policy and advocacy

Fulfilling Our Commitment Through Advocacy

In order to do our utmost for children and families with the greatest need, we often advocate on behalf of their interests by issuing public comments on important education or healthcare issues.

SPAN leadership may offer comments on behalf of SPAN, or as part of SPAN’s membership in National PLACE.

Get Involved

Save Medicaid Campaign

2025

Final McMahon opposition letter

2022-2023

National PLACE Comments to US ED on Accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the Institute for Education Sciences’ proposed study on the implementation and impact of Statewide Family Engagement Centers (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the US ED Office for Civil Rights on the Civil Rights Data Collection (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the US Department of Health and Human Services on proposed revisions to F2F data collection and reporting (2022)
National PLACE Comments to US Citizenship and Immigration Services on Proposed Rule on Immigrants and “Public Charge” (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the Internal Revenue Services on the Affordability of Employer Coverage for Family Members of Employees under the Affordable Care Act (Fixing the “Family Glitch”) (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the US Department of Education on Proposed Revisions to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (2022)
National PLACE Statement on US ED Office for Civil Rights and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services Discipline Guidance and Recommendations for Implementation Tools (2022)
National PLACE Comments to US ED Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development on the Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection (2022)
National PLACE Comments to US ED Office of Special Education Programs’ on “suggestions for improvements and innovative solutions” to the current Results Driven Accountability (RDA) system, with particular regard to issues of equity (2022)
National PLACE Comments to the US ED Office of English Language Acquisition on the Use of Interpreters and Translators in Educational Settings (2023)
National PLACE Comments to US DHHS SAMHSA on Proposed Peer Certification Standards (2023)
National PLACE Letter to the US House of Representatives Opposing HR5 “Parents’ Bill of Rights” and Supporting House Resolution 219 “Bill of Rights for Parents and Students” (2023)
National PLACE Comments to US ED OSERS on Proposed TA Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (2023)
SPAN signs on with 127 gender justice, survivor advocacy, and civil rights organizations to urge immediate action to finalize the Department of Education’s (the Department’s) Title IX Rule (October 2023)
CHIP Perm Sign On (Nov 2023)
National Partnership FAMILY Act endorsements 11.07.23
Group Letter to POTUS November 2023
SPAN and Family Voices NJ comments on CMS payment parameters 2025 Jan. 2024
Letter Re Narrowing Medicare Custody Definition from 68 Advocacy Organizations 1.18.24
Coalition letter in support of PREEMIE and PMDA 01-17-24
CTAN-Asylum-Letter-2-1
AARP Sign On Letter Urges YES on A4049 S3495 Presumptive Eligibility for Home and Community Based Services
SPAN and Family Voices NJ comments on Workability January 2024
Enforcement of State Compliance with Reporting and Federal Medicaid Renewal Requirements under the Social Security Act February 2024

Peg Kinsell
Institutional Policy Director
Tel: 201-724-4454
Email: pkinsell@spanadvocacy.org

SPAN Comments on Policy Issues

SPAN Legislative Comments on the Children’s System of Care (Human Services & Health/Mental Health)
SPAN Comments on the NJ Medicaid Autism Benefit (Health)
SPAN Comments on the Proposed Community Care Waiver Waiting List Procedures 2019 (Human Services)
SPAN Comments on the NJCDD Strategic Plan 2021 (Human Services)
SPAN Comments on COVID Recovery to Joint Commission on the Public Schools (Education)
SPAN Comments on NJ DOE ARP ESSERS Funds Plan (Education)
SPAN Applauds Congress for Introducing Keeping All Students Safe Act (Education)
SPAN Comments on Student Disciplinary Action Reporting (Education)
SPAN Comments on Programs to Support Student Development Code 2021 (Education)
SPAN-FVNJ Comments on NJ Child Care Block Grant Plan 2021 (Early Childhood/Human Services)
SPAN Comments on the passage of the FAMILY Act and the Healthy Families Act
SPAN Comments on Family And Medical Insurance Leave (Health)
SPAN Comments on Preserving Eligible Families’ Health Care (Health and Human Services)
SPAN Comments on Proposals to Cut Medicaid Funding
SPAN Comments to Washington, DC on Proposals to Cut Medicaid Funding
SPAN Comments on Title VI School Discipline Guidance
118th Congress LTBA Sign On (May 2023)
Coalition Letter of Support for PREEMIE 2023 (May 2023)
Child-focused Comment on DACA Health Care Rule (June 2023)
Child Health Organizations comments Medicaid Access Rules (July 2023)

Letter from the Immunocompromised Collaborative

SPAN signed onto the letter from the Immunocompromised Collaborative, which consists of patient organizations representing the approximately 7 million Americans who are immunocompromised, in support of the PREVENT Pandemics Act. This legislation is intended to ensure that our nation is well prepared for further evolutions of COVID-19 and for future pandemics. Read the letter.

SPAN and National PLACE Comments on National Policy

2024

2022-2023

Peg Kinsell
Institutional Policy Director
Tel: 201-724-4454
Email: pkinsell@spanadvocacy.org