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Editor's Note
Fannie and Freddie got a bit of a hand-up last week, but it looks like the more than 13 million children living in poverty in the United States may have to wait -- the new Census data shows the child poverty rate climbed to its highest level since 1998, while government investment in kids has dropped by ten percent in the past five years. This, among many other things, makes the case that workers in this field are a dedicated lot. So what keeps us here, despite tight resources, and how can we improve professional conditions? The Next Generation Youth Work Coalition has studied nine cities and states that have gone beyond the basics of professional development to make real workforce advances in the youth field. (See Tools below.) When it comes to the successful transition to adulthood, there are some promising models for helping young people leave high school prepared: a Ready by 21 webinar on
how to bring business into efforts to improve outcomes for youth and updated data on dropout rates and prevention. Also this week: new evidence that transferring young people to adult jails doesn't deter crime and, in fact, increases the likelihood of recidivism. For the latest on SAT scores, funding toolkits and more, read on. And let us know how you spend Step Up for Kids Day (September 16)! Caitlin Johnsonweekly@connectforkids.org |
New on Connectforkids.org
Heads Up: PolicyWatch Begins Next Week!
To help you stay informed and take action, Connect for Kids is creating an easy-to-use guide to national and state policies that adults concerned about kids and youth should be watching -- look for that on September 24.
But first, on September 15, the National Collaboration for Youth will release a national policy agenda, "Toward a Brighter Future: an Essential Agenda for America's Young People." We'll publish it on CFK.
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Opportunities for Action: Coming Up!
 Step Up for Kids Day: Making Children an Election Issue (Sept. 16)
Imagine standing on the steps of local or national government and proclaiming, "You want my vote? Invest in kids." Every Child Matters and Prevent Child Abuse America are sponsoring this national event across the country to help make children's issues a priority in the 2008 election. Find out what's happening in your state capitol or get something started in your hometown!
 ServiceNation Day of Action 2008 (Sept. 27)
On September 27, communities across the nation will mobilize to demonstrate the impact of community service and the power of citizens to create
large-scale change. Be part of the movement. Visit the ServiceNation
website for local events, ideas and tools get something started in your neighborhood.
>> CFK has additional resources to help you make a difference in our Taking Action pages.
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 Health and Health Care
Making Sense of the New Census Bureau Data on the Uninsured
The latest Census Bureau data shows a drop in both the percentage and number of U.S.
residents without health insurance -- and a slight drop in the overall number of uninsured children. The share of uninsured residents was 15.3 percent or 45.7 million in 2007, down from 15.8 percent or 47 million in 2006. Notably: the share of people with private insurance fell, while those covered by Medicaid and other public programs rose.
We don't want to be a downer, but here's some critical context: the number and percentage of Americans without health insurance remains much greater than in 2001, as this Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis reports.
Uninsured Will Spend $30 Billion, Study Says
Americans who lack health insurance will spend about $30 billion out of
pocket on medical care this year and others -- mainly the government
-- will end up covering another $56 billion in costs, according to this Wall Street Journal coverage of a new study by George Mason University and the Urban Institute.
IN THE STATES: Changes to California Health Insurance Programs Might Result in Thousands of Kids Losing Coverage
Lawmakers' decisions to increase premiums for children enrolled in Healthy Families public insurance program (the state's version of SCHIP) and require Medicaid renewal every six months are likely to leave tens of thousands of California children without health care, advocates say. The Kaiser Network has the scoop.
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Family and Child Poverty
 Census Shows Rising Child Poverty Rate
Last year, the child
poverty rate hit its highest level since 1998, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey data released in August. In 2007, more than a third of black children and over a quarter of
Latino children were poor, compared to 1 in 10 non-Hispanic white
children. Although household incomes increased in the United States for the third straight
year, the overall poverty rate did not change.
More Resources on the Census Data
 Q&A: What Do the Latest Census Numbers on Poverty, Income and Health Insurance Mean?
A
closer look at the new data reveals little improvement for low-income
families, says the Urban Institute. This Q&A looks at what the
latest Census Bureau numbers mean and
how we can shore up the social safety net.
 Interpreting the Child Poverty Findings
The National Center for Children in Poverty offers the following resources to understand the new Census findings as they relate to child poverty:
Staying Afloat in Tough Times: What States Are and Aren't Doing to Promote Family Economic Security
Also from the National Center for Children in Poverty, this new report tracks state-level policies that help families both avoid and cope with economic hardship. It looks at three types of policies: work attachment and advancement, income adequacy, and asset development and protection. The bottom line: assistance is extremely uneven across the states and the country needs a national vision of family economic security.
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Reconnecting Youth
 What Works: Educational Interventions for Successful Transitions
Too many students leave high school unprepared for college, work and life -- but there are promising models that help students prepare for life after high school. A new set of briefs from the National High School Center and MDRC examines these effective educational interventions. The titles so far are:
- Preparing High School Students for Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Employment
- Striking the Balance: Career Academies Combine Academic Rigor and Workplace Relevance
- Evaluating the Impact of Interventions That Promote Successful Transitions from High School
 Dropout Prevention Practice Guide
This guide from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) looks at what
works when it comes to dropout prevention strategies and offers
specific evidence-based recommendations to help teachers,
superintendents, school boards and policymakers craft effective
interventions.
Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006
Also
from IES, this report finds an average four-year high school graduation
rate of 74.7 percent. In October 2006, approximately 3.5 million
civilian non-institutionalized young people ages 16 to 24 were not
enrolled in high school and had not earned a high school diploma or
equivalent.
 New: The Monetary Value of Saving a High-Risk Youth
An
important new YouthBuild USA study shows that investments in prevention
and treatment for young people at high risk for criminal activity
(including young offenders) can yield big returns -- not only for young
people, but for society. This report looks at the specific savings that
result from up-front investments.
 The Role of Business in Ready by 21 (Sept 24) | visit the Ready by 21 site
To
get traction, issues need champions: insiders, outsiders, grassroots,
grasstops, advocates, providers and users. Their engagement can
make or break change efforts. This webinar from Corporate Voices for
Working Families and the Forum for Youth Investment will focus on the
business community's role -- specifically, business perspectives on youth
development and how to engage businesses in Ready by 21.
To register, send your contact information to
Ian Faigley at ian@forumfyi.org.
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Juvenile Justice News
 Juvenile Transfer Laws: An Effective Deterrent to Delinquency?
A new bulletin from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention finds that transfer laws, which make it easier to transfer young offenders to the adult criminal court system, have little or no deterrent effect on juvenile crime. In fact, youth transferred to the adult system are more likely to re-offend and be re-arrested than youth who commit similar crimes but remain in the juvenile justice system.
 "Too many youth are being prosecuted as adults, with harmful results," said Liz Ryan, President and CEO of the Campaign for Youth Justice, which has a fact sheet on the report. "We are calling on federal and state policy makers to reverse these punitive laws in light of this new research."
IN THE STATES: DC Survey Finds Strong Support for Rehabilitation and Keeping Youth in Juvenile Facilities
A
public opinion poll of 820 registered voters in Washington, DC finds
that 77 percent believe arrested youth should await trial in a juvenile facility -- not in the adult jail. There
is a strong consensus that rehabilitating youth and providing job
training, education and mental health treatment helps prevent future
crimes and, ultimately, saves taxpayer money.
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Tools for Your Work
What Works for Youth Workers? Next Gen's "Lessons Learned"
In 2007, the Next Generation Youth Work Coalition launched the Clear
Policies for Career Pathways project to identify and build on existing efforts to establish comprehensive workforce
development systems for the youth work field. Nine cities and states
joined together in a learning community to focus directly on improved
compensation and working conditions for youth workers; this report examines the lessons to date. By going beyond traditional professional development to address compensation, retention and education, these states and communities are showing real results.
 New Features on the KIDS COUNT Data Center!
The KIDS COUNT Data Center tracks more than 100 indicators of child well-being -- and now, it offers new features: (1) state-level data on kids and families in the five largest racial and ethnic groups, (2) state- and city-level data on birth outcomes and (3) the ability to create live, updating maps and graphs for your own website!
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Funding Toolkits
 Monthly Funding Tip: Create a Diverse Funding Base
Few programs can make it by relying on only one or two large funding sources -- a diverse funding base is key to continuing operation in the face of changing conditions. The Finance Project's Monthly Funding Tip offers strategies and examples to help you diversify your support.
Network for Good Learning Center
What's a fundraiser to do during difficult economic times? It's time to don the cape, mask and utility belt and become a fundraising superhero with the help of the Network for Good Learning Center and Nonprofit 911-- free services and articles for nonprofit staff and volunteers.
Tracks to Success: Assessing Your Organizational Funding Profile
It's the season for year-end planning and part of that process is assessing where your organization is today and how you might grow in the coming year. This three-part series from GrantStation can help you assess your organization's current funding situation and how to grow and diversify it.
Special Offer from GrantStation and TechSoup: on September 24, eligible nonprofits and libraries can become a GrantStation member for $99. (CFK is not affiliated with GrantStation.) Learn more. |
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Grants and Funds
Do Something Grants for Youth
In addition to a jazzy new website, Do Something has a great list of grants for young people who want to take local action. Check them (and the new site) out!
Reader's Digest Foundation: 'Make It Matter' Grants
To identify people whose stories of giving back inspire others, the foundation will donate funds to a nonprofit organization associated with a particular story or cause. Anyone can submit a story about an effective or inspiring group, which will be published on the website; the nonprofits selected will receive funds up to $100,000. Deadline: Jan. 1, 2009.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Created by Prudential Financial and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, this grant honors young people in middle
level and high school grades for outstanding volunteer service to their
communities. Deadline: October 31.
State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning grants
Youth Service America and the State Farm Companies Foundation offer funds for youth-led community improvement projects across the United States and Canada and to help teachers and service-learning coordinators engage students (ages 5-25) in projects for Global Youth Service Day, April 24-26, 2009. Deadline: October 15.
NFL Grassroots Program
Does your community football field or high school football field need new turf or other improvements? The NFL Grassroots Program provides nonprofit neighborhood-based organizations with financial and technical assistance to improve the quality, safety and accessibility of local football fields. Deadline: December 15.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - podcast briefing (audio and text)
