Bringing you relevant news, research and policy updates
affecting children, youth and families.
April 7, 2010 |
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Editor's Note
When you've been following policy research and working with kids for as long as I have (I became eligible for Medicare this month), you don't often get surprised by a single fact.
But I was certainly stunned last week when I learned that unemployment insurance covers far fewer workers than I thought. In fact, more than one-third of eligible out-of-work Americans don't get any support. And because the Senate could not pass an unemployment benefit extension before the recess, unemployment checks will stop for many more jobless families this week.
Let's be smart. A new report from Chapin Hall finds that most of a state's social service dollars are absorbed by relatively few families that face multiple problems -- substance abuse, mental health issues, and involvement with child welfare and juvenile justice. If we worked smarter to help these families improve their lives, would it also improve state budgets?
And new research finds that a college education
benefits most those disadvantaged students least likely to be able to go
to college.
On another front, MDRC's analysis of of a project that pegs cash assistance to specific parenting activities finds some promising results.
As you'll see in this week's Update, spring is bringing a new crop of important evaluation studies, research-based policy recommendations and action alerts to help us improve communities. Also this week: we've got new funding opportunities and new information on physical and mental health services on our new SparkAction website! We're in the beta testing phase, so you need to create a log in, but it won't take long and you'll get to see the site before the rest of the world. Keep up the good work, everyone!
Jan
Jan Richter, editor emeritus, and the CFK Team
CFK gathers, synthesizes and promotes the best news, research and stories from the child and youth field. To suggest content, email weekly@connectforkids.org.
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 New on Connect for Kids
Special Invite for Subscribers: Test our Beta Site!
CFK, the Youth Policy Action Center and National Youth Development Information Center have merged and are relaunching as SparkAction: for children, for youth, for change. Want a sneak peek at the new site? Become a beta tester! It's easy; visit sparkaction.org to create your unique user name to get access to the entire SparkAction site. We would love to get your feedback to make SparkAction the best it can be.
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Updates from Capitol Hill
Success in Work Starts with Summer Jobs
Is your community ready with summer jobs for teens? Check your nearest One-Stop Career Center to find out.
... but Doesn't End ThereThe National Women's Law Center says the Local Jobs for America bill would provide $100 billion over two years to local governments and community organizations to create or save over 1 million jobs -- jobs for librarians, child care workers, teachers and others serving our communities. For those who have lost their jobs:
Protecting Children from Environmental Hazards  The General Accountability Office (GAO) reports that exposure to toxic chemicals or environmental pollutants may harm health and contribute to increases in asthma and developmental impairments among the nation's 74 million children. - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to implement the GAO recommendations to better protect children.
- Bisphenol A (BPA), a plastic additive, could be in your teen's water bottles or even the water inside. The EPA plans to test water supplies and determine whether BPA belongs on the EPA's "chemicals of concern" list; National Public Radio has the story.
Updates on the Child Nutrition Act ReauthorizationIn the U.S., 17 million kids don't get enough to eat, according to data from Feeding America, the largest domestic hunger-relief charity. - Voices for America's Children reports on the Senate Agriculture Committee's first steps in the reauthorization process, approving a bill that provides $4.5 billion over 10 years in new spending for nutrition programs and gives the USDA the authority to regulate all food sold in schools across the country.
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Health Care Reform: On to Implementation
 Medicaid Costs to States -- Up or Down?
Some states claim health care reform will save them Medicaid money; others claim it will cost them big bucks. How can that be? Georgetown's Center for Children and Families and the DC-based National Public Radio affiliate WAMU explain.
Also:
Families USA says advocates and legislators should know that Maintenance of Effort requirements should prohibit policies that make it harder for families to enroll in CHIP or Medicaid and prevent cuts to Medicaid and CHIP eligibility levels.
Clarifying the Provisions for Children with Pre-Existing Conditions
After some media reports about insurers citing a loophole in the new health care reform law, HHS Secretary Sebelius has sent a letter to the insurance industry making clear the law's inclusionary intent regarding children with pre-existing conditions, reports ABC News.
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The Importance of a Good Early Start
Chronic Stress Affects Early Brain DevelopmentThe chronic stress of maltreatment or severe poverty can significantly diminish a child's ability to learn and interact appropriately with others. On April 13, the Brookings Institution will host a panel focusing on the science and policy implications for addressing the needs of children raised in risky situations.  A Next Social Contract for the Primary Years of Education
Two-thirds of all American third-graders are not reading at grade level. The New America Foundation, citing research on the importance of quality Pre-K learning, recommends moving the starting point for public education to age 3 and integrating Pre-K into a reformed education finance system. Home Visiting Gets Mandatory Funding in Health Care Reform
A home visiting program that provides health screenings for young children, parenting education and other supports is voluntary for young families, but the funding is not -- $1.5 billion over five years was included in the health care reform bill.
 Multi-Needs Families Disproportionately Absorb State Service DollarsRelatively few (23 percent) multi-system families -- families utilizing at least two social services such as substance abuse, mental illness, juvenile incarceration -- consume 86 percent of the funding allocated for services, reports Chapin Hall. Figuring out how to better serve such high-maintenance families could help reduce overall costs and improve outcomes. Cash Program Improves Family Life Aimed at low-income families in New York City's highest-poverty communities, Family Rewards ties cash rewards to specific family activities and outcomes. Among the first year results, MDRC found that school outcomes overall did not improve but students did increase school attendance and grade advancement. Families increased preventive dental and other medical care and reduced their reliance on hospital emergency rooms for routine care.
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Tax Time Savings
New Tax Credits
Check out this White House tax tool to see if you're eligible for any of the recovery-related tax credits for low- and middle-income families this year.
Quick Refunds Tempting, But Unwise
For many cash-strapped families, the temptation to get a quick refund from payday lenders is strong -- but not wise, considering the percentage these lenders take.  Campaign to protect EITC and Child Care tax credits RESULTS is campaigning to protect these credits that have lifted over 3 million children out of poverty.
EITC and the Child Care Tax Credits were expanded in the economic
recovery act in 2009, but these expansions are due to expire at the end
of 2010.
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Improving Learning
Race to the Top Awards Go to Delaware, Tennessee
Strong local support from teachers' unions and superior data systems helped Delaware and Tennessee win the first round of Race to the Top education dollars, reports EdWeek.
- By selecting just two states as first-round Race to the Top winners, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is leaving $3.4 billion on the table for the remaining states to vie for in round two.
College Boosts Upward Mobility Most for those Least Likely to Attend
The research is data-dense, but the conclusion is crystal clear: College completion can lead to a greater change in the earnings trajectory for the most disadvantaged students. In short, students most likely to benefit from a college education are the least likely to obtain one.  Take Action against Biased History Texts
Change.org has a petition to publishers to reject the distorted view of history (deleting separation of church and state, saying Joe McCarthy was right) approved by the Texas Board of Education for textbooks that will be used nationwide.
The Alliance for Excellent Education is hosting a briefing on how students can improve their reading skills through programs that emphasize writing. RSVP by April 9.  |
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Re-Connecting Youth
Re-Connecting by 25
The Youth Transitions Funders Group shares lessons learned and opportunities for fashioning better policies and programs to reach and re-engage young people who are on the margins: out of school, out of work and down on their luck.  Three-quarters of young people without a high school diploma say they would re-enroll if they could. The Center on Law and Social Policy recommends that dropout prevention and recovery should be counted as a priority in the ESEA reauthorization -- with adequate funding commensurate with the scale of the dropout crisis.
What Works and What Doesn't in Older Youth Programming
Child Trends' evaluation review of programs aimed at helping emerging adults found that education- and career-focused programs were more successful than efforts to address risk-taking sexual and substance abuse behaviors. Mentoring and providing child care and case management were among the most effective strategies.
Juvenile System Reforms Working, Report Says
More than five years after California agreed to a court-monitored overhaul of its troubled juvenile justice system, corrections officials say reforms have been effective.
Relationships Matter: Strengthening Vulnerable Youth Youth workers need to be more intentional in equipping young people with the skills they need to navigate all types of relationships to prepare them for a healthy, self-sufficient and successful adulthood, reports the Innovation Center. Child Prostitutes: More Victim than Perpetrator
The Las Vegas Sun has a context-rich article on the realities that endanger child prostitutes and how agencies are making it harder for them by criminalizing their victimization.
Global Youth Service Day - April 23-25
Young people can connect to their communities and boost their learning and self-esteem through
volunteering. It's not too late to get something started!
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Virtual Learning for Parents
 Search Institute Launches New "Parent Further" Website
The Search Institute's new website offers information for positive parenting and building assets for healthy youth development.
Safe Kids USA Videos
Parents of children with developmental delays and other special needs can watch Safe Kids USA's videos highlighting special safety tips for their children.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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