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 [15]
 [16]To
read PDF files, download the free Adobe
Reader [17].
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Responsible
Workers, Responsive Parents: Low-Income Families in Today's
Workplace (April 10) [40]
[43]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.
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