By Ben Reynolds

Under the directive of the Biden administration’s Executive Order 13985, federal agencies developed Equity Action Plans, which focus on incorporating equity in to their mission deliveries. These plans involve strategies federal agencies are using to embed equitable practices in their day-to-day operations through eight areas of equity improvement identified. Several areas are highlighted below. Find out more about the plans here.

One common way federal agencies are incorporating equity is by adding equitable program designs and requiring equity to be a part of competitive grants.    

Economic Justice

The Department of Treasury is working to ensure underserved communities are receiving mission-driven capital. The Final Rule for the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund contains strong equity provisions to address the needs of communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic and address pre-existing disparities. States are required to report how they plan to incorporate equity in their spending plans. Treasury also issued program guidance to eligible states, Tribal communities and territories to present plans for expanding access to capital for underserved communities and to expend funds for businesses owned by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals.

The Department of Commerce will intentionally design programs and Notices of Funding Opportunities using equitable program designs. Programs are intended for partnering with different government and external parties to reach communities of color and rural communities. Commerce, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, works to expand universal access through state and community level broadband grants.

Advancing Equity in K-12 Education

The Department of Education requires states and school districts to use diverse and inclusive community engagement when developing plans on how to utilize federal funding. Education also provides guidance and technical assistance to help educators meet the needs of all students, especially those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The commitment to investing in under-resourced public institutions and supporting schools to raise completion rates for underserved students was re-emphasized.

Environmental Justice

The Environmental Protection Agency will develop a comprehensive framework and utilize community science and research to determine how to ensure underserved communities are receiving project awards. The Department of Energy is improving access to its Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income persons.  

Health Equity

The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing disparities in health outcomes and health care delivery. The Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to advancing health equity for underserved communities. HHS is working with states to extend postpartum coverage in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program to address the increase in pregnancy and postpartum morbidity. Equity considerations also are being added to HHS’s Notice of Funding Opportunities when considering grant applications.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is also expanding equitable assistance to nutrition programs. The USDA will be working to reduce barriers and increase the current 57% of eligible individuals participating in Women, Infants, and Children nutrition programs, as well as investing at least $100 million in partnerships with technical assistance providers that serve underserved communities.

Housing Justice and Community Investment

Federal agencies are strengthening their roles in combatting discriminatory housing, transportation and community investment policies. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is widening the procurement system to help sustain, build and retain individual and community wealth. The department is also incorporating equity requirements in its Notice of Funding Opportunities for competitive grants and will expand resources to grantees to advance equity.   

To ensure equitable access in transportation investments, the Department of Transportation will be advancing equity when awarding competitive grants.

The Department of Commerce is administering approximately $50 billion in grants to broadband infrastructure deployment. Commerce will focus its investments on communities that have lagged in the modern digital economy and implement equitable program design in the Notification for Funding Opportunities.

Federal agencies are also working to ensure equity in criminal justice, civil rights and global equity.

Full details of the Agency Equity Plans can be found at whitehouse.gov/equity.

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT:
Stephanie Ramsey                
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[email protected]

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission (MIC3) will “Purple Up! For Military Kids” on April 20, 2022. A survey released from the Military Child Education Coalition reports that there are an estimated 1.65 million military-connected children enrolled in schools in the United States and abroad.

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger first designated April as the Month of the Military Child, acknowledging the significant role military-connected students play in our communities. In 2011, the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Military Youth and Family Program started the “Purple Up! for Military Kids” as a way for communities to thank military children for their strength and sacrifice. On a specific day designated during the Month of the Military Child, communities throughout each state join together and wear the color purple to honor our military children.  Purple represents the joint service operations and is a combination of Army green, Marine Corps red, and Coast Guard, Air Force, and Navy blue; it is the appropriate color to represent military children from all branches.

“During the month of April, we honor our military children,” said Laura Anastasio MIC3 Chairman and Connecticut Compact Commissioner. “We acknowledge that they must adapt and overcome the hardships of transitioning due to the multiple moves they must make while serving alongside their families. This month is our opportunity to celebrate their strength, courage, and resiliency as well as to show our deep appreciation for their sacrifices.”

Developed by The Council of State Governments National Center for Interstate Compacts, the U.S. Department of Defense, national associations, federal and state officials, state departments of education, school administrators and military families, the MIC3 is a quasi-governmental entity operating under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children. With 50-member states and the District of Columbia, the Compact ensures the uniform treatment of military-connected children transferring between states who enroll in public and U.S. Department of Defense schools.

For more information, visit www.mic3.net.

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By Trey Delida

The Bureau of Justice Assistance announced recent funding opportunities for states regarding veterans’ treatment courts. Funding will be distributed through competitive grants from the Veterans Treatment Discretionary Grant Program, administered by the Department of Justice, which provides grants and technical assistance to implement or enhance programs for veterans in the criminal justice system. For the 2022 fiscal year, $29 million is available to eligible applicants across the nation.

Through this grant opportunity, states have the chance to create or improve upon already existing resources to support drug court programs and systems for eligible veterans in the criminal justice system. The Office of Justice Programs, a federal agency aimed at strengthening the criminal justice system, oversees the funding process for VTC programs. State leaders can direct residents to the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide to help them determine eligibility and navigate the application process. Applicants must register in and submit the SF-424 and the SF-LLL through grants.gov and the full application including attachments using JustGrants.

Once an organization has determined if they are eligible for OJP funding, further assistance may be needed for the application process. There are several funding opportunities available through OJP and some contain program solicitations or modifications. The applicant resource hub provides an overview of resource guides, templates, checklists and a step-by-step introduction to the OJP grant process.

Veterans Treatment Courts are designed to address substance abuse cases and mental health disorders among our country’s military veteran communities. Many of these issues can be connected to the trauma of combat. The programs work similarly to drug courts, combining a treatment-focused approach with personal accountability to rehabilitate struggling individuals. Since 2008, several states have taken legislative action to establish VTC’s or similar legislation within their state court systems.

The application process is competitive and the period to apply expires on May 25.

Two Biden administration initiatives related to the COVID-19 pandemic have collided in Congress.

Last week, the administration announced it would end enforcement of Title 42 (of the Public Health Services Law) by May 23. Implemented by the Trump Administration in the early months of the pandemic, Title 42 allows the federal government to suspend entry of individuals into the U.S. during a public health emergency. Among other things, Title 42 has allowed the federal government to return immigrants to their country of origin pending review of requests for asylum (in the absence of the emergency declaration, individuals seeking asylum can remain in the U.S. during review).

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators and representatives have urged the White House not to do so, fearing a dramatic increase in immigration, particularly on the southern border.

At the same time, the Biden administration has requested additional funds for COVID-19 relief and recovery. The original ask was for $22.5 billion, focused on vaccination and testing, as well as preparations for new variants. Senate negotiators reached a tentative agreement earlier this week on a $10 billion package. The hope was to bring the package quickly to the floor for passage prior to Congress’ recess that begins Friday.

Over the last 24 hours, however, members of the Senate have declared opposition to a vote on the COVID-19 package unless there also is a vote on an amendment that would keep Title 42 in place. As a result, no vote has been scheduled.