NCJ Number
144011
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
There needs to be a focal point for children's policy at the national level; the existing Federal Interagency Coordinating Council (FICC) could be adapted to fulfill this purpose.
Abstract
Currently there are over 28 offices in the Federal Government that administer programs for children and families. All of the Federal efforts to date have neither created coordinated policies nor programs for children and families in the Nation. The system of congressional organization adds to the lack of a coordinated effort to support families with children. The efforts of States, notably Maryland and Indiana, to coordinate family and children's services across legislative, programmatic, and bureaucratic lines suggests a Federal mechanism to achieve this at a national level. The FICC, established under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, could be this mechanism. Among its responsibilities, the FICC minimizes duplication of programs and activities for children with disabilities across Federal, State, and local agencies and ensures the effective coordination of Federal programs and policies across agencies. The FICC's mission could be broadened to encompass all child and family services. This might include an expanded membership and oversight by a newly created Office for Children in the White House.