CFK Weekly - September 6, 2005
Connect for Kids.org: Better Policies for Kids
September 6, 2005
NEW ON CONNECTFORKIDS.ORG
**Solving the Puzzle of a Lifetime
**Taking Back 9-11
** Emergency Rules for Helping Katrina’s Victims
**Latest CFK Blog Headlines
**Action Central
SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA
**Psychosocial Implications of Disaster or Terrorism on Kids: A Guide for Pediatricians
**YSA’s Resources for Young People Who Want to Help
**Donation Information
** Helping Young Children After a Disaster
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS TO AID VICTIMS
**Medicaid and SCHIP Procedures Relaxed to Accommodate Emergency Health Care Needs
**USDA Gives Schools Flexibility to Feed Children After Hurricane
**Educational Rights of Displaced Students
**College Students and Hurricane Katrina
**Head Start Programs Asked to Open Doors to Displaced Children
THINGS TO DO! PLACES TO GO!
**Annual Missing Person’s Conference
**September Is National Youth Court Month
**School for Parents, 101
**Annual PEPNet Institute
**CDF’s Second National GrandRally for Kinship Care
KIDS & POLITICS
**State Child Welfare Legislation 2004
**Congress Considers Cuts in Supports for the Poor, Taxes for the Wealthy
**September 8 and 9: Call Congress and Make Your Voice Heard
**Consistently Measuring TANF Programs Across States
CENSUS STATS SPARK CONTROVERSY
**New Census Figures Show Rising Poverty, Uninsurance
**Administration “Mischaracterized” the data, says CBPP
DISCONNECTED YOUTH
**Pathways to the New Future
EDUCATION NEWS
**Civil Rights Groups Split Over NCLB
REACHING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
**Focus on Minority Disproportionality in Special Education
**Tapping Technology to Test Students with Special Needs
**State-by-State News
**Solving the Puzzle of a Lifetime
Parents of children with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome face a host of everyday concerns regarding their children. At the same time, they must be looking ahead, planning for employment, financial security, and supportive relationships in their children’s adult lives. Chris Dickon explores how some families are thinking through the issues.
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3369
**Taking Back 9-11
As the fourth September 11, 2001 anniversary approaches, several kids are turning the day into a reason to celebrate their community connections and civic engagement. Robert Capriccioso reports.
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3368
** Emergency Rules for Helping Katrina’s Victims
New information is coming out about access to medical care, nutrition programs, and education for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3372
**Latest CFK Blog Headlines
Kids Pitch in to Help Katrina’s Victims
Katrina Made a Direct Hit on the Poor
Katrina’s Devastation
Good Schools: Just Another Builder Add-On?
Walking the Walk
http://www.connectforkids.org/blog
**Action Central
Read all about the latest happenings in the child advocacy community.
http://www.connectforkids.org/action_central
SUPPORT IN THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA
**Psychosocial Implications of Disaster or Terrorism on Kids: A Guide for Pediatricians
The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) has released this toolkit to help professionals address the impacts of Hurricane Katrina. While much of the information isn’t surprising, it’s an important reminder -- according to the report, a child's response to a disaster is influenced by the nature of the event, the child's level of exposure, and his or her characteristics, including age and state of development. Post-disaster, boys tend to display more violent and aggressive behaviors, while girls experience symptoms such as anxiety and mood changes. The report also notes that adults suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are often less able to respond adequately to the needs of the children around them.
http://www.aap.org/new/disasterresources.htm
**YSA’s Resources for Young People Who Want to Help
In the months following the Southeast Asia Tsunami, U.S. youth did what they already do in record numbers in their communities here at home -- volunteered and took action. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Youth Service America (YSA) offers this site to help young people get involved and support the organizations they care about most. From a list of organizations mobilizing to support the relief effort to downloadable project planning toolkits, tip sheets, and other resources for action, this site is a smart starting place for young volunteers and activists.
http://www.ysa.org/news_event/katrina/index.cfm
**Donation Information
If you wish to make a donation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has compiled a list of legitimate groups. As always, beware scams – make your generosity count by ensuring your help really gets to those in need.
http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/resources_katrina.shtm
http://www.naeyc.org/families/disaster.asp
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS TO AID VICTIMS
**Medicaid and SCHIP Procedures Relaxed to Accommodate Emergency Health Care Needs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has adopted some new, more flexible procedures to make it easier for those affected by Hurricane Katrina to receive emergency health care services under Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs. Many of the programs’ normal operating procedures, including procedures to determine eligibility, are being relaxed. CMS emergency relief activities, including a detailed explanation of billing and payment policy revisions and phone numbers for the state medical assistance offices can be found online.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov
**USDA Gives Schools Flexibility to Feed Children After Hurricane
The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) has told schools in hurricane-ravaged areas that if they can still operate school food programs, they may serve all meals free to attending children if they cannot document which children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The waiver applies through September 30. Director Stanley Garnett of USDA’s Child Nutrition Division also said schools in affected areas are temporarily exempted from milk and other meal component requirements.
When families outside the hurricane area take in children made homeless by the disaster, school officials are to treat the evacuated children as “homeless”—meaning they are automatically eligible for free meals—and children in the families that took them in can be considered eligible for free or reduced-price meals at the discretion of school officials.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
**Educational Rights of Displaced Students
As the new school year begins, school districts all over the country will receive Gulf Coast children made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Texas and other neighboring states will receive thousands of these children – but they’re not alone; families will take temporary residence in states across the country. What does that mean for local schools, and the students seeking to attend? The nonprofit Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates has drafted a memo on the educational rights of displaced and homeless children.
http://www.copaa.org
**College Students and Hurricane Katrina
For information on how universities and colleges are handling this situation, visit the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators -- they’ve compiled several lists of rules, resources and information, including federal Department of Education statements on enrollment, transferring, and financial aid.
http://www.nasfaa.org/Home.asp
**Head Start Programs Asked to Open Doors to Displaced Children
The Administration for Children, Youth and Families has asked all Head Start grantees, particularly those in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, to open their doors to those displaced families who have sought refuge in their community and to seek new ways to support children, parents and others affected by this disaster.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im05/im05_03.htm
**Annual Missing Person’s Conference
The Missing and Exploited Children's Association is holding their sixth annual conference on October 6th, 2005 at the Loyola Graduate Center, Timonium Campus. Speakers will focus on new tools like the "A Child is Missing" rapid alert system, a telephonic notification system that has resulted in over 115 successful recoveries in the past 41 months. Speakers from Washington State will discuss the "Take Root" Program that focuses on the needs of recovered abducted children. The cost starts at $60.
http://mecamd.com/conference.html
**September Is National Youth Court Month
Youth courts give children involved in the juvenile justice system trial by a true jury of their peers, and help volunteer jury members feel empowered to learn more about justice and law. This national event gives youth courts the opportunity to celebrate their program’s successes; recruit new volunteers; and honor current youth and adult volunteers. Among the resources included in the 2005 Action Kit are strategies for communicating more effectively with the media, and a list of media resources.
http://www.youthcourt.net/YC_Month_2005/kit.pdf
**School for Parents, 101
It’s that time of year – and here’s a resource for parents of kids heading back to school. This Web collection includes parenting basics like discipline, homework help, and how to talk to your child about tough subjects, like sex, tobacco, and alcohol. Plus, find out where you can turn for help and support.
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html
Connect for Kids, in partnership with KSA Communications Plus, has back-to-school information for parents and families.
http://www.connectforkids.org/taxonomy/term/328
**Annual PEPNet Institute
The PEPNet Institute provides a forum for learning and networking unrivaled for professionals helping to link youth to work and education for a successful transition to adulthood. The sixth annual institute will be held October 5 - 7, 2005 in the Washington DC area.
http:// www.nyec.org/pepnet/institute2005
**CDF’s Second National GrandRally for Kinship Care
On September 14, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) will hold this event for grandparents and other relative caregivers from across the country to celebrate all they do for children -- and to educate Congress about their needs.
http://www.grandrally.org/
**State Child Welfare Legislation 2004
In this report, the National Conference of State Legislatures examines significant State child welfare legislation enacted in 2004 – including laws to support (1) education for kids in the child welfare system, (2) foster parents and kinship caregivers, (3) youth aging out of care, and (4) collaboration among agencies that serve children and families. An issue that received significant legislative attention in 2004 addressed the need to ensure that parents' rights are protected when child welfare agencies investigate. Descriptions of significant State legislation are listed alphabetically by issue area.
http://www.ncsl.org/print/cyf/cwlegislation04.pdf
**Congress Considers Cuts in Supports for the Poor, Taxes for the Wealthy
Before Katrina, Congress planned to return from its August recess to put the final touches on the federal budget, including how to cut $35 billion from domestic spending, cuts that could affect food stamps and Medicaid for the nation’s po orest citizens (including more than 20 million children). The deadlines for making cuts remain, but the political landscape may have changed in the wake of Katrina’s devastation. The first sign of a change: the Senate has postponed plans to permanently repeal the estate tax. Jan’s Corner has the latest news.
http://www.connectforkids.org/action_central
**September 8 and 9: Call Congress and Make Your Voice Heard
The Coalition on Human Needs reports that Congressional committees have instructions to cut $35 billion from mandatory programs by September 16 – which puts Medicaid, Food Stamps, Medicare, the Earned Income Tax Credit, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and other important programs the chopping block. On September 8 and 9, concerned adults can use a toll-free hotline donated by the American Friends Service Committee to let their Senators and Representatives know how they feel about these programs : 1-800-426-8073.
http:// www.chn.org
**Consistently Measuring TANF Programs Across States
Under welfare reform, most participants must complete a set number of hours a week of work -- but the activities that count toward this requirement differ across states, resulting in inconsistent measurement of state work participation rates. A new report from the Government Accountability Office recommends that the Department of Health and Human Services provide more guidance to states and require a uniform process for defining and measuring work participation across states.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-821
CENSUS STATS SPARK CONTROVERSY
**New Census Figures Show Rising Poverty, Uninsurance
The Census Bureau has released data showing that in 2004 -- the third full year of the economic recovery -- poverty increased by 1.1 million people from 2003 and median earnings for full-time workers fell. In addition, some 45.8 million Americans were uninsured in 2004 -- an increase of 800,000 people over the 2003 numbers (the 2004 percentage of uninsured stood at 15.7 percent, not significantly different from the 15.6 percent rate in 2003).
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/005647.html
The Coalition on Human Needs has a state-by-state breakdown of the percent and number of people living below poverty.
http://www.chn.org/pdf/povertydata050830.pdf
**Administration “Mischaracterized” the data, says CBPP
According to Census officials and members of the Bush administration, rising poverty is typical even into the recovery years after a recession. Not true, according to Robert Greenstein, director of the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. Greenstein says that in no prior recession dating back to 1960 (when poverty data began to be collected) did poverty increase between the second and third years of the economic recovery – in all cases, poverty rates at this point in a recovery were below levels at the end of the recession.
http://www.cbpp.org/8-31-05pov-stmt.htm
See also: http://www.cbpp.org/8-30-05pov.htm
DISCONNECTED YOUTH
**Pathways to the New Future
It is estimated that 3.8 million youth -- roughly 15 percent of all young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 -- are neither employed nor in school. Youth service programs that empower kids to work addressing needs in their communities have been shown to impart learning, job skills and a sense of connection among young people. In addition to examining successful efforts, this report on several corps in the National Association of Service and Conservatino Corps also outlines lessons learned and provides specific recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and funders to strengthen efforts that serve young people and communities alike.
http://www.pathwaystocollege.net/newsletter/Aug05.html.
**Civil Rights Groups Split Over NCLB
Leading national civil rights groups and advocates are increasingly divided over whether the No Child Left Behind Act will improve the academic achievement of poor and minority students, a rift that is generating conversation and concern among a circle of people accustomed to working together. Education Week reports.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/08/31/01civil.h25.html
REACHING STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
**Focus on Minority Disproportionality in Special Education
Two recent teleconference transcripts from the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition focus on the disproportionate representation of minority children in special education and what can be done to close the achievement gap. (Look for “disproportionality” in the titles.)
http://www.ncset.org/teleconferences/transcripts/default.asp
**Tapping Technology to Test Students with Special Needs
The No Child Left Behind law mandates that teachers and administrators around the nation ensure special-needs kids meet the same high standards as their peers. A recent report from the U.S. General Accounting Office examined the difficulties inherent in giving achievement tests to special-needs learners and concluded that the Education Department must do a better job of providing guidance for alternative forms of testing – including high-tech tools.
http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-05-618
**State-by-State News
STATES
California
California legislature will consider a bill to expand enrollment of children in public health insurance programs.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=32341
Illinois
A new report by Voices for Illinois Children, “Early Learning Left Out: Public Spending on Children’s Education and Development in Illinois,” finds that per-capita investments in infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Illinois pale in comparison to those made for school-aged children and college-aged youth. As much as 85 percent of children’s learning and development takes place in their first five years, and research shows that investments in comprehensive, high-quality early education and development have demonstrated high monetary returns as well as improved academic outcomes.
http:// www.voices4kids.org
Michigan
Committees in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate have scheduled hearings to review a recent audit critical of the Department of Human Services' foster care services. Legislative hearings on the audit are scheduled for September 7th and 8th in Lansing.
http://www.michiganschildren.org/page.cfm/24/
New Jersey
New Jersey's next governor should expand access to affordable health insurance and increase tax credits for working families, according to a report released today by the Association for Children of New Jersey. “ The Ends Don't Meet”blames high housing costs, unaffordable child care, lack of education and skills, language barriers, welfare reform and heavy state tax burdens on the growing number of working families who earn too little to feed their children and pay the rent.
http://www.acnj.org/admin.asp?uri=2081&action=15&di=549&ext=pdf&view=yes
Oregon
Oregon students of all ages showed across-the-board improvements on state tests in core subjects during the 2004-2005 academic year, according to figures released last week. State officials attribute the gains in part to the use of a home-grown, web-based testing service called Technology Enhanced Student Assessment. (Free registration required.)
http://email.e-mailnetworks.com/ct/ct.php?t=1030987&c=568893179&m=m&type=1
Keep working for kids this fall, everyone – and keep us posted on your efforts!
Caitlin
Caitlin Johnson, Sr. Writer, and the Connect for Kids Team
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