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Editor's Note
They say hunger doesn't take a break in the summer months; we say neither do the advocates and researchers in the child and youth field. Just check out all the info this week. First up, a new study makes the case that America's high rates of hunger cost us all: about $300 per person, for a total of $90 billion (yes, that's a b). The authors of that report say it's time to rethink our approach. Also, the National Center for Children in Poverty says that 42 percent of kids under 6 are at risk for poor health and academic performance because of family income -- but careful state policies on child care, health insurance, and other family income supports can make a big difference for kids. Also this week: funding for teens aging out of foster care; helping teens with emotional or mental illness avoid an abrupt loss of services when they hit adulthood; and the latest on U.S. schools and students in the Condition of Education. Anyone interested in breaking down barriers and finding common ground won't want to miss Melanie Wilson's column about the spiritual side of youth work. Keep us posted on your work, everyone! Caitlin Johnson weekly@connectforkids.org To read PDF files, download the free Adobe Reader. |
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New on Connectforkids.org
Anti-Poverty Advocates Cheer Minimum Wage Increase
For the first time in 10 years, the federal minimum wage will get a boost -- from $5.15 to $7.25 in 2009. It's not enough to end poverty in America, but it's a help to 10 million workers. Just ask Julie Smith, who took a job as a cashier after dropping out of college to raise her daughter. The increase is also expected to benefit an estimated 6.4 million children whose parents earn minimum wage, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
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Supporting Families, Fostering Healthy Development
 State Early Childhood Polices: Improving the Odds
"For young children to thrive, they need high-quality health care and early learning experiences, as well as nurturing parents who are economically secure," says Dr. Jane Knitzer, director of the National Center on Children and Poverty and co-author of a new study that finds wide variation in how states support development. When it comes to health care, child care, pre-K, and family economic supports, the report finds that what states do -- and don't do -- can make a long-term difference for children.
Investing in Parents to Invest in Children
In these remarks before the May 22 National Summit on America's Children, MDRC President Gordon Berlin summarizes rigorous research showing that supplementing parents' earnings helps raise families out of poverty and improves the school performance of young children.
Economic Mobility: Is the American Dream Alive and Well?
How likely is it that today's youth will do better than their parents, and climb the economic ladder? This new Economic Mobility Project report -- co-authored by the Brookings Institution's Isabel Sawhill and John Morton of the Pew Charitable Trusts -- finds that adults believe in the American Dream, even as the U.S. income gap widens. It argues that the erosion of economic mobility is something policymakers should pay attention to.
 Economic Opportunity for All: City Roles in Building Stronger Families and More Inclusive Communities (June 21)
Join in this audio conference, sponsored by the National League of Cities, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. The call will examine city work to promote family economic success, and highlight Dayton, Ohio's multi-faceted, collaborative approach to reducing poverty. To register, send complete contact information to iyef@nlc.org by Tuesday, June 19.
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Hunger In America
 The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger
Hunger takes a big toll on the 35 million Americans who face it every day -- but a new study says it also has big economic costs for every American. Researchers from Harvard, Brandeis, and Loyola Universities report that Americans pay $90 billion per year, or about $800 for every U.S. household, to deal with hunger. The researchers noted in the release materials that increasing funding for food stamps and nutrition programs could go a long way toward ending hunger and would save money.
There is also state-by-state economic data.
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Reconnecting Youth
 Employment for Out-of-School Youth: New MDRC Resources
In the 1980s, the Center for Employment Training (CET) in San Jose, California increased out-of-school youth's employment and earnings by using work-like settings and engaging local employers. But a recent follow-up study by MDRC found that CET participants were no more likely to find work or better pay than youth on their own, despite short-term benefits for women. Sites now serve a broader "and perhaps more employable group of youth" and the labor market is stronger than in the 1980s, which may increase opportunities for out-of-school youth overall.
A related paper examines three barriers to employment for youth: lack of a high school diploma, having children, and having an arrest record.
 Web Conference: Ready to Work? Partners in Youth Workforce Development (June 20)
Training program providers, employers, and schools share the same fundamental goal: ensuring that the next generation is ready for success in the workforce -- yet often struggle to work effectively together. This free web conference will examine the challenges and what works to bring all players together. Space is limited; please register today.
Toolkit: Ending Segregation in Career and Technical Education
The National Women's Law Center released its Tools of the Trade report in 2005, documenting the under-representation of girls in careers that have some of the highest earning potential. This latest state toolkit (on Wisconsin) gives parents, advocates, teachers, and program staff a roadmap for boosting girls' access to nontraditional career and technical education.
The Tools of the Trade report and 12 other state toolkits (as well as a general template for any state), are on the NWLC site.
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Foster Care Resources
 Financing for Youth in or Transitioning from Foster Care
Young people in foster care may find themselves abruptly "aging out" of public supports when they turn 18. The Finance Project's Vulnerable Children and Youth Practice Group has three recent publications that examine the landscape of players, funding sources, and strategies that can help support asset-building, financial education, entrepreneurship, and training for youth in or leaving foster care. In Congress: Proposal to Extend Foster Care Funds Beyond Age 18
Federal foster care funding only covers young people until they reach 18. According to the Child Welfare League of America, more than 20,000 people "age out" of foster care each year. On May 21, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) introduced the Foster Care Continuing Opportunities Act (S. 1512) in the Senate. The bill would extend federal Title IV-E foster care funding to cover young people up to age 21.
For more on this, check out CWLA's latest Children's Monitor.
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More on Healthy Transitions to Adulthood
 On the Move: Helping Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Needs Transition into Adulthood
As with youth aging out of foster care, young people with emotional or mental illness risk an abrupt loss of services when they age out of the child mental health system at age 18 or 21. This new brief examines the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Partnerships for Youth Transition Initiative, which brought together systems and resources in five sites to serve transition-age youth. It also looks at what's next for federal and state policy, and what communities can do to support these young people.
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Education News
 The Condition of Education 2007
Last week the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released its annual report on 48 indicators of U.S. education -- including school environments and resources, demographics and achievement, and academic outcomes for pre-K through post-secondary and adult learning. It includes a special section on high school course-taking and finds that the average number of credits earned by high school graduates increased from 21.7 to 25.8.
Other findings (a very small selection):
- Enrollment in public schools is becoming increasingly diverse; 42 percent of students are minorities.
- About three-quarters of the freshman class graduated from public high schools on time in 2003-04.
- Students who eventually dropped out of high school were already behind in terms of credits by their freshman and sophomore years, and grew further behind each year.
- The number of students taking AP exams more than doubled between 1997 and 2005; numbers grew faster among Blacks and Hispanics than other groups. Scores were up, too.
- More students are enrolling in postsecondary education and earning bachelor's degrees than in the past.
 YouTube for Teachers: Teacher-Tube
It's YouTube for teachers! Designed for classroom and home use. Teachers, students, parents and volunteers are welcome to submit content. Thanks to MiddleWeb for this heads-up.
National Evaluation of Early Reading First: Final Report to Congress
The Early Reading First program, created under the No Child Left Behind Act, provides funding to preschools to support language and literacy skills, particularly among low-income children. Using a quasi-experimental design, this study indicates that the program has a positive impact on children's print and letter knowledge, but not on phonetics or oral language. |
Access to Higher Ed
 A Significant Number of Students in Every State are Shut out of Federal Higher Education Tax Credits
Even with government and school-based aid, low- and moderate-income students lack access to the subsidies for college expenses -- subsidies that the tax code offers to families with higher incomes, says the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Making the existing tax credits refundable -- available even to those with incomes too low to owe federal income taxes -- could help lower-income students.
Tax Breaks for Students Up in Congress
In May, Rep. Emanuel (D-IL), Rep. Camp (R-MI) and Senator Bayh (D-IL) introduced the bipartisan Universal Higher Education and Lifetime Learning Act to strengthen the Hope Scholarship and the Lifetime Learning Credits, which are tax breaks for students paying higher education costs. The bill would benefit nearly 9 million students.
Immigration Reform and Higher Ed
As Congress considers immigration reform plans, an estimated 50,000 undocumented students in U.S. colleges are paying close attention. Many of these students would benefit from provisions in the bill being debated in the Senate, as this June 3, 2007 USA Today article, "Illegal Students Await Immigration Plan," reports.
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Voices From the Field
Share your words and your organization's work with us! Email Caitlin at weekly@connectforkids.org.
Getting to the Heart of Spirituality in Youth Work
It's no secret that secular and faith-based service providers have long felt a certain level of mutual distrust, despite a shared goal. In this commentary, Melanie Wilson -- director of research and public policy at the New England Network, and a CFK Weekly reader -- says spirituality (which is not to say dogma) is inherent in youth work. In moving, even-handed terms, she describes her experiences and a new Search Institute project to bridge this divide by re-defining "spiritual development."
 Annual Fatherhood Conference (June 14 and 15, St. Louis)
The nonprofit Fathers' Support Center of St. Louis is hosting its annual conference at the University of Missouri-St. Louis JC Penney Conference Building. Much of this year's agenda will focus on the Healthy Marriage Education Initiative. For more information, contact Loretta Williams at fsc.williams@birch.net. |
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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