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Editor's
Note
This week's
dropout numbers are staggering -- half of the students
in the primary high schools in the 50 largest cities
in the country do not graduate from high school.
But before you slump onto your keyboard in defeat, remember
that some areas are making great progress. When the
Forum for Youth Investment launched its national Ready
by 21 Challenge last month, Connect for Kids included
a profile of youth-led efforts in East Nashville, Tennessee
that helped double graduation rates from 35 to 70 percent.
That's the type of turnaround America's Promise
Alliance Dropout Prevention Campaign will encourage
as it moves forward.
Also this week: Working
together can make life easier -- not exactly
a news flash for most of us, but it's a good message
to hear from Uncle Sam. A new GAO report underscores
the fact that collaboration among the many federal agencies
and funding streams that target disadvantaged youth
could make programs more effective and help reduce challenges.
As the economic cool down continues to emerge as both
a presidential issue and a real-world concern, scroll
down to see new data on the growing gap between rich
and poor, and to take a closer look at how the Social
Security program lifts millions of kids out of poverty.
Speaking of presidential elections, check out the Health
section for an easy-to-read chart on the candidates'
positions on health and health care. There's also
a round-up of the Medicaid changes and their impact
on kids and schools from the Learning First Alliance.
Keep us
posted on your work, everyone!
Caitlin Johnson
weekly@connectforkids.org
 To
read PDF files, download the free Adobe
Reader.
|
New
on Connectforkids.org
 Stunning
Data and a New Campaign to Prevent High School Dropout
A new report from America's Promise Alliance has stunning
data about the high school graduation rate in our nation's
50 largest cities: only about half (52 percent) of students
in the main school systems actally finish high school
with a diploma -- the number is as low as 35 percent in
Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit and Indianapolis.
Some schools and areas, however, have made progress in
raising graduation rates, proving that it can be done.
On April 1, America's Promise Alliance kicked off
a campaign
to turn these stark numbers around.
In the coming weeks, Connect for Kids will feature a Q&A
with America's Promise, and other tools and resources.
In the meantime, check out our Education
pages. |
Help
Pick a Winner
Make
it Your Own Awards -- Vote for Your Favorites!
The Case Foundation has announced the Top 20 Finalists
in the Make It Your Own Awards. Now, it's up to the
online community to vote and decide which of these finalists
will become the Final Four and receive an additional $25,000
to make their community dreams come true. Vote today and
tell us who's in your Final Four!
Speaking
of coming together for a good cause...
Heads
Up: Global Youth Service Day (April 25-27)
In April, young volunteers from around the world will
take action and celebrate youth service and community
engagement. Get involved in your hometown!
|
 College
Access and Success
Heads Up: Higher Education
Act May Move in Congress
The Higher Education Act of 1965 funds federal student
financial aid and other college access programs. The Senate
and House have passed bills reauthorizing the Act, and
a reconciled version may be ready this month. The House
version contains provisions for disadvantaged youth that
the Senate version lacks -- such as year-round Pell Grants,
additional grants for low-income students and services
to aid the transition to college. We'll keep our eye
on this as it moves. For more information, check out:
Empowering
Students: How Georgia College Early College Changes Student
Aspirations
Georgia College Early College (GCEC) blends high school
and college -- along with education supports like mentoring,
afterschool programs, flexible scheduling and counseling
-- so students can simultaneously earn a high school diploma
and one to two years of transferable college credit, tuition
free. This case study from Jobs for the Future looks at
how GCEC works to raise the aspirations and achievements
of young people.
 FAST
FACT: Does Education Increase Economic Mobility?
It's a big part of the American Dream, but does more
education really mean more earnings? The data say yes
-- college grads earn about $25,000 more on average than
high school grads -- but family income also matters. Find
out more in this new Fast Fact from MDRC. |
Family
Income, Poverty and Well-Being
 Income
Concentration Rose Again in 2006: Average Income Rose
by $73,000 for Households in the Top 1%, Only $20 for
Those in Bottom 90%
The title of this updated Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities says it all. These are average pre-tax incomes,
with increases adjusted for inflation.
Children's
Stake in Social Security
Most of us think "retirement" when we hear about
Social Security, but 6.5 million children under age 18
-- or nearly 9 percent of all U.S. children -- received
part of their family income from Social Security in 2005.
And 1.3 million children were lifted out of poverty by
Social Security disability and life insurance benefits.
- Also: the Social Security Administration's Ticket
to Work program offers funds to help youth transitioning
to employment; Connect
for Kids has a Q&A.
KIDS
COUNT Updates
The newly redesigned KIDS COUNT online database features
the most current data on more than 100 indicators, including
the percentage of children with no health insurance coverage,
young adults who are enrolled in or have completed college,
and the percentage of children in low-income working families.
 Responsible
Workers, Responsive Parents: Low-Income Families in Today's
Workplace (April 10)
The April Urban Institute forum focuses on two supports
designed to help parents stay in the workforce: child
care subsidies and paid family leave. Register online.
Helping
Families Achieve Financial Stability: Toolkit
The National League of Cities' Youth, Education and
Families Institute has prepared this action kit for city
leaders. |
April
is Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month
Promoting
Healthy Families in Your Community: 2008 Resource Packet
 Here's
a toolkit to help service providers strengthen families
by promoting key protective factors that prevent child
abuse and neglect. The packet includes tip sheets in both
English and Spanish to share with parents.
Multimedia:
National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being
This is the first nationally representative study of children
who have been reported to authorities as suspected victims
of abuse or neglect and the public programs that aim to
protect them. Here's a multimedia trifecta of related
resources to help you get the facts: 
- Video:
Chapin Hall's Fred Wulczyn and The Brookings Institution's
Ron Haskins discuss the findings in their new book
on the survey, Child
Protection: Using Research to Improve Policy and Practice.
- Audio:
listen to a recording of the related panel discussion.
"Live"
from your Computer, it's CWLA Radio
All this month, the Child Welfare League of America's
new online radio channel will feature topics related to
child abuse and neglect prevention. Don't miss the
April 9 coverage of the upcoming Child Abuse and Prevention
Act reauthorization. |
|
Health
and Health Care
The
Devil in the Details: Medicaid Changes Could Cost Districts
Billions
Changes to Medicaid reimbursement rules could "dry
up the resources districts use to support children's
medical services" according to a summary article
from the Learning First Alliance, part of the Public School
Insights site. The changes could take effect on June 30th.
The
Failure of SCHIP Reauthorization: What Next?
Congress' next shot to reauthorize the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is in early 2009. A new
report from The Urban Institute argues that without strong
growth in public coverage, more children are likely to
become uninsured.
Presidential
Candidates on Health Care
This chart from The Brookings Institution includes available
voting records and candidate's statements on health
care. |
 Tools
for Your Work
WE
Play! -- Free Workshop (April 10)
Led by the nonprofit KaBOOM!, this
Washington, D.C. workshop will offer training, interactive
sessions, networking opportunities and first-hand success
stories from people who have mobilized their communities
to create great places to play.
Resources
for Nonprofit Organizations Engaging in Advocacy at the
State Level
The Alliance for Justice has a free, comprehensive tool
for understanding the rules surrounding state campaign
finance, ballot measure, lobbying disclosure and voter
registration efforts. More states will be added in the
coming months. (Request a free passcode to access them.) |
 Grants
and Funding
Reader's
Digest Foundation: Make It Matter
This program honors individuals who are taking action
and giving back to their communities in a significant
way. Each month, Reader's Digest magazine will profile
an individual who has made a significant contribution
to his or her community.
Share
Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale
Grants will support efforts to increase participation
among low-income school-age children in afterschool and
summer meal programs. Awards range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Deadline: May 30.
Staples
Foundation Education Programs for Disadvantaged Youth
This fund supports programs that provide job skills and/or
education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged
youth. Deadline: June 16.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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