CFK Weekly January 9

Weekly Jan 9 whitney

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Bringing you up-to-date and relevant news, research and policy developments affecting children, youth and families.

January 9, 2008

In This Issue

New on Connectforkids.org [2]

Kids & Politics [3]

State Children's Cabinets [4]

Mentoring Month [5]

Reconnecting Youth [6]

Foster Care News [7]

Education News [8]

Tools for Your Work [9]

Ideas for Funding [10]

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Quick Links

Connect for Kids [12]

Forum for Youth Investment [13]

Youth Policy Action Center [14]

Editor's Note

Happy New Year from Connect for Kids and Child Advocacy 360!

First, we'd like to thank everyone (more than 1100 of you) who took the time to fill out our survey in November. You told us that the Weekly keeps you up to date and informed, saves you time, and helps you network with other like-minded groups and find out what's happening around the country -- and that you like our attitude! We're working to incorporate all of your feedback and ideas for improvement.

Given how busy you are doing the wonderful work that you do, many of you told us that you would prefer to receive the Weekly every two weeks, so we're switching our format to biweekly. We'll still bring you the best content from across the child and youth field and will keep the Weekly chock full of the resources you rely on.

At the same time, we've made a New Year's Resolution to redesign the Website in partnership with other organizations, so our library of resources and "best of the field" content is easy to access. As we move forward, we'll update you on timing of the new, improved site and what you can do to help.

Now, what will you find in the first issue of 2008? Get to know Children's Cabinets (what are they? how do they work?). Find Mentoring Month resources. In Kids & Politics, we've got a round-up of organizations working hard to make sure kids are a campaign priority in 2008.

Also: a new Casey Field Office Mental Health study looks at how teens in foster care are faring, and how they feel about key identity issues. RAND takes a comprehensive look at No Child Left Behind (NCLB), just as an NCLB lawsuit has been revived. And don't miss the tools and grants, and much more.

Here's to a great new year! Please continue to share your news and projects with us.

See you on January 23!
Caitlin Johnson and the Connect for Kids team
weekly@connectforkids.org [15]

New on ConnectforKids.org
This week, from Connect for Kids and Child Advocacy 360:

Getting Beyond the Foster Care System: What Works for Teens [16]
CVWF logo

[17]Could you have made it entirely on your own at 18 or 21? Each year, roughly 25,000 young people "age out" of the foster care system, many without family or economic supports. Without connection to a caring adult and other supports, these youth face steep challenges, including higher rates of unemployment, poor educational attainment, health issues, incarceration and homelessness.

But those are the problems, the statistics -- what about the potential of these teens, their desire to succeed? We spoke with Betsy Krebs, co-director of the New York City-based Youth Advocacy Center, about what works to help teens aging out of foster care succeed.

Kids & Politics: Election Fever

As we gear up for this year's presidential election, many child and youth organizations are working to make children's policies a campaign issue. Here are just a few of them.

its about our kids logo

[18]It's About Our Kids.org [19]
The Iowa Child and Family Center has created a one-stop shop for information on child policy issues and the 2008 election. You'll find: candidate's responses to a survey on children's issues and policies, a round-up of candidates' statements on their own sites and links to other organizations' surveys.

every child matters

[20]Every Child Matters Election Watch [21]
The Every Child Matters Education Fund asked all the presidential candidates to describe their plans for addressing six critical children's issues, from health care to child abuse. As the responses come in, they are being posted on this site.

Also, check out Every Child Matters' booklet, Homeland Insecurity: Why Children Must be a Priority in the 2008 Presidential Campaign [22].

Foundations Ask Presidential Candidates What They'll Do for America [23]
For more on where 2008 presidential candidates stand on issues that are
important to children and families, check out the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity initiative.

"Be a Big Voice for Little Kids in the 2008 Election" [24]
The latest Advocacy Developmental Milestone from ZERO TO THREE offers three easy steps to help make very young children a campaign priority in the 2008 election. It includes some information from the IRS about advocacy and 501(c)(3) status.

State Children's Cabinets and Councils: What They Are, How They're Working

forum logo

[25]The Forum for Youth Investment has kicked off a publication series on children's cabinets and councils, which are typically made up of heads of government agencies and child- and youth-serving programs who meet regularly to set and monitor common goals, outcomes and plans for services/programs for children.

State Children's Cabinets and Councils: Getting Results for Children and Youth [26]
This paper delves into the "why" question: why children's cabinets and councils should be taken seriously, and why and how the way they work is consistent with the Forum's assumptions about change. It also identifies challenge areas, and introduces the Ready by 21 Change Model that is used to frame the issue briefs and directory.

2008 Directory of State Children's Cabinets and Councils [27]
The 2008 Directory of State Children's Cabinets and Councils by the Forum for Youth Investment provides at-a-glance responses to questions such as: which states have children's cabinets and councils? Who is involved in them? What do they do? The guide provides summaries of interviews done with children's cabinet and council directors in the latter half of 2007.

State Children's Cabinets and Councils Capitol Hill Forum [28]
In December, the American Youth Policy Forum and the Forum for Youth Investment co-hosted a lunchtime forum on Capitol Hill to launch the series and convene stakeholders to examine Children's Cabinets and Councils. Speakers from Kentucky, Ohio and Maryland shared their first-hand experiences with this sort of collaboration. Materials from the forum are online.

January is Mentoring Month

[29]National Mentoring Month [30]
The National Mentoring Month campaign 2008 is a joint effort of the Harvard Mentoring Project, The National Mentoring Partnership (MENTOR) and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Get the latest on what Congress has done to suppport mentoring, and find out what's going on in your hometown -- or get something started!

To learn about this year's Congressional funding in support of mentoring programs, click here [31].

The Tutor-Mentor Connection [32] site has more great resources.

Reconnecting Youth

Ashoka

[33]Young Men at Risk: Transforming the Power of a Generation [34]
Ashoka's Changemakers and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are hosting a competition to find the most innovative approaches that empower young men at risk to achieve a successful and healthy adulthood. Contact Dana Frasz at dfrasz@ashoka.org [35]. Deadline: January 23.

Safe Streets: Preventing Gang Affiliation and Violence, Audioconference (January 17) [36]
In this free YEF Institute audioconference, listeners will learn about anti-gang strategies developed by local officials from several cities, and which efforts are producing results. Municipal leaders will discuss their work to combat gang violence through strategies that blend prevention, intervention, enforcement and the moral voice of the community. To register, send contact information to iyef@nlc.org [37] by January 15.

Foster Care News
Casey cover

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[39]Mental Health, Ethnicity, Sexuality and Spirituality Among Youth in Foster Care [40]
The latest Casey Field Office Mental Health Study examines findings of a mental health survey of 188 youth (ages 14 to 17) in foster care in five states. It goes beyond the basics to probe teens' perceptions of their ethnic and gender identity and sexual orientation, including their development of ethnic identity while in foster care and experiences with discrimination.

Rates of mental health disorders were significantly higher among youth in care than among youth in the general population.

Females had notably higher rates of several mental health disorders (including depression and panic) than males.

Youth currently in care had lower rates of mental health issues than foster care alumni.

Youth felt they had opportunities to develop their ethnic identity in foster care but most wanted to learn more.

The Executive Summary has a great discussion of specific findings and recommendations; the full report is also online.

Chapin

[41]Racial Disparity in the Child Welfare System - Panel and Audio WebCast (January 10) [42]
African American children and infants are disproportionately represented in the nation's foster care system. This Chapin Hall/Urban Institute policy forum will explore whether shifts in social policy and economic conditions since the mid-1990s have reduced persistent racial disparities in education, health and the child welfare system. Attend in DC or online from anywhere; the event is free.

Education News

RAND

[43]Passing or Failing? A Midterm Report Card for No Child Left Behind [44]
Six years ago this month, the No Child Left Behind Act set the goal that "All children will be proficient in reading and mathematics by the 2013-14 school year." The latest RAND Review recaps the law's effects at nearly every level of the education system. It also issues mixed grades, early warnings and guidelines to help the law fulfill its promise.

Court Revives NEA Suit Against NCLB [45]
A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, in Cincinnati, ruled 2-1 that the states were not on clear notice of their potential financial obligations when they agreed to accept federal funding under the No Child Left Behind law. Education Week reports.

ABA cover

[46]Educating Children Without Housing: Primer for Educators, Advocates and Policymakers [47]
This manual, from the American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, helps state education officials, school districts and staff implement the McKinney-Vento Act governing education for homeless children and youth. It includes innovative ideas and strategies, and how the Act applies to disaster response. (Cost: $14.95.)

Tools for Your Work action alert

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Webinar: The Art of Getting Attention (January 22) [49]
The National Assembly is hosting this session and one on February 19 on "How to Get Your Message Out in the Digital Age" -- a mini-series on marketing for nonprofits presented by the Ad Council. The details will be posted on the site soon.

Evaluating Out-of-School Time Programs [50]
Child Trends has released two new briefs in its series on practical evaluation methods for out-of-school time programs:

Process Evaluations: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Practitioners

Outcome Evaluation: A Guide for Out-of-School Time Practitioners

Online Fundraising: How to Social Network Your Way to $50,000 (January 10) [51]
This free training from Network for Good will look at whether social networking tools like Facebook, MySpace and blogs can be effective, and how. Get the scoop from their experts, then hear from the Case Foundation about the $50,000 America's Giving Challenge. Register online. Or if you can't attend, download the free audio transcript at www.Fundraising123.org [52].

Ideas for Funding USDA FUND

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USDA Food Stamp Outreach Grants [54]
At least $1 million in grants are available for the public and private nonprofit community and faith-based organizations to improve awareness of USDA's Food Stamp Program for low-income households. State and local food stamp offices and for-profit organizations are not eligible. Deadline: February 19.

Cigna Foundation [55]
The Cigna Foundation provides support to nonprofits for projects in five areas, including women, child and family health, obesity prevention and reduction of gender disparities in health care. Deadline: Rolling

Other Sources Worth Checking Out This Year:

The Finance Project [56]

The Foundation Center [57]

Network for Good [58]

National Service Learning Clearinghouse [59]

FundsNet [60]

Corporation for National and Community Service eGrants [61]

Health and Human Services GrantsNet [62]

National Child Care Information Center [63]

Youth Action Net [64] (for youth-led efforts)

Connect for Kids is updating our online Funding Ideas toolkit. If you have resources to share, send an email to weekly@connectforkids.org [65].

Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment