SchoolAdministration,#Advocacy,#KidLaw,#ACNJ,#SocialServices,#LegalPolicy,#EconomicMobility,#EquityInPolicy, Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 26 · 9 min
AFCARS Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
AFCARS Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Hundreds of thousands of children are in foster care right now. One federal data system quietly tracks what happens to every one of them: AFCARS. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. What AFCARS is and why Congress mandated it back in 1986 2. Who must report, what they report, and the twice-yearly deadlines 3. Inside the files: 66+ foster care and 37+ adoption data elements 4. How courts use the data in permanency and parental rights cases 5. Why schools now link K-12 records to foster care placement data 6. The 2024 ICWA rule, its 2028 start date, and penalties for errors Behind every data point is a child. AFCARS is the primary federal source for national foster care and adoption statistics, and the Children's Bureau uses it to assess state performance, calculate adoption incentives, and decide where the money goes. This broadcast breaks down how case-level reporting shapes courtroom decisions, drives trauma-informed practice in schools, and arms advocacy groups pressing for kinship care, faster permanency, and honest accounting of racial and economic disparities. We also trace the shifting rules — expanded in 2016, narrowed in 2020, restored and strengthened in 2024 — and what states stand to lose when the numbers are wrong. Learn more about AFCARS Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/14/afcars-adoption-and-foster-care-analysis-and-reporting-system/ #AFCARS,#FosterCare,#ChildWelfare,#Adoption,#ICWA,#IndianChildWelfareAct,#TitleIVE,#ChildrensBureau,#PermanencyPlanning,#KinshipCare,#FamilyCourt,#ChildAdvocacy,#FosterYouth,#AgingOut,#SchoolStability,#ChildWelfareData,#Kidlaw,#ACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 24 · 9 min
AAP Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics
AAP Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics Behind every checkup, vaccine, and piece of pediatric advice sits one trusted playbook, built on decades of science. Here is how it actually works. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. How 35 pediatricians in 1930 grew into a 67,000-member force 2. The GRADE method behind 500+ AAP policy statements and reports 3. Why obesity is now treated as a chronic disease, not willpower 4. Safe sleep rules that cut SIDS deaths by more than half 5. Anxiety, depression, and suicide-risk screening ages explained 6. The Five Cs replacing screen-time limits in the 2026 policy From a single meeting in Detroit to a nationwide network, the American Academy of Pediatrics turns rigorous evidence into everyday guidance. This broadcast traces the full pipeline: a precise clinical question, a systematic review, graded evidence, then plain-language advice families can use tonight. We cover the 2022 breastfeeding update supporting two years or beyond, Bright Futures and its 31 well-child visits, developmental and autism screening at set ages, and routine vaccines credited with preventing an estimated 508 million illnesses. You will see why the guidance keeps evolving, and why that is exactly the point. Learn more about AAP Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/09/aap-guidelines-american-academy-of-pediatrics/ #AAPGuidelines,#AmericanAcademyOfPediatrics,#Pediatrics,#ChildHealth,#BrightFutures,#SafeSleep,#SIDSPrevention,#Breastfeeding,#ChildhoodObesity,#YouthMentalHealth,#ScreenTime,#FamilyMediaPlan,#Immunization,#WellChildVisit,#DevelopmentalScreening,#AutismAwareness,#ParentingTips,#HealthyChildren,#Kidlaw Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 23 · 11 min
NJ FamilyCare
NJ FamilyCare More than 1.8 million New Jerseyans depend on NJ FamilyCare for health coverage — and a sweeping federal law rewritten in 2025 is reshaping who qualifies, what courts decide, and how schools get paid. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. How NJ FamilyCare blends Medicaid and CHIP funding streams 2. Who qualifies: income limits for kids, adults, seniors & pregnant 3. Full benefits: doctor visits, dental, vision, mental health care 4. How Cover All Kids covers children regardless of immigration status 5. New child support law wipes out DCPP-related arrears for parents 6. Key NJ Supreme Court ruling on family court restraint powers 7. Federal public charge rule's chilling effect on enrollment 8. How schools use SEMI to fund IEP-related health services 9. New 2027 work requirements and six-month renewal rules 10. What advocates are fighting for as paperwork burdens grow NJ FamilyCare blends Medicaid and CHIP into one program covering doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, mental health care, vision, and dental for over 1.8 million residents. Children qualify up to 355% of the federal poverty level regardless of immigration status, one of the most generous thresholds in the country. But the landscape is shifting fast. A new 2025 federal law layers in work requirements, six-month renewals, and a stricter public charge rule that researchers say could push millions off Medicaid nationwide — many of them citizen children. The ripple effects reach family courts, where a new law wipes out child support arrears owed to the state, and a unanimous Supreme Court ruling reshapes how judges handle protective restraints. Schools face their own reckoning through SEMI reimbursement and mandatory outreach duties. This episode breaks down eligibility, benefits, pending legislation, and the legal fights ahead — everything families, attorneys, and educators need to know as the rules keep changing. To learn more about NJ FamilyCare visit: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/24/nj-familycare/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #NJFamilyCare,#Medicaid,#CHIP,#NewJersey,#HealthCoverage,#CoverAllKids,#ChildSupport,#FamilyCourt,#DCPP,#PublicCharge,#Immigration,#MLTSS,#SEMI,#SpecialEducation,#IEP,#OneBigBeautifulBillAct,#WorkRequirements,#MedicaidRenewal,#HealthPolicy,#ChildAdvocacy,#GetCoveredNJ,#ACNJ,#KidLaw,#LetsTalkKids,#HealthInsurance,#DisabilityRights,#PregnantCare,#DentalVisionCare,#StepTherapy Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
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August 23 · 10 min
CEP HHFKA Community Eligibility Provision
CEP HHFKA Community Eligibility Provision Some kids skip the lunch line just to avoid being seen as poor. Discover the federal policy that erased that stigma and now feeds over 16 million children for free, no questions asked. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. What the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) really is 2. How the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act created CEP 3. Why the 25% Identified Student Percentage (ISP) matters 4. How direct certification replaces paper applications 5. Why universal free meals eliminate cafeteria stigma 6. How CEP reduces disciplinary action tied to meal debt 7. CEP's surprising link to the school-to-prison pipeline 8. How CEP simplifies school administration and funding 9. Why advocacy groups pushed to lower the ISP threshold 10. What's next: the push to make CEP permanent law CEP is a non-pricing meal option created under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, letting high-poverty schools serve free breakfast and lunch to every student. Instead of collecting household applications, schools use direct certification data from programs like SNAP and TANF. Any school with an Identified Student Percentage of at least 25 percent qualifies, a threshold lowered from 40 percent by a 2023 USDA rule. The results are measurable: less paperwork, fewer disciplinary actions tied to meal debt, stronger attendance, and better academic focus. By the 2021-2022 school year, 74.3 percent of eligible districts had adopted CEP, reaching more than 16 million children. Advocacy groups continue pushing for wider adoption, expanded direct certification, and permanent codification of the 25 percent threshold, aiming to make hunger-free classrooms the national standard. Learn more about CEP HHFKA Community Eligibility Provision by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/09/cep-hhfka-community-eligibility-provision/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #CEP,#CommunityEligibilityProvision,#HHFKA,#HealthyHungerFreeKidsAct,#SchoolMeals,#FreeSchoolMeals,#ChildNutrition,#FoodInsecurity,#UniversalFreeMeals,#SchoolLunch,#SNAP,#TANF,#DirectCertification,#USDA,#FoodResearchAndActionCenter,#SchoolToPrisonPipeline,#LunchShaming,#StudentWellness,#KidLaw,#ACNJ,#EducationPolicy,#ChildAdvocacy,#SchoolNutrition,#PovertyPolicy,#JuvenileJustice Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
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August 23 · 9 min
NJ A5952 NJHCCCP Health Care for Child Care Program
NJ A5952 NJHCCCP Health Care for Child Care Program Every morning NJ parents hand their kids to child care teachers who shape young minds—yet many of these same workers can't afford to see a doctor. Here's the bill trying to change that. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why NJ child care teachers often go without health insurance 2. How thin margins and wages consume most center budgets 3. The stark poverty rate gap among early educators 4. What Assembly Bill A5952 actually proposes to fix 5. How the Health Care for Child Care Fund would operate 6. The gold-level insurance plan workers would receive free 7. Why the Dept. of Banking and Insurance runs this program 8. The three eligibility rules workers must meet to qualify 9. How NJ's plan compares to DC, Kentucky, CT, and NM 10. Where A5952 stands now as it returns as bill A2242 New Jersey's child care system runs on tight tuition-based budgets, leaving little room for worker benefits. Median wages hover near $12.82/hour, and over 16% of early educators nationally lack any health coverage. Assembly Bill A5952 proposes a state-funded Health Care for Child Care Program: a $10 million non-lapsing fund covering 100% of gold-level health premiums for qualifying workers. Housed within the Department of Banking and Insurance, the program targets licensed center staff and registered family child care providers working 30+ hours weekly for at least 90 days. Though the bill stalled in 2025, it was reintroduced in 2026 as A2242. This episode breaks down the funding mechanics, eligibility rules, and how New Jersey's approach compares to similar programs in Washington D.C., Kentucky, Connecticut, and New Mexico, while asking a bigger question: what does it mean to treat child care as essential infrastructure? Learn more about NJ A5952 NJHCCCP Health Care for Child Care Program by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/13/nj-a5952-njhcccp-health-care-for-child-care-program/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ npeckman@acnj.org - Nina Peckman, Esq. - Staff Attorney vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #NJA5952,#HealthCareForChildCare,#NewJerseyChildCare,#ChildCareWorkers,#EarlyChildhoodEducation,#ACNJ,#Kidlaw,#LetsTalkKids,#ChildCarePolicy,#NJLegislature,#HealthInsurance,#EarlyEducators,#ChildCareCrisis,#NJPolitics,#WorkforceDevelopment,#EssentialWorkers,#ChildCareReform,#PreschoolTeachers,#HealthcareAccess,#NewJerseyLaw,#MaxineECarter Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
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August 22 · 8 min
504 Plans
504 Plan Your child is bright, capable, and still struggling. Federal law already protects them, and the tool has a name: the 504 plan. Here is how to get one. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Where 504 rights began: a 1973 law and a 26-day sit-in 2. How the 2008 ADA Amendments widened who legally counts 3. The mitigating measures rule: why medication can't disqualify 4. The legal test, and the conditions that commonly qualify 5. The four steps from written request to finished plan 6. 504 vs IEP, plus how to enforce it when schools ignore it Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act was the first federal civil rights law for people with disabilities, and it reaches nearly every public school in America. Roughly 1.6 million students are served under it, up from about 1% of enrollment in 2009 to nearly 4% today. This broadcast unpacks the substantial limitation standard, the accommodations teams actually write down, from extended test time and distraction-free seating to inhaler access and trained seizure response, and the real trade-offs against an IEP. An IEP changes the curriculum; a 504 plan changes the environment. Evaluation is free, the plan is legally binding, and it starts with one dated letter you write yourself. Learn more about 504 Plan by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/24/504-plan/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let’s Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #504Plan,#Section504,#IEP,#DisabilityRights,#ADHD,#SpecialEducation,#ParentAdvocacy,#SchoolAccommodations,#EducationLaw,#ADAAA,#Dyslexia,#ChronicIllness Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 21 · 10 min
CCAMPIS Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools
Finishing a college degree while raising a child is daily life for millions of Americans. One federal grant program decides whether they stay enrolled. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Who CCAMPIS serves and why Pell eligibility is the gateway 2. How $75 million in FY2026 funding reaches campus child care 3. Why retention hit 71 percent versus 42 percent for non-users 4. What colleges must prove to qualify, plus the 3 percent cap 5. How on-campus care shapes early learning and family stability 6. What the CCAMPIS Reauthorization Act of 2025 would change Authorized under the Higher Education Act and administered by the U.S. Department of Education, CCAMPIS awards competitive grants so institutions can subsidize care built around class schedules rather than a nine-to-five clock. This broadcast traces the program from statute to sidewalk: the equity gap it targets, the administrative burden colleges shoulder to apply, the accredited early education children receive steps from their parents' classrooms, and the political pressure now aimed at its budget. With more than 4 million parenting students nationwide and roughly 11,000 to 15,000 currently reached, the open question is how far Congress will scale it. Learn more about CCAMPIS Child Care Access Means Parents in Schools by visiting https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/20/ccampis-child-care-access-means-parents-in-schools/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #CCAMPIS,#StudentParents,#ChildCare,#HigherEducation,#PellGrant,#CollegeAccess,#EarlyChildhoodEducation,#DepartmentOfEducation,#CampusChildCare,#StudentRetention,#EducationPolicy,#EducationEquity,#SingleParents,#CommunityCollege,#Kidlaw,#ACNJ,#LetsTalkKids,#FederalGrants,#GraduationRates,#FirstGenerationStudents Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 20 · 8 min
FCSIA Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
FCSIA Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act At eighteen, the foster care system simply let go. In 2008, Congress changed that — and rewrote what "family" means for children in care. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why foster care support now extends to age twenty-one 2. How 30-day relative notification speeds placement with kin 3. Subsidized guardianship as an alternative to non-relative homes 4. Educational stability and the right to immediate enrollment 5. Direct Title IV-E funding for tribes and tribal courts 6. New judicial oversight of sibling ties and health care plans Public Law 110-351, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, reshaped U.S. child welfare. This broadcast breaks down its eight core provisions and traces their reach into courtrooms, classrooms, and advocacy work. Judges now monitor reasonable efforts, kin notification, and visitation when siblings are split. School administrators must enroll foster youth on the spot, without residency proof or immunization files, then move records and arrange transportation. Tribes run their own programs. Advocates press states to close remaining gaps. And the Family First Prevention Services Act builds directly on this foundation, pushing the legal landscape toward kin-first care. Learn more about FCSIA Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/fcsia-fostering-connections-to-success-and-increasing-adoptions-act/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #FosteringConnections,#FCSIA,#PublicLaw110351,#FosterCare,#KinshipCare,#TitleIVE,#ChildWelfare,#SubsidizedGuardianship,#ExtendedFosterCare,#EducationalStability,#AdoptionIncentives,#TribalSovereignty,#SiblingPlacement,#FamilyFirstAct,#ChildAdvocacy,#Kidlaw Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
August 19 · 9 min
ACA Affordable Care Act 2026
Sixteen years on, the Affordable Care Act still shapes the exam room, the courtroom, and the classroom, but 2026 is quietly rewriting the rules. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS BROADCAST 1. Why 2026 is a defining year for the Affordable Care Act 2. The three pillars the ACA was built on and what still holds 3. How Medicaid expansion aids re-entry and lowers recidivism 4. Protections for kids, from age-26 coverage to well-child visits 5. What school districts must track to avoid employer penalties 6. Which subsidies expired and what OBBBA changed for enrollees Enacted in 2010, the ACA was designed to widen coverage, strengthen consumer protections, and restrain costs. Those guarantees remain: no denials for pre-existing conditions, ten essential health benefits, no lifetime or annual caps. What has shifted is the money around them. Enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025, enrollment rules tightened, repayment caps vanished, and navigator funding shrank. This broadcast traces the fallout across four arenas, justice, pediatrics, school administration, and advocacy, so you can see who gains, who pays more, and where the fight over this law heads next. Learn more about ACA Affordable Care Act by visiting https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/20/aca-affordable-care-act/ SOCIAL & WEB LINKS Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org PODCAST LINKS Buzzsprout Link: https://kidlaw.buzzsprout.com Apple Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kidlaw/id1896798336 Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/033liLtlloBnXvjIJac6Z3?si=cbfc7e412df24c3c CONTACTS mcoogan@acnj.org - Mary Coogan - Host of Let's Talk Kids | CEO of ACNJ vjabon@acnj.org - Viggo Jabon - Multimedia Specialist at ACNJ Carter@DiedreMoire.com - Maxine E Carter - Producer #AffordableCareAct #ACA #HealthPolicy #Medicaid #OBBBA #HealthInsurance #PremiumTaxCredits #SchoolAdministration #EmployerMandate #ChildHealth #Pediatrics #Reentry #JusticeInvolved #Advocacy #Kidlaw #ACNJ #LetsTalkKids #PublicPolicy #Healthcare2026 Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
July 19 · 10 min
Head Start and Early Head Start
Every child deserves a strong start, Head Start and Early Head Start are making that possible for millions. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS PODCAST - What Head Start and Early Head Start programs cover - How these programs impact the justice system long-term - Key benefits for children from birth through age five - How school administrators are affected and can partner up - What advocacy groups are fighting for right now - The latest legal changes reshaping program eligibility Head Start serves children ages three to five while Early Head Start supports infants, toddlers, and pregnant women, together delivering education, health, nutrition, and family support across all fifty states, tribal nations, and U.S. territories through more than 1,600 local agencies. At least ten percent of enrollment is reserved for children with disabilities. Research shows participants are 93% less likely to enter foster care, more likely to graduate high school, and show lasting gains in language, cognitive, and social development. A two-generation model supports parents as their child's first teachers. Recent legal battles, including ACLU litigation blocking rules that would bar immigrant families, have put the program's future at a critical crossroads, with over 500,000 children affected by proposed eligibility changes. Learn more about Head Start and Early Head Start by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/head-start-and-early-head-start/ Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org https://www.youtube.com/@KidlawACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
July 17 · 9 min
EEOA Equal Educational Opportunities Act
Federal law guarantees equal education for every child, but most people don't know how. The EEOA changes everything. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS PODCAST - What the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 requires - How the EEOA bans discrimination by race, sex, and national origin - What schools must do to support English Language Learner students - How the Castañeda v. Pickard three-part test shapes ELL programs - What legal remedies students and families have under the EEOA - How evolving enforcement now covers digital access and dual-status students The Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1703) extends the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting discrimination in public schools based on race, color, sex, or national origin. It bans deliberate segregation and mandates that districts take "appropriate action" to remove language barriers for English Learner (ELL) students through bilingual education and qualified instruction. Students and families can sue in federal court when equal access is denied; the DOJ may also intervene. The landmark Castañeda v. Pickard ruling established a three-part standard: ELL programs must rest on sound educational theory, be adequately resourced, and demonstrate real-world effectiveness. Plyler v. Doe (1982) further confirmed schools cannot deny enrollment based on immigration status. Today, EEOA enforcement extends to AP course access, digital equity, and students who are both English Learners and have disabilities. Learn more about EEOA Equal Educational Opportunities Act by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/02/23/eeoa-equal-educational-opportunities-act/ Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org https://www.youtube.com/@KidlawACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
- Transcript
July 15 · 7 min
Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act (H.R. 594)
Can police assault by non-citizens trigger automatic detention & deportation? H.R. 594 says yes, here's what that means. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS PODCAST - What H.R. 594 requires of the Dept. of Homeland Security - How mandatory detention removes prosecutorial discretion - Why authority shifted from Dept. of Justice to DHS - How related bills like the RIOT Act expand these rules - What this means for schools, families, and DACA recipients - How advocacy groups are responding to this legislation H.R. 594, the "Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act," was introduced January 21, 2025 by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require DHS to detain any non-citizen, including visa holders and undocumented individuals, arrested, charged, convicted, or who admits to assaulting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first responder during official duties. Detention is mandatory, eliminating prosecutorial discretion. The bill is part of a growing legislative trend alongside H.R. 31 (POLICE Act) and the RIOT Act of 2025, which extend immigration consequences, including deportation of lawful permanent residents and DACA recipients, for conduct involving law enforcement. Schools, immigrant families, and advocacy groups face significant implications. Learn more about Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act (H.R. 594) by visiting: https://kidlaw.org/2026/03/17/detain-and-deport-illegal-aliens-who-assault-cops-act-h-r-594/ Kidlaw Official Website - https://Kidlaw.org https://www.youtube.com/@KidlawACNJ Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ), Kidlaw, Kidlaw.org, ACNJ.org, Let's Talk Kids, and any other ACNJ affiliated websites, podcasts, video channels or similar DO NOT provide any legal advice and users of this web site should consult with their own lawyer for legal advice. This broadcast (the "Broadcast") is a general service that provides educational information over the Internet. We are not a law firm and our employees, executives or management are not your attorney or acting as your attorney. The information contained in the Broadcast is general information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. If you believe or are unsure whether your particular situation requires legal advice or legal information, you should consult a lawyer.
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