Supporting highly vulnerable children

This report summarizes activities U.S. Government (USG) agencies are undertaking together to improve programming for highly vulnerable children and the steps they have taken and plan to take to implement Public Law 109-95. It covers the period of July 2007 through July 2008. In 2007-2008, the USG increased or sustained funding levels for many of the programs aimed at the most vulnerable children and their families (see Table II for a summary of the major USG service delivery programs that reach highly vulnerable children). During this period, the USG spent in excess of $5.9 billion on foreign assistance programs to improve the lives of the world's most vulnerable children and their families. Key agencies implementing these programs include the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Peace Corps. This report contains many examples of how USG agencies have worked together, as well as with international donors, nongovernmental organizations, and host countries, to learn from each others' experiences and to improve programming. Select reporting period highlights include examples drawn from each of the major areas of vulnerability for children.