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Editor's Note
Looking for a mid-day diversion but want to stay focused on improving outcomes for young people? The Forum for Youth Investment has posted video clips online from its national Ready by 21 Launch Event. Get inspired by speakers like Former Congressman Dick Gephardt, Former Governor Tom Ridge, Forum Executive Director Karen Pittman, and 23-year-old youth leader Eric Polk.
This week's Update is also full of tools from the field to help us do and measure our work more effectively. Georgetown University has a new Juvenile Justice training program; the Coalition for Community Schools has a tool to help boost parent involvement; there are trainings for health advocates and providers, and a section on Improving Communities.
If you're like most organizations, you could use a little help with communications and fundraising -- check out the Tools section for great free resources that you can use no matter where you are and what areas you focus on.
On the newsier side of things, the House passed a moratorium on the controversial new Medicaid rules. The Department of Education is calling for states to adopt uniform graduation rate measurements. A major report from the Foundation for Child Development finds some promising trends in U.S. child well-being. But at the other end of the age spectrum, an Urban Institute study points to less positive outcomes when young people who have aged out of foster care fare hit their mid-20s.
May is Foster Care Month, everyone -- we'll have resources all month on Connectforkids.org!
Caitlin Johnson
weekly@connectforkids.org
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Reconnecting Youth
Ready by 21 Launch Event Videos
The Ready by 21 Challenge is not an initiative or project -- it's a collaborative national effort to change the way we all do business, so we can improve the outcomes for young people. If you missed the February launch event in Washington, DC, or just want to hear excellent speakers make a powerful case for the work we all do, check out these online videos!
DC Youth Groups to Tackle High Dropout Rates
Youth and youth advocates are leading the way in Washington, DC: Critical Exposure, a nonprofit that teaches students to use documentary photography and their own voices to advocate for education reform is partnering with the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates to plan a city-wide strategy to address dropout in DC. It will feature the perspectives and suggestions of young people. Sign up for the newsletter for updates on the work. |
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Juvenile Justice News
New Programs Train for Greater Impact in Juvenile Justice
Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform has launched two new training programs called the Certificate Program/Breakthrough Series Collaborative for Individuals and Multi-jurisdictional Teams. The goal is juvenile justice reform, better integration of youth-serving systems and improved outcomes for young people. For more information email jjreform@georgetown.edu or call the Center at 202-687-0880.
Native American Youth and the Juvenile Justice System
Native American youth are disproportionately involved in the juvenile justice system and their representation rises in the two most punitive sanctions: waiver to the adult system and out-of-home placement. This National Council on Crime and Delinquency analysis looks at differential treatment of Native Americans in the juvenile justice system and the factors that influence those numbers.
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Education News
 Future of Children: Children and Electronic Media
The latest issue of Princeton's Future of Children publication focuses on teaching and parenting -- as well as learning and growing up -- in the digital age. Check out the free May seminars on electronic media, social networking and education technology.
ED Wants Uniform Dropout, Graduation Rates
On April 22, the Bush administration proposed changes to the No Child Left Behind Act, including a provision that all states pay close attention to the achievement of minority students and that all states calculate their graduation rates in a single, uniform way by the 2012-13 school year. This eSchool News article looks at the work involved.
"Leading Change:" Resources to Engage Communities and Parents
The Coalition for Community Schools offers a new one-stop shop for research, tools and ideas to help principals and staff effectively engage communities and families. (Free registration required.) |
Early Learning and Child Care
Trends in Infancy/Early Childhood and Middle Childhood Well-Being 1994 to 2006
A special report from the Foundation for Child Development looks at how children ages 0-10 are faring in the U.S. There is good news: mortality rates for children ages 1 to 4 are down, lead poisoning rates have dropped and preschool vaccinations are up. Authors credit advocates, parents and government policy.
Designing Quality Rating Systems Inclusive of Infants and Toddlers
This publication from the National Infant & Toddler Child Care Initiative offers suggestions for the intentional inclusion of quality indicators for infants and toddlers within state and tribal child care Quality Rating Systems.
Using Data to Analyze Early Care: Free Training Workshops (Summer)
The Child Care and Early Education Research Connections project is sponsoring two free data training workshops at the University of Michigan: "Examining Child Outcomes and Well-being in Early Care and Education Settings" and "Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Data Workshop." Stipends available. Deadline to apply: May 16.
 Audio: State Early Head Start Initiatives
This April 22 ZERO TO THREE Policy Center webinar explored state initiatives to expand Early Head Start services for infants, toddlers and their families and discussed a forthcoming report by ZERO TO THREE and the Center for Law and Social Policy. The audio and materials are online. |
Health and Health Care News
 House Passes Medicaid Rules Bill with Veto-Proof Majority
The House has passed the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613), which would place a one-year moratorium on controversial Medicaid rules issued by the Bush administration. The administration has said the rules aim to cut fraud, but many advocates worry that they will instead cut access to services for vulnerable children and youth, especially those in the child welfare and foster care systems, reports CWLA's Children's Monitor. The moratorium, now being considered in the Senate, will give Congress time to evaluate the new rules.
The Coalition on Human Needs also has good information on the rules and the moratorium (click here).
Young Adults Build a Network of Health Policy -- Roosevelt Rx Forum
The Roosevelt Rx National Student Health Policy Forum brought together experts and more than 100 students from across the country to discuss rising health care costs, health disparities, why young adults are most likely to be uninsured and what students and policymakers can do about it. Webcasts, audio and presentations are now online.
Breathing Matters Advocacy Conference (May 5 to 7)
This Washington, DC conference will bring together providers, patients, industry professionals, legislators and youth to talk about critical allergy and respiratory issues. It will also train attendees to become effective advocates at the national, state and local levels. |
Foster Care Resources
 Coming of Age: Employment Outcomes for Youth Who Age Out of Foster Care Through Their Middle Twenties
We know a fair amount about young people "aging out" of foster care at 18 or 21, but there is less research on how they fare in their mid-twenties. This Urban Institute study linked several sources of data to examine employment outcomes for youth in three states -- and found that those who age out of foster care continue to experience poor employment outcomes at age 24.
Kinship Care GrandRally (May 7)
The third annual rally at the U.S. Capital will highlight the important role of grandparents and other relatives raising children, and what communities and government must do to help. The event is co-sponsored by Generations United, AARP, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund, GrandFamilies of America and the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights. |
Kids & Politics
 Children and Family Issues on the Campaign Trail: Polling, Politics and Policy (May 8)
As we head into the 2008 election season, this Chapin Hall/Urban Institute forum will explore the facts and perceptions about changing demographics and the role of government that will shape public policy for children. Attend in Washington, DC or from your computer. Register online.
Youth on the Campaign Trail: Election 2008
Youth are participating in this year's presidential elections in record numbers. Our friends at What Kids Can Do and Y-Press have new stories profiling local efforts, youth on the campaign trail and young political activists.
Every Child Matters: The Candidates on Kids
Every Child Matters has sent each of the presidential candidates a detailed questionnaire asking them to describe their plans to address six critical children's issues, from health care to child abuse. Here are the responses. |
Improving Communities
Tobacco Settlement - Funding Opportunities for Youth Initiatives (May 5)
The Finance Project is hosting a series of audio conferences for youth development program leaders, intermediaries, and policymakers that will highlight how states are using the increases in tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) payments to support programs and services for youth. Find dates/time and registration information online.
 City Platform for Strengthening Families
Is your community work working? Try this National League of Cities guide for help assessing local efforts. More than 90 cities and towns are using it. Four cities -- Manchester, CT; Rapid City, SD; San Fernando, CA; and Taos, NM -- have also launched task forces to identify needs and priorities and to promote collaboration, youth involvement and evaluation over time. Get something going in your hometown!
Neighborhood Networks National Training Conference (August 8 to 10)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Networks program fosters community learning centers and computer access in low-income communities. The theme of this year's training and networking conference is "Connecting Residents to Opportunities." Learn more and register online. |
 Tools for Your Work
GrantSearch -- Free Corporate Donations Database
The NonProfit Times has launched an online database of information on corporate donations for nonprofit fundraising. It's free and searchable!
Community Media Workshop -- Communications Help
CMW is the only communications training organization that has built its work around nonprofits. Check out the free tools and trainings designed to help organizations communicate effectively with all their target audiences. Don't miss the blog and companion toolkit site, newstips.org.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
Published in partnership with Child Advocacy 360.
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