CFK Weekly—Feb. 24, 2003

We encourage distribution of this information! If reprinting in whole or part, please attribute it to Connect for Kids (www.connectforkids.org).

NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS
**Of Books and Boys
**The Measure of a Budget Morass
**The Heart of 4-H

RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING
**2003 National 4-H Youth in Action/Community Tree Planting Grant
**Establishing a Mobile Medical Program for Underserved Children
** Boosting the Use of Booster Seats
**Kids Law: A Practical Guide to Juvenile Justice
**March into Action
**Progressive Call-In Radio?
**Uses and Misuses of Indicator Data

HELPING YOUTH CONNECT
**The Civic Mission of Schools
**Supporting Kids Who Care
**Youth Service: Teens Making a Difference Audioconference
**Good Evaluations for Out-of-School Programs
**American Teens: A Special Look at “What works” in Adolescent Development

TALKING WITH KIDS ABOUT STRESS
**Resources on Children and Bio-Terrorism
**How to Talk to Kids About a Possible War
**Stressors in the Lives of Immigrant Students

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
**Raising Respectful Boys, Not Macho Men
**Helping Your Kids Steer Clear of Gangs
**The Grandparent’s and Other Relative Caregiver’s Guide to Raising Children with Disabilities

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX CUTS
**Brief Overview of Bush Tax-Cut Agenda
**Take Action

HUNGER IN A LAND OF PLENTY
**Hunger in Rural America
**State of the States on Hunger

EDUCATION NEWS
**At The Turning Point: The Young Adolescent Learner
**Why Rural Matters 2003
**Education Week Reports on Challenges in Implementing ESEA
**Testing High Stakes Tests: Can We Believe the Results of Accountability Tests?
**Rising Costs of College
**Tuition Tug of War

KEEPING TEENS HEALTHY
**The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse among Girls and Young Women Ages 8-22.
**Health Care for the Uninsured: How Much Do We Already Spend and Who Pays?
**The Reproductive Health of African American Adolescents: What We Know and What We Don’t Know

FOCUS ON THE STATES
**Bush Tax Cuts Will Harm State Budgets
**State-by-State News

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS
**Of Books and Boys
It might come as a surprise that a guy who wrote a book called Summer Reading is Killing Me is really worried about what boys aren’t reading. Author Jon Scieszka is so alarmed by studies that show that boys lag behind in reading that he started a literary initiative for boys called GUYS READ. Andrea Grazzini Walstrom has more on his effort.
http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_topics1544/benton_topics_show.htm?doc_id=150588

**The Measure of a Budget Morass
The National Governor's Association says states haven’t faced a fiscal crisis of this magnitude since World War II. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft says his state is facing the budgetary equivalent of a “perfect storm.” Here's a look at some of the reasons behind the doomsday rhetoric.
http://www.connectforkids.org

**The Heart of 4-H
Almost 7 million young boys and girls take part in the activities of 4-H clubs around the country. Aline Newman talks about the special role that 4-H (for Head, Heart, Hands and Health) played in her family and her rural New York community.
http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_topics1544/benton_topics_show.htm?doc_id=150592

RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING

**2003 National 4-H Youth in Action/Community Tree Planting Grant
Here’s $200 to $1,000 to stimulate community tree planting and/or reforestation projects led by youth in communities across the nation. Application deadline: March 18.
http://www.n4h.org/programs/category.asp?scatid=11&catid=1&subid=6

**Establishing a Mobile Medical Program for Underserved Children
Children who live in poverty often lack regular access to pediatric health services for routine and preventive care. For these children, immunization delays, undiscovered congenital illnesses, chronic medical problems and potentially preventable handicapping disorders are rampant. The Children’s Health Fund has developed a model for mobile medical units to offer continuity of care for these children, as this brochure explains.
http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/starting1.html

** Boosting the Use of Booster Seats
The majority of children ages 4-8 use only an adult seat belt, but research suggests that a multifaceted community education campaign can significantly increase the use of child booster seats, which protect from injury better than lap and shoulder belts alone.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v289n7/abs/joc21049.html

**Kids Law: A Practical Guide to Juvenile Justice
Tucson attorney John Biggers offers professionals and parents a practical guide to the complexities of today’s juvenile justice systems. Cost: $14.95.
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/thu/30213KidsLaw.html

**March into Action
Read Across America is coming up in March! So are the anniversaries of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire that fueled child labor regulations, the founding of the Campfire Girls, National Safe Place Week and Absolutely Incredible Kid Day. Learn all about events and anniversaries in March from the Celebrating Families calendar.
http://www.celebratingfamilies.org/

**Progressive Call-In Radio?
With a good coordinated response and a little bit of luck, progressive activists can use talk radio to carry their message to a broad audience. This media tip from the Coalition on Human Needs tells how to make it work.
http://www.chn.org/media/tip.asp?art=6

**Uses and Misuses of Indicator Data
The saying goes that “what gets measured gets done”—so social indicators are key. They can inform public policy choices, and act as “canaries in the coal mine” to identify particularly promising (or unpromising) strategies to evaluate. But, as this Child Trends brief explains, they are no substitute for rigorous research to establish cause and effect, or credit specific policies or programs with outcomes.
http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/SocialIndicatorsRB.pdf

HELPING YOUTH CONNECT

**The Civic Mission of Schools
One of the most promising approaches to increasing young people’s civic participation is school-based civic education. Instead of bemoaning the disengagement of young people from public debate and political activity, this report recommends ways that schools can encourage and prepare young people for full participation in a democracy. Among the recommendations: support for educators to facilitate discussions of complex and/or controversial current events and increased federal funding to states for civic education.
http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/

**Supporting Kids Who Care
If you want more kids to volunteer, ask them! Nearly half of children who do not currently volunteer said no one asked, according to the survey for Kohl’s Department Stores by Teenage Research Unlimited. Kohl’s third annual Kohl’s Kids Who CareTM volunteer recognition program recognizes youth, ages 6-18, for outstanding service to the community with national finalists receiving $5,000 for a post-secondary education. Deadline for entries is March 15, 2003.
http://www.kohlscorporation.com/CommunityRelations/Community02.htm

**Youth Service: Teens Making a Difference Audioconference
This National League of Cities audioconference on Feb. 27 at 12:30 p.m. (EST) will discuss developing and implementing service projects and how county officials and other community leaders can support youth in giving back to their neighborhoods and hometowns. E-mail your name, title, organization, mailing address (including street, city, state and zip), telephone, fax and e-mail to rpd1@nlc.org by close of business Feb. 24.

**Good Evaluations for Out-of-School Programs
How well out-of-school time programs serve youth is a front-burner issue in the wake of the recent 21st Century Community Learning Centers report and pending budget cuts. The Harvard Family Research Project database offers a number of rigorous out-of-school time evaluations that showed positive participant outcomes.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool/evaldatabase.html

**American Teens: A Special Look at “What Works” in Adolescent Development
Child Trends has compiled its American Teens Research Brief series into a book that covers reproductive health, physical health and safety, social skills and relationships, education, mental and emotional health, and civic engagement. Cost: $20.
https://secure.childtrends.org/onlinecart/product.cfm?id=890

The seven research briefs and the electronic “What Works” tables are also posted individually.
http://www.childtrends.org/youthdevelopment_intro.asp

TALKING WITH KIDS ABOUT STRESS

**Resources on Children and Bio-Terrorism
The American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Terrorism was created to advise parents and other advocates on how to meet children’s needs during a terrorist disaster. Resources include “Communicating with Children about Disasters” and “Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis.”
http://www.aap.org/terrorism/index.html

It may seem like common sense, but the checklists in the American Academy of Pediatrics family readiness kit can help you think ahead and be better prepared.
http://www.aap.org/family/frk/frkit.htm

**How to Talk to Kids About a Possible War
The national children’s crisis charity KidsPeace has compiled tips to help families deal with uncertainty and fears following Sept. 11th and an environment of possible war and terrorist reprisals. They also offer a Web site for youngsters to work through their fears.
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=4234

**Stressors in the Lives of Immigrant Students
Although few educators born in the United States have experienced the stress of immigration, they may understand what it’s like from experiences relocating to a new city, enrolling in a new school or feeling the loss of cherished friends and surroundings. This Counseling Channel article identifies the factors that can affect an immigrant child’s transition, and what schools can do to help.
http://www.guidancechannel.com/detail.asp?index=1032&cat=1

TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

**Raising Respectful Boys, Not Macho Men
According to clinical psychologist Claudia Liliana Campos, parents of boys can inadvertently foster counterproductive “machismo” attitudes about women and violence through false messages and beliefs about gender roles. She has concrete advice for parents and caregivers to raise healthier and happier boys and girls.
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/new/boy.aspx (English)
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/new/boys.aspx (Spanish)

**Helping Your Kids Steer Clear of Gangs
It may be frightening to contemplate the possibility of your own child joining a gang, but the truth is initiation into a gang doesn’t happen overnight and parents can do a lot to prevent their kid’s involvement with gangs. Here are some warning signs and the steps you can take.
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/new/gang.aspx (English)
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/new/gangs.aspx (Spanish)

**The Grandparent’s and Other Relative Caregiver’s Guide to Raising Children with Disabilities
This Children’s Defense Fund guide for kinship caregivers and others answers questions about available federal programs, eligibility requirements and how to enroll children. To order a free copy e-mail childwelfare@childrensdefense.org or call 202-662-3568.

ADDITIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX CUTS

**Brief Overview of Bush Tax-Cut Agenda
The Bush Tax Cuts—those enacted and those proposed—are too expensive and ineffective to count as a stimulus or growth package, argues the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in this summary of the specific proposals and their costs. Despite the dramatic deterioration in the budget picture over the past two years, President Bush is proposing tax cuts that total $1.5 trillion through 2013, according to the Treasury Department, and more than double the amount of tax cuts enacted since he took office.
http://www.cbpp.org/2-14-03tax.htm

**Take Action
The Fair Taxes for All Coalition of national and state groups seeks to support good planning to responsibly jumpstart the economy, restore balance to state budgets and protect investments in schools, health care and other critical services.
http://www.fairtaxesforall.org

HUNGER IN A LAND OF PLENTY

**Hunger in Rural America
Hunger in rural areas is less widespread than in inner cities, but far worse than in suburbs. When people in the very communities where food is raised and grown are forced to rely on food banks and churches for help, it’s clear there is a problem, says America’s Second Harvest. The group recommends expanding access to food stamps, increasing tax deductions for food and transportation contributions, maintaining commodities donations through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and other mechanisms to ensure better public policies to reduce hunger in America.
http://www.secondharvest.org/newsroom/feature/rural_naomi.html

**State of the States on Hunger
More than 33 million people in the United States are hungry or live on the edge of hunger, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture and Census Bureau surveys. Federal nutrition programs are reaching a significant number of these children and adults—but they could reach more. In its annual study of food and nutrition programs across the country, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) urges Congress to shore up nutrition programs during this critical 2003 reauthorization.
http://www.frac.org/html/news/022003stateofstates.htm

EDUCATION NEWS

**At The Turning Point: The Young Adolescent Learner
Research suggests that it is during early adolescence—between ages 10 and 14—that students either commit to lifelong learning or lose interest in school altogether. This Turning Points report summarizes what’s characteristic of the intellectual, social and moral development of early adolescents, and offers schools and teachers ideas for responding to teens’ interests and anxieties.
http://www.turningpts.org/pdf/YALGuide.pdf

**Why Rural Matters 2003
The Rural School and Community Trust says it is urgent that policymakers pay particular attention to rural schools, where one in three of America’s school-age children attend public school. In order of urgency, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, North Carolina, Arkansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Montana and Maine are regions that are chronically depressed, suffer large areas of out-migration, and are deeply distressed by changes in the global economy.
http://www.ruraledu.org/keep_learning.cfm?record_no=647

**Education Week Reports on Challenges in Implementing ESEA
The devil is in the details as states negotiate compliance with the new No Child Left Behind Act. Education Week reports that the preliminary implementation plans submitted by the states to the Department of Education offer signs of significant challenges—including how to classify students into subgroups, especially those with disabilities or limited English; defining two years of failure; and determining whether procedures for gathering data align with the law. Virtually all states are grappling with initial proficiency targets far higher than the current performance of their lowest-performing subgroups, such as students with disabilities. (You must complete the free registration.)
http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=23account.h22

**Testing High Stakes Tests: Can We Believe the Results of Accountability Tests?
This Manhattan Institute report finds that student score levels on high stakes tests closely track score levels on other tests, suggesting that when a state’s high stakes test scores go up, we should have confidence that this represents real improvements in student learning. But, with the exception of Florida, the report’s analysis of year-to-year score gains finds that high stakes tests are less effective in measuring year-to-year student progress, suggesting they are not good measures of schools’ effects on student performance.
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/cr_33.htm#01

**Rising Costs of College
Fiscal news was bad for public higher education institutions and their students, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. State support for higher education rose the smallest percentage in a decade, and appropriations dropped in 14 states, with the largest decline (11 percent) in Oregon. At the same time, tuition and required fee charges rose significantly in many states, and some states reduced their student financial aid programs.
www.highereducation.org/reports/affordability_supplement/index.shtml

**Tuition Tug of War
What happens to young children brought here without documentation by immigrant parents? When they succeed in school and are ready for college, they may find they are shut out of in-state tuition and financial aid or loans. Federal legislation proposed by Sen. Hatch (R-UT) would help these students achieve their dream and find a pathway to legitimacy. Listen to a discussion of this issue from the Feb. 19 “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” broadcast.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/jan-june03/tuition_2-19.html

Senator Hatch’s testimony about the DREAM Act is also available.
http://www.senate.gov/~hatch/index.cfm?FuseAction=Topics.Detail&PressRelease_id=183939&Month=6&Year=2002

KEEPING TEENS HEALTHY
**The Formative Years: Pathways to Substance Abuse among Girls and Young Women Ages 8-22
Girls follow different paths to drug and alcohol dependence than boys, says this National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse report. Girls are more likely to be offered substances by a female acquaintance, a young female relative or a boyfriend and to receive offers in private settings, while boys are more likely to be offered drugs by a male acquaintance, a young male relative, parent or a stranger in public settings. Prevention efforts must be better tailored to target girls at times of highest risk.
http://www.casacolumbia.org/newsletter1457/newsletter_show.htm?doc_id=147504

**Health Care for the Uninsured: How Much Do We Already Spend and Who Pays?
Calculating the yearly costs of “uncompensated care” at about $35 billion, this report argues that states and communities are already paying a substantial amount to care for a large uninsured population in the least efficient way possible—after people get sick and need emergency or hospital care. The report argues that this shows that public money could better provide broader health insurance expansion.
http://www.kff.org/content/2003/20030212/

**The Reproductive Health of African American Adolescents: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
By the end of the 1990s, several reproductive health measures for African-American adolescents showed marked improvement: Rates of pregnancy and infection from two sexually transmitted diseases fell, and condom use was more common for these teens than their white or Hispanic counterparts. But this report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies finds a mixed picture today. Black teens are more likely than others to expect to become teen or non-married parents (but educational involvement is associated with lower sexual activity). Nearly one-third of black female teens with older partners are more likely to report low rates of contraceptive use and high rates of pregnancy and childbirth.
http://www.jointcenter.org/whatsnew/a_report/a-report.htm

FOCUS ON THE STATES

**Bush Tax Cuts Will Harm State Budgets
The Campaign for America’s Future has prepared state-specific information on how state budgets will be affected by new tax cuts proposed by the White House in the FY 2004 budget. Pennsylvania’s report has been released; others will soon follow.
http://www.ourfuture.org

**State-by-State News

Florida
A community briefing on threatened state cuts for children’s services is being held Feb. 25th, 10-11 a.m. (EST), at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, 1205 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City. RSVP: Vicki Petti, 813-229-2884 or vpetti@childrensboard.org.

Indiana
The Division of Family and Children is hosting public hearings on proposed new minimum standards for child care centers—in Indianapolis on Feb. 26, 6-7:30 p.m. (EST), South Bend on Feb. 27 and Bedford on March 5. A primer on the state’s child care standards and how those guidelines compare with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association are available.
http://www.iyi.org/beall_ball_library/alerts.html

Michigan
The Michigan Coalition for Children and Families, a statewide network of more than 70 organizations, released its annual Children’s Agenda highlighting legislative priorities and administrative action to strengthen prevention efforts to improve children’s well-being.
http://www.michiganschildren.org

New York
Student activists are working to restore funding for summer jobs eliminated from Gov. Pataki’s budget during the 30-day amendments window. For more information call 212-965-1829 x203 or e-mail campaignforsummerjobs@hotmail.com.

Pennsylvania
Visit www.ourfuture.org and see the section called BUSH TAX CUTS WILL HARM STATE BUDGETS, ECONOMIES. There you will find useful information, and a link to the Pennsylvania state report, released at a Feb. 13 press conference sponsored by the Citizens for Consumer Justice and other groups.

Texas
This may be your only chance to weigh in on the state budget, advocates say, as members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees take public testimony on major Health & Human Services program funding this week. Check the Texas Legislature’s Web site (http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/) for changes or other updates.
http://www.cppp.org/products/PP181.html

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

Need to subscribe? Or go to http://www.connectforkids.org

You can always find the current Weekly, and archived editions, at
http://www.connectforkids.org//newsletter-url1571/newsletter-url.htm

Click here to unsubscribe

PRIVACY POLICY

In an effort to better serve the subscribers of our electronic newsletters, the Connect for Kids Weekly and Connections, periodically we may employ tracking software that lets us know how subscribers move from the e-mail newsletter to our Web site. The information we gather is strictly intended for internal evaluation and will not be shared with any individual or organization.
http://www.connectforkids.org/information1537/information_show.htm?doc_id=9207

Keep up the hard work, everyone!

Jan Richter, advocacy director, and the Connect for Kids team
Jan@connectforkids.org