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Editor's Note
When it comes to kids' health,
there's good news and bad news this week. Congress made big
strides toward improving the State Children's Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) before it left for its August recess -- but lack of health
insurance is a major force driving a decade-long spike in emergency
room visits for children's mental health care, according to the
National Center for Children in Poverty. While we're on the subject of
health, tune in to an August 29 Webinar and learn how health plans are
helping teens reduce their risks for chronic disease in adulthood.
CFK is pleased to announce a new partnership with Child Advocacy 360 to
bring you voices, views and stories of promising practices! Also this
week: the latest on rural students and schools; and why students across
the country may be spending more time on core subjects like math and
reading, and less on social studies, art, music and gym.
To get ready for action this fall, be sure to check out the Tools for
Advocates and Funding sections.
Keep working for kids, everyone!
Caitlin Johnson
weekly@connectforkids.org
 To read PDF files,
download the free Adobe Reader. |
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Reconnecting Youth
Talking About Youth
Transitions: Making the Case
What's the best way to reach policymakers, parents, law enforcement and
others with a message about what young people need to transition to
adulthood? The Youth Transition Funders Group and Fenton Communications
have created a toolkit to help advocates develop strong core
messages.
 Ready by 21
Strategies Can Help Improve City and School District Collaboration
Many of California's Urban Mayors Education Advisors gathered in San
Francisco last week for a roundtable discussion on improving youth
outcomes in their cities. The Forum for Youth Investment presented
Ready by 21TM strategies
to deal with city and school district collaborative issues such as gang
violence, the lack of out-of-school time programs, and the joint use of
school buildings. |
Who's Doing What That Works
CFK is pleased to announce a new partnership with Child Advocacy 360 to
higlight the work and perspectives of leaders in the child and youth
field.
 Q&A with
Casey Family Programs: Improving Education for Children in Foster Care
Chronic instability and a lack of family support can hinder educational
achievement for youth in foster care. They are more likely to drop out
of high school than their counterparts who are not in the system, and
less likey to attend college when they do graduate. Child Advocacy 360
talked with the Casey Family Programs' Allison Kogut to find out what
works and what's being done on the education front. The interview is
posted on the homepage. |
Health and Health Care
 SCHIP Keeps
Moving
Although Congress is in recess until September 4, legislators will be
hammering out differences between the House and Senate State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bills, passed last week. The Child
Welfare League of America says that:
The House bill -- the Children's Health and Medicare
Protection Act (CHAMP/HR 3162) -- will add $50 billion in funds over
five years, and would cover roughly 5 million U.S. children who are
currently uninsured, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The Senate bill (S 1893) adds $35 billion over five years
and would cover about 4 million kids who are uninsured.
More on SCHIP:
- Check out CHIPCentral.org
for comparisons of the bills and state-by-state facts.
 Rural Children
Increasingly Rely on Medicaid and SCHIP for Medical Care
One-fifth of U.S. children in poverty live in rural areas. A Carsey
Institute report finds a higher percentage of kids in rural areas
depend on Medicaid or SCHIP for health insurance than children in urban
areas, and that the number of rural children relying on public health
insurance is on the rise.
Child and Youth
Emergency Mental Health Care: A National Problem
Child mental health-related visits to hospital emergency rooms have
risen significantly in the past 10 years, according to a new National
Center for Children in Poverty report. The report looks at why, and the
policy changes that could improve care and expand community-based
services for children with mental health needs.
 Preventing Adult
Chronic Disease During Adolescence: The Role of Health Plans (August 29)
Some health plans are working to prevent future chronic diseases by
identifying adolescent risk factors and reducing them through medical
evaluation, treatment and counseling. This National Institute for
Health Care Management Foundation Webinar will examine the risks and
two promising health plan programs. Time: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Please register by August 24. |
Education News
 The Status of
Education in Rural America
One-fifth of public school students are in rural schools. In 2005,
rural 4th- and 8th-graders were more likely than their urban peers to
score "proficient" or better on reading and math tests, but less likely
than suburban public school students. Drop-out rates were lower in 2004
in rural areas than cities, but higher than in suburban areas. There's
more -- check out the recent National Center for Education Statistics
report.
 Choices,
Changes, and Challenges: Curriculum and Instruction in the NCLB Era
The Center on Education Policy says students are spending more time on
math and reading and 31 percent less time, on average, on social
studies, science, art, music and gym -- likely because of the testing
requirements of the No Child Left Behind law.
 Reality Check:
Is Support for Standards and Testing Fading?
The public now sees recent
education reforms like No Child Left Behind as "necessary, but not
sufficient," according to several recent surveys by Public Agenda.
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Tools for Advocates
The Value of
Volunteer Time
Can you put a dollar amount on volunteer time? Independent Sector does
just that each year, to help quantify the value of the millions of
Americans who donate their time. In 2006, the national value was $18.77
per hour (based on the average wage of non-management, non-agricultural
workers). Find your state's rate online.
ToolFind
-- for Measuring Youth Outcomes
The United Way has released a new, Web-based directory to help
professionals in youth-serving programs find measurement tools for up
to 11 youth outcome areas. Please send your feedback, comments, and
questions to Toolfind@supportunitedway.org.
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Funds for Your Work
 Collaboration
and Professional Development for Youth Work
State-level leaders can apply for a year-long professional development
program from Building Partnerships for Youth. Teams of four to six
youth and adults will network with peers from across the country and
access a range of resources. For more information, contact Karen
Hoffman Tepper at karenht@ag.arizona.edu.
 Cities:
Comprehensive Children and Youth Plans Assistance Grants
A friendly reminder: the National League of Cities Institute for Youth,
Education, and Families, with support from the MetLife Foundation, will
assist cities, schools and community partners in building
collaborations to create effective children and youth plans. The
application is online. For more information, ontact Rebecca Makar at makar@nlc.org. Deadline: August 10.
 YouthPower Grants
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Youth
Service America offer grants of up to $1,000 to support youth-led
service projects. Youth in foster care (ages 5-18), those who
have recently transitioned out of foster care (ages 19-25), and groups
working with them can apply. Questions? Email YouthPower@ysa.org. Deadline: October 1. |
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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