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Guest Editor's Note
Sometimes I feel like I know people I've never met, thanks to email and the Internet. In working on this update two such people kept popping up -- Van Jones and Scott Peterson. At a time when job recovery and a green economy are making headlines, Van Jones is working for a combined strategy to make sure that green economy investments create jobs for poverty-stricken families and communities -- check out his profile below.
Another long-time and passionate advocate for youth at-risk, Scott Peterson had led the charge for effective programs that improve the juvenile justice system. He recommends the new Youth Courts report and will be speaking at the Teen Court conference.
This month, we celebrated the historic inauguration of our first African-American president. But a new report from the Harvard Civil Rights Project brings sobering news about the reality of our goal of equal opportunity for all American students (see Early Childhood & Education below).
And thanks to the Internet and a new openness in Washington, D.C. you can find out what Congress is up to. All you need is patience and perseverance to read through the House-proposed stimulus bill online. Or, take a shortcut and see what D.C. colleagues are saying about the proposal's prospects for helping kids and families, below.
Jan Richter, CFK Update Editor Emeritus
jan@connectforkids.org
CFK works to gather, synthesize and promote the news, research, trends
stories from across the child and youth field. To suggest content, email weekly@connectforkids.org
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New on Connectforkids.org
 Engaging Families to Boost Teens' After-School Enrollment: Practical Tips from the Beacons Experience
Quality out-of-school time programs can have strong academic and developmental benefits for middle schoolers, especially disadvantaged young teens -- but only if they attend. Contrary to the myth that young teens don't want their parents around, programs that engage the whole family help boost recruitment, participation and retention. In this special to CFK, the Youth Development Institute has the story and practical tips.
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News from Washington
 Keeping Track of New Faces
The 111th Congress has some new faces and some new committee assignments. The National Collaboration for Youth has posted info on key committees.
Congress Working on SCHIP Reauthorization
The House approved a renewal and expansion of the SCHIP program, to add funding to cover an additional four million children.
BREAKING! The Recovery Package Moves Ahead
The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees passed the Senate's version of the economic recovery bill. Next, it will head to the full Senate. The House is expected to vote on it's version of the bill as early as today or tomorrow.
Cheers and Worries about the House Recovery Package
- The Workforce Alliance has an analysis of the funds that would go to
support youth and adult job training, including the YouthBuild program.
- The Afterschool Alliance says the House proposal provides additional funds for programs that support afterschool, including $726 million for afterschool meals and $14 billion for school construction.
- CWLA notes a two-year boost to Title IV-E which funds foster care, adoption assistance, and kinship care.
- Inside Higher Ed says the House economic stimulus package would provide as much as $20 billion for students, $8 billion for scientific research, $9 billion for academic facilities and $39 billion for states.
- The National Women's Law Center says H.R. 1 will extend unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs and support more child care services for low-income families.
- Coalition on Human Needs finds a lot to like in the House recovery bill, but also notes some omissions. Left out are increased funding to meet increased demand for commodity and emergency food services, targeted help for low-income youth and adults to compete for newly created jobs, increased funding for rental vouchers and more affordable housing.
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Early Childhood and Education
State of the World's Children Report on Maternal and Neonatal Health
The numbers are staggering in this year's UNICEF State of the World's Children report. More than half a million women die each year from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Women in the least developed countries face risks 300 times greater than those in the industrialized world.
Public Information Campaign for Fire Safety for Babies and Toddlers
A child under the age of five is twice as likely to die in a residential fire as the rest of the population. Here are tools and information for parents and caregivers on improving fire safety.
Reviving the Goal of an Integrated Society
This Harvard Civil Rights Project report outlines serious challenges to the dream of equal opportunity for all students. Recent court decisions have made it more difficult to fight pressures for re-segregation --  blacks and Latino students are segregated more now than in the last four decades. The failure to address the challenges of growing student diversity is leading to a two-tiered educational system that isolates white students and disadvantages students of color.
 Invest in Schools, Not Prisons
Lisa Fitzhugh says Seattle should change its current plan-for-failure: increasing spending on prisons and cutting funding for schools. Schools need more funding to provide attention to individual needs and talents that help students succeed. |
Reconnecting Youth
Ohio Study Finds Failure to Finish High School Carries High Costs
Lifetime costs in lost income, greater incarceration rates and greater reliance on public assistance make the costs of failure to graduate high. On the other hand, Ohio taxpayers can realize a lifetime net benefit of nearly $210,000 per high school graduate, a return of $11.62 for every $1 invested.
But, there are exceptions to the rule. Of course not all kids who leave high school early end up short-changed.
- Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona says it was a complete stranger -- an Army Officer in the Special Forces home on leave -- who became the mentor he needed to change his life's course.
- Newly elected Harry Teague (NM) left high school early, but eventually started a business and was elected to Congress. Teague provided tickets to 15 high school students for the swearing-in and met with them in his Washington, D.C. office last week.
Denver Post Reports on Successful Program to Re-enroll Dropouts
The "Rebound" program tracks down dropouts, gets them back in school with a better attitude, tailors a curriculum for each student and follows and encourages them every step of the way.
Schools Hold "Drop-In Day"
Adults who want to get their high school diploma got individual counseling on "drop-in day" in Ventura, California.
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Grants and Funding Resources
College Assistance Migrant Program
The U.S. Department of Education has funding for nonprofits and higher-education institutions to help migrant and seasonal farm workers and their children complete their first year of college. Deadline: February 23.
Open Meadows Foundation Grants for Girls' Projects
The Open Meadows Foundation provides grants of up to $2,000 for projects led by and for women and girls, particularly those with limited financial access working in vulnerable communities. Deadline: February 15.
Community Mentoring Funding
The
U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention has funding for
national organizations to build or enhance the capability of community
mentoring providers that serve high-risk populations. Deadline: February 25.
STOP Hunger Scholarships
The Sodexo Foundation's scholarships recognize and reward students who have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger and its root causes in the United States. Deadline: February 27. To apply use the Access Key: SDXF
 $2.2 Million for Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program
The Safe Schools/Healthy Students program supports integrated, comprehensive community-wide plans that create safe and drug-free schools and promote healthy childhood development. Deadline: March 4.
RGK Foundation Grants for Community Programs
The RGK Foundation administers grants to community programs fostering youth development.
Do Something Disaster Grants
Do you know a young person leading an emergency coat drive or collecting toys for kids affected by a natural disaster? Do Something is awarding a $500 grant each week for projects that address disaster preparedness and emergency response. |
Jan Richter and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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Obama, will lead a panel on designing strategies to reform juvenile justice, hosted at the ABA Criminal Justice Midyear meeting, February 13, in Boston.
