CFK Weekly— May 12, 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
**A Puzzle with No Beginning and No End
**Help Kids Succeed in School!
**Calls for a Better Budget for Children
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET, AND KIDS IN MIND
**May 14 Call-In Day
**Save our Schools: A Call to Action on Budget Cuts
PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE
**Safe & Sound: Models for Collaboration Between the Child Welfare & Addiction
Treatment Systems
**Best Drug Treatment Lengths Identified
**New Hope For Preventing Child Abuse
**May is National Foster Care Month
**"Greenbook" Online
**May 16, 2003 Audioconference: Reauthorization of CAPTA
EDUCATION REPORTS AND DATA
**2001-2002 Public School Data
**Why Rural Matters 2003
HEALTH CARE FOR KIDS FALLING SHORT
**Keep America Smiling: 2003 Oral Health Report Card
**What's Ahead in Medicaid for Children?
**No One's Priority: The Plight of Children with Serious Mental Disorders in
Medicaid Systems
BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION
**May 17, 1954: An Historic Decision
**The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
**Celebrating Families
USES AND MISUSES OF EVALUATION RESEARCH
**What Some Much-Noted Data Really Showed About Vouchers
**Special Report on the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program National
Evaluation
**Lessons from the After-School Movement
**Testing the Testers
IMPROVING CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
**Child Care: Recent State Policy Changes Affecting the Availability of Assistance
**Left Unsupervised: A Look at the Most Vulnerable Children
**Early Childhood Education: A Call to Action for the Business Community
**Challenge for Early Childhood Success Deadline Extended
**United Way's Success by 6
A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
**Are Children Left Behind?
**Get the Lead Out
**High Blood Levels of Flame Retardants Raising Concerns
**Hispanic Youth Exposed to More Alcohol Advertising
IDEAS FOR ADVOCATES
**"Victory Against Hunger" Awards
**Are Children Rolled Over More Easily than Roads?
**Improving School Lunch Programs in Your Schools
**Write a Letter to the Editor
**SPIN Academy 2003: Media Training for Nonprofits
WORKING AND OUT-0F-W0RK FAMILIES
**Mayors Speak out on Welfare, Working Families, and Reauthorization
**Laid Off & Left Out
FOCUS ON THE STATES
**"No New Taxes" Means Little Help for States
**State-by-State News
NEW ON CONNECT FOR KIDS
**A Puzzle with No Beginning and No End
For most of the people who write movie reviews, the award-winning documentary
Love and Diane offers a gritty look at a far-off world of addiction, poverty,
rage and broken families. But three teens from Foster Care Youth United in New
York City had a different take on Jennifer Dworkin's movie.
http://www.connectforkids.org/content1552/content_show.htm?attrib_id=310&doc_id=168666
**Help Kids Succeed in School!
Maybe you've seen our public service announcements on radio, television and
in newspapers and magazine. Connect for Kids put together tools and ideas to
get involved in our children's education.
http://www.connectforkids.org/resources3139/resources_subject.htm?doc_id=82761
**Calls for a Better Budget for Children
Last week the House of Representatives and the Senate Finance Committee each
approved their version of a federal budget blueprint. A full Senate vote is
next, then a conference to resolve differences. With states weighing cuts to
schools, health care and child care, the federal budget is of keen interest
to child advocates. The Citizens' Toolkit on the Budget and Tax Cuts has information
and ideas for action.
http://www.connectforkids.org/benton_topics1544/benton_topics_show.htm?doc_id=159840
KEEPING AN EYE ON THE BUDGET, AND KIDS IN MIND
**May 14 Call-In Day
Both the House and the Senate are about to vote on hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts. If these cuts are enacted, more than half the tax breaks will go to the richest Americans. Low- and middle-income Americans are likely to be worse off because looming deficits at all levels of government will starve children's services, says the Children's Defense Fund. May 14 has been designated a call-in day to urge lawmakers to vote "no" to these tax cuts. Call 1-888-280-6279.
http://www.childrensdefense.org
**Save our Schools: A Call to Action on Budget Cuts
Moveon.org has launched a call-to-action campaign as Congress is debating the budget resolution, which will outline priorities for federal resources for years to come.
http://www.moveon.org/saveschools/
PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE
**Safe & Sound: Models for Collaboration Between the Child Welfare & Addiction Treatment Systems
The 1996 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) set timetables for caseworkers to develop permanency plans for children in the child welfare system. To avoid losing their children under these guidelines, parents with substance abuse problems need quicker access to treatment. The State Associations of Addiction Services offers a model for addressing this problem, based on case study findings in Cook County, Illinois and Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
http://www.saasnet.org/Resources/index.htm
**Best Drug Treatment Lengths Identified
Drug treatment programs typically last three to six months, but researchers at the University of Chicago and Brown University find that longer treatment times -- 15 months of outpatient or 18 months of inpatient care ? yield the best results, cutting drug use levels by two-thirds or more. The findings showed diminishing returns after 15 to 18 months, so treatment need not be infinite.
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20030422.115912&time=13%2000%20PDT&year=2003&public=1
**New Hope For Preventing Child Abuse
While most victimized children never become violent criminals, those who are abused or neglected are at higher risk of arrest for violent crime as adults. Research shows that effective child abuse prevention programs can shield children while they are young and reduce the number who grow up to be criminals. But programs need adequate funding. The Social Services Block Grant, the major source of federal funds for child abuse prevention, has been cut by 40 percent in the last five years. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is urging Congress to protect this funding in the federal budget so communities and families can protect their children.
http://www.fightcrime.org/releases.php?id=53
**May is National Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to honor America's 133,000 foster families and to recognize the hopes and dreams of the nearly 600,000 children in foster care. The Casey Family Programs' National Center for Resource Family Support is partnering with national organizations and the U.S. government to promote local and national awareness of foster care all month and all year long.
http://www.fostercaremonth.org
**"Greenbook" Online
The Greenbook resources for local authorities serving families dealing with both domestic violence and child abuse are now online, including information on model projects around the country and information for communities wanting to better meet the needs of families experiencing violence.
http://www.thegreenbook.info
**May 16, 2003 Audioconference: Reauthorization of CAPTA
In 2002, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) provided less than $85 million to states and communities. Almost all federal child welfare spending goes to foster care and adoption, not prevention. The Center for Law and Social Policy is hosting an audioconference to discuss changes and how to integrate the child welfare system with other social programs.
http://www.claspstore.org/index.htm
EDUCATION REPORTS AND DATA
**2001-2002 Public School Data
The Common Core of Data, a program of the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, has basic information on students, staff, and finances in its statistical database about the nation's 95,000 public elementary and secondary schools and 17,000 school districts.
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
**Why Rural Matters 2003
One in three U.S. students attends a school in a rural area or small town of under 25,000 people, and most are being left behind from the start, says the Rural School and Community Trust. Specific policy attention to rural school needs is critical, especially in the thirteen states with chronically depressed areas hard-hit by globalization (listed in order of urgency): Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, North Dakota, South Dakota, North Carolina, Arkansas, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Montana and Maine.
http://ruraledu.org/streport/pdf/WRM_2003_summary.pdf
HEALTH CARE FOR KIDS FALLING SHORT
**Keep America Smiling: 2003 Oral Health Report Card
America is making progress but could do more to ensure good oral health for children, according to this report card from Oral Health America. Dental sealants, for example, are one of the most cost-effective ways to protect against tooth decay, but only 23 percent of U.S. 8-year-olds have them. The report also calls for better state guidelines on "competitive foods" -- low-nutrition, high-sugar foods -- available in schools.
http://www.oralhealthamerica.org/Report%20Card%202003%20final.pdf
**What's Ahead in Medicaid for Children?
Children in poverty and their parents make up 73 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries, but account for only one-quarter of Medicaid spending. This fact sheet from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools outlines the Administration's proposals for dramatic changes in Medicaid, states' concerns about Medicaid funding in the midst of budget shortfalls, and the key players in the debate over Medicaid and its funding.
http://www.healthinschools.org/focus/2003/no2.htm
**No One's Priority: The Plight of Children with Serious Mental Disorders in Medicaid Systems
The President's Commission on Mental Health found that the mental health care system is more complex and inadequate for children than for adults, and that families don't know where to turn. The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law reports that these concerns were apparent in focus groups, where parents described difficulties and frustrations in getting proper care for their mentally ill children.
http://www.bazelon.org/issues/children/publications/focusgroups/index.htm
BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION
**May 17, 1954: An Historic Decision
The monumental 1954 Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, altered the economic, political and social structure of this nation forever. Here's an interactive history of the events leading to the decision, and its conclusion.
http://www.digisys.net/users/hootie/brown/bground.htm
**The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
Segregation in schools, hospitals and public places was not a choice in much of the United States after the Civil War -- it was required by law. This PBS special on the "Jim Crow" system of government-sanctioned racial oppression and segregation has images and historical info from across the nation.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/
**Celebrating Families
Find these and related links on important events in our history in the Celebrating Families calendar, maintained by Connect for Kids with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
http://www.celebratingfamilies.org
USES AND MISUSES OF EVALUATION RESEARCH
**What Some Much-Noted Data Really Showed About Vouchers
"Research-based" policymaking is becoming an ever more popular mantra, but, as Michael Winerip notes in this May 7, 2003 description of private school voucher research, findings are often misinterpreted, misunderstood or misused to justify policy decisions. May require free registration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/07/education/07EDUC.html
**Special Report on the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program National Evaluation
After a mixed first-year evaluation, the White House proposed 40-percent cuts for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school program -- a move that sparked heated debate over the proper use of evaluation research. In this Evaluation Exchange article, research and policy experts pointed out that positive findings were ignored and preliminary negative findings should have served as ?a road map? to improve existing and new programs, not shut them down. Some also noted a disconnect between the evaluation and the initial goals of the program.
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/eval/issue21/special.html
**Lessons from the After-School Movement
The Forum for Youth Development argues that the 21st Century Community Learning Centers served as the flagship for a systematic approach to out-of-school youth programs. The use of the first-year evaluation to justify funding cuts would not only hurt this program, but could derail the momentum to create a system of out-of-school learning.
http://www.forumforyouthinvestment.org/whatsnew.htm#ostpc3
**Testing the Testers
It seems everyone is talking about tests as schools implement the accountability measures of the No Child Left Behind law. In this report, the Princeton Review awarded 46 states grades of B+ or better on the quality of the tests themselves, but there was much wider variation in rankings of other accountability practices and policies. These included whether accountability practices were open to public scrutiny, flexible enough to tolerate improvements, aligned with academic standards, and designed to produce consistent and secure measures over time.
http://www.princetonreview.com/statestudy
IMPROVING CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
**Child Care: Recent State Policy Changes Affecting the Availability of Assistance
Child care assistance is critical for parents moving from welfare to work, and helps low-wage working parents stay off of welfare. But, according to a new General Accounting Office survey, not all eligible parents who apply for child care assistance receive it. In 26 states, many families, especially those not on welfare, face waiting lists, denial of benefits, or frozen enrollments for new families. Since January 2001, 23 states have made changes that reduce the availability of assistance and three have made changes with mixed impact. (See report GAO-03-588)
http://www.gao.gov
**Left Unsupervised: A Look at the Most Vulnerable Children
This Child Trends brief looks at how many young school-age and low-income children are home alone during out-of-school hours.
http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/UnsupervisedRB.pdf
**Early Childhood Education: A Call to Action for the Business Community
Good child care matters for families; it also makes a difference in the bottom line. Noting that too many children are entering school ill-prepared, the Business Roundtable and Corporate Voices for Working Families are urging lawmakers to protect funding for preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-olds in these tight times. They argue that a government commitment to early childhood education is essential to America's efforts to improve education and develop a world-class workforce.
http://www.cvworkingfamilies.org/downloads/5-7-03ECEpressRelease.doc
**Challenge for Early Childhood Success Deadline Extended
The deadline for enrolling in the National League of Cities' City Challenge for Early Childhood Success, a national effort to improve early care and education in America's cities and towns, has been extended to May 16. For more information, contact Kirsta Millar at or 202-626-3004.
**United Way's Success by 6
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the Success by 6 program is currently being replicated in over 300 cites in 42 states, according to the National League of Cities.
http://national.unitedway.org/sb6/
A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
**Are Children Left Behind?
In its report, "Looking for a Healthy Environment for Children?" the Children's Environmental Health Network compares the Bush administration's words and actions on specific environmental hazards that pose a threat to children's health. CEHN charges that, with few exceptions, policies and practices have weakened environmental health and safety protections for children.
http://www.cehn.org/cehn/Bushpressrelease2.html
**Get the Lead Out
Some scientists are beginning to document that poor learning ability, increased impulsivity and inability to pay attention or plan ahead may be the result of elevated blood lead levels among children. Scientists in Cincinnati and elsewhere are reporting a link between elevated blood lead levels and adolescent involvement in juvenile crime. The research and the continuing problem of lead poisoning is the subject of a Living on Earth radio program segment, ?The Secret Life of Lead,? airing this week. (You can listen to or read the text of the show online.)
http://loe.org/index.php
**High Blood Levels of Flame Retardants Raising Concerns
American women have dramatically higher levels of PBDEs -- polybrominated diphenyl ethers, persistent pollutants shown to impair neurological functioning in rats -- than their European counterparts. U.S. babies may be exposed to high levels of the toxins in utero. Dust from old couches with exposed polyeurothane foam may be a significant source of the pollution. Europe has banned PBDEs, but there has been no action to regulate them in the United States.
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2003/apr/science/kb_pbde.html
The Post and Courier (South Carolina) covered the story in its April 20, 2003 article, "Flame Retardant Seen as Threat."
http://www.charleston.net/stories/042003/wor_20chems.shtml
**Hispanic Youth Exposed to More Alcohol Advertising
The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth reports that Hispanic youth are exposed to more alcohol advertising than their cohorts. The Center's systematic audit found that alcohol and tobacco companies habitually use Hispanic culture and history to market their products to Hispanics -- the fastest growing U.S. minority group.
http://camy.org/research/hispanic0403/
IDEAS FOR ADVOCATES
**"Victory Against Hunger" Awards
The Congressional Hunger Center's "Victory Against Hunger" award will give $1000 each of 20 winning child nutrition programs. This year's theme is, "fighting hunger through improving access to or the quality of any child nutrition program." To apply, contact your Member of Congress and nominate your organization with a one- or two-page letter. The deadline is May 30, 2003.
http://www.hungercenter.org/about/news/news_022403.htm
**Are Children Rolled Over More Easily than Roads?
The Children's Alliance posed children dressed as roads at a Washington State Capitol event designed to send this message: If the state can raise taxes to pay for road repairs, it should do the same for children. The April 23, 2003 Olympian article, "Children Turn to the Streets," has the scoop.
http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20030423/southsound/48045.shtml
**Improving School Lunch Programs in Your Schools
Want to improve your school's lunch program, but don't know how to start? Here's a set of initial questions to ask school administrators.
http://www.healthinschools.org/parents/handout10.pdf
**Write a Letter to the Editor
States are cutting child care assistance, school funding and jobs for first responders, and Congressional leaders are pushing for a federal budget that offers no help. People for the American Way has sample letters to the editor to help get your voice heard.
http://www.pfaw.org/pfaw/general/default.aspx?oId=10452
**SPIN Academy 2003: Media Training for Nonprofits
The SPIN Project (Strategic Press Information Network) is holding workshops to help nonprofit professionals learn more about communications skills and planning. Sessions include training on using radio, developing media plans, framing messages and reaching audiences. Workshops will be held July 16-20, 2003 in Petaluma, CA. Application deadline: May 19, 2003.
http://www.spinproject.org/whatwedo/academy2003.html
WORKING AND OUT-0F-W0RK FAMILIES
**Mayors Speak out on Welfare, Working Families, and Reauthorization
Families need help, according to 31 mayors across the country. Child care and other work supports aren't enough to meet the needs of working parents on or off Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Over 20 percent of welfare recipients face substantial barriers to employment ? including lack of skills and health, transportation, or housing problems. In roughly one-third of the cities, more than one in five recipients could hit a TANF time limit this year. Mayors anticipate that budget crises will force states to reduce services for these families, and worry that lack of jobs may prevent compliance with the stricter TANF rules proposed in Congress. Mayors also reported that legal immigrants and the organizations serving them face challenges under new rules.
http://www.brook.edu/es/urban/urban.htm
**Laid Off & Left Out
The federal extension of unemployment benefits is scheduled to run out May 31st. The National Employment Law Project has help for unemployed and underemployed workers to learn more about the unemployment system, to share experiences and concerns, and to participate in the national debate over aid to the jobless.
http://www.nelp.org/
FOCUS ON THE STATES
**"No New Taxes" Means Little Help for States
Christian Science Monitor reporter Mark Sappenfield describes the sea change reflected in state capitals around the country as many state legislators who are committed to reducing taxes and limiting government adamantly reject tax hikes despite massive budget gaps. The article, "Antitax Credo Hits Huge State Deficits," was published on May 7, 2003.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0507/p01s02-uspo.html
**State-by-State News
California
A new California Budget Project publication recaps budget actions to date and summarizes key features of the Governor's January Budget, the Senate Republican budget plan, and the Assembly Republican plan.
http://www.cbp.org
California's new high school exit exam has been a major factor in increased classroom coverage of material required by the state's content standards, according to a new evaluation. But the study also found that many students are not mastering required skills and, in half of the state's schools, less than 50% of students passed the math portion of the exam.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/statetests/cahsee/eval/AB1609/index.html
District of Columbia
Arlington, VA, leads the region in the percentage of women with advanced degrees. Alexandria, VA, has the second-highest poverty rate among girls. Montgomery and Prince George's counties have the highest child-care costs, according to a study of gains and gaps in women's financial well-being by the Washington Area Women's Foundation.
http://www.wawf.org/facts/
Illinois
Illinois ranks 49th among the states in providing school breakfasts to low-income children. The Illinois Hunger Coalition is calling for public support for a state legislative proposal to require low-income schools to implement a school breakfast program. For more information, contact Diane Dorhety <dianedihc@aol.com> or Connie Probst at 312-629-9580.
"The Cost of Universal Access to Quality Preschool in Illinois" from the Institute for Women's Policy Research concludes that instituting high-quality preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds involves a substantial investment and a phase-in plan to reach preschool for all by its tenth year.
http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/preschoolIL.pdf
Indiana
In the report, "Kids and Welfare Reform: Different Ages, Different Results," the Indiana Youth Institute reports that welfare caseloads and child poverty are on the rise in the state. In addition, teens' school performance suffered when their mothers left welfare for work.
http://www.iyi.org/pdf/spr03alert.pdf
Kentucky
The Education Commission of the States reports that Kentucky Governor Paul Patton has signed legislation (SB 154) requiring the state department of education to award grants to elementary schools that offer open classes in dance, drama, music, the visual arts and at least one foreign language.
http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/RECORD/03RS/SB154/bill.doc
Michigan
Libraries and museums across the state offer a variety of after-school and children's programs. A new Web site provides program listings by county.
http://www.micase.org
Mississippi
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) reports that on April 21, 2003 Mississippi's governor approved an effort to assess pre-kindergarten programs to make recommendations regarding the need for additional early childhood education programs and the steps necessary to ensure excellence. Sign up for the NAEYC newsletter to get this and related information.
http://www.naeyc.org/childrens_champions/default.asp
New Mexico
The Governor has approved steps to establish a framework for a statewide comprehensive and universal system of preschool programs, reports the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Sign up for the NAEYC newsletter to get this and related information.
http://www.naeyc.org/childrens_champions/default.asp
North Carolina
North Carolina advocates report that April tax returns fell short of expectations, which means next year's state budget deficit is $400 million more than the House version of the budget anticipated.
http://capwiz.com/cwncc/issues/alert/?alertid=2117561&type=CU
Oklahoma
According to the April 29, 2003 Norman Transcript article, "Trying to Put Kids First," the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Act will create a Board responsible for assessing existing programs, launching a public engagement campaign, providing leadership at the state level to encourage communities to develop and improve school readiness opportunities, and establishing accountability standards and recognizing and promoting best practices.
http://news.mywebpal.com/partners/899/public/news452340.html
South Carolina
A visiting team of master teachers has helped improve learning in Denmark, SC, schools, but the gains are threatened by continued staff turnover among teachers and principals, according to this Education Week article, "Special Forces." Free registration may be required.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=34masterteacher.h22
Tennessee
The Tennessee Senate voted against implementing lower teacher-to-child ratios at child care centers, citing concerns about the cost of the changes, which were to go into effect on July 1, 2003. (See "Senate Rescinds Lowered Teacher-to-Child Day-Care Ratios.")
http://www.wbir.com/News/news.asp?ID=12499
Texas
On May 14, celebrate the tenth anniversary of KidsCount in Texas and the release of The State of Texas Children: 2003.
http://www.cppp.org/kidscount/index.html
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times article, "Anti-Junk Food Measure is Abandoned" reports that opposition from school superintendents and the soft drink industry forced lawmakers to drop legislation that would have eliminated vending machines in elementary schools, restricting them in middle and high schools.
http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_1943832,00.html
Wisconsin
Nationally recognized neuroscientists and experts will define brain function and discuss the adolescent brain, child abuse and neglect, and early childhood development at the Wisconsin State Brain Team's "Networking Neurons: Making Connections, Healthy Families + Healthy Children = Healthy Communities" conference in June.
http://www.wccf.org/projects/2003brainconference.htm
Washington
The Children's Alliance celebrates its 20th anniversary on May 15.
http://www.childrensalliance.org
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PRIVACY POLICY
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http://www.connectforkids.org/information1537/information_show.htm?doc_id=9207
Keep working for kids, everyone!
Jan Richter, advocacy director, and the Connect for Kids team
Jan@connectforkids.org
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