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Editor's Note
Congress is back from its July 4 break, just in time for a new coalition-led health care campaign, Health Care for America Now. Find out about the campaign and how it aims to work. And while we're on the subject of campaigns, get the scoop on why education is losing ground as a voter priority for the next election (see Education News).
As the Census Bureau prepares to release the latest poverty data, several organizations are calling for an update in the way we measure poverty. The Economic Policy Institute and the National Center for Children in Poverty have easy-to-read briefs that outline the problems and propose solutions, that would give us a more accurate picture of our nation's well-being.
Also this week: Casey has the latest findings on how young people who receive foster care services through Casey Family Programs are faring, the National Partnership has an inspiring video and Karen Pittman goes right to experts -- the youth themselves -- for ideas about improving schools.
Keep sharing your work with us and we'll keep sharing it with the field!
Caitlin Johnsonweekly@connectforkids.org To read PDF files, download the free Adobe Reader. |
 New on Connectforkids.org
Close-To-Home Treatment For Youths Gains Notice
New York City's "Project Zero," run by the Department of Probation, gives young offenders an alternative to juvenile jail that maintains connections to families and schools. Its innovative approach includes regular evaluations and adjustments -- and is showing signs of success.
Wanted: Youth Work Principles in Schools
Karen Pittman recently
sat down with the real experts on the "high school dropout crisis" --
seven students from Des Moines,
five of whom had dropped out and another who had come very close. In her latest
Youth Today column, Karen shares what these young people had to say about why
they left, what made them return to school and what they recommend for
education.
How Do we Measure Success in Child and Youth Advocacy?
In this column, Hershel Sarbin, publisher of Child Advocacy 360, lays out the basics of the Scorecard Initiative and asks for your help in identifying efforts across the country that are making a difference for kids and youth. Seeking: real people, real results.
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Child Health News
Health Care for America Now Campaign
On July 8, a broad coalition of child- and youth-focused organizations kicked off this national grassroots campaign promoting access to affordable, quality health care for all. Events took place in 52 cities, including 38 state capitals, and a launch is planned for Washington, DC. Learn more about this movement in the making and share your story online.
 Peer Contributions to Adolescent Girls' Weight Control Behaviors
A Children's National Medical Center/University of Miami study of 236 girls ages 13 to 18 confirms that peers play an important role in girls' body image and unhealthy weight-loss activities. Girls identifying with athletic peers were less concerned about their own weight and seemed less likely to try to control their weight, according to the findings in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.
Related Resource: Dads & Daughters' redesigned website has tools and information to help dads (and moms) support girls' healthy development.
 Virginity Pledges May Help Postpone Intercourse
Making a virginity pledge may help some young people postpone the start of sexual activity, according to a new RAND study. It also found that adolescents who make the pledge, but eventually have sex, do not report lower condom use. (The full article is in the Journal of Adolescent Health.)
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Education News
Education Wanes as Campaign Issue, Poll Finds
A new Public Education Network poll finds that voters' "concerns about rising gas prices and the sagging economy trump education as a campaign issue, even as more Americans believe the nation's schools are getting worse," Education Week reports. (Free registration required.)
You can view the original Public Education Network poll here.
Effective Teaching and At-Risk/Highly Mobile Students: What Do Award-Winning Teachers Do?
This study reviews the literature and explores the practices of six teachers who won national and/or state awards for working with students who are at-risk or highly mobile. The study was designed by the National Center for Homeless Education and The College of William and Mary.
 Communities In Schools: New Data on What Works to Reduce Dropout Rates (July 30)
A five-year longitudinal evaluation of the Communities In Schools program conducted by ICF International finds good news about the effectiveness of integrated student supports on graduation rates and student and school outcomes. Learn more by joining this free webinar from 2:30-3:30 eastern time. Registration is required and spaces are limited.
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Poverty and Child Well-Being
Getting Real About Measuring Poverty
In a few weeks, the U.S. Census Bureau will report on the 2007 poverty
rate in America. Many advocates agree that the official measurement
undercounts the nation's poor. Here are some related resources:
Mortgage Crisis Hits 2 Million U.S. Children
CFK Editor Caitlin Johnson takes a look at the impact of the nation's record foreclosure rate on kids in this July 8 OneWorld/Yahoo News article.
Many States Imposing Cuts that Hurt Vulnerable Residents
The
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that at least 20 states are
ringing in their new fiscal year with proposed budget cuts that
threaten vital services for many residents including such service areas as health, K-12
education and higher education.
Sign-On Alert: The Child Tax Credit
The
Child Tax Credit offers $1,000 per child for children under 17, but
families who earn less than $12,050 this year are ineligible and
millions of other low-income families will receive only a partial
credit because of their earnings. A bill passed in the House (H.R.
6049) lowers the minimum earnings for the credit to $8,500 for 2008 --
which would mean families of more than 13 million children would become
eligible or receive a larger credit. A Senate version does less to
reach low-income families, the Coalition on Human Needs reports. The
Coalition has a sign-on letter in support of the House bill.
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Foster Care and Child Welfare
Casey Young Adult Survey
This annual cohort study examines the impact of foster care services from Casey Family Programs on youth ages 19, 22 and 25. This study also compares these youth to other former foster youth and to their peers who have never experienced foster care.
The latest findings are consistent with other foster care studies: the Casey young adults reported high rates of homelessness, symptoms of mental health disorders, GED completion, dependence on public assistance and involvement with the criminal justice system. However, their educational and employment outcomes as well as health insurance coverage and rates of drug use were better than most studies.
Financing Education Supports For Youth Transitioning Out Of Foster Care
This Finance Project brief presents five financing strategies that can support education success programs and services for youth currently in or transitioning out of the foster care system. For each, the brief highlights relevant funding sources to consider, the range of partners to engage, considerations for implementation and examples of the strategy in practice.
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 Tools for Your Work
Evaluating Out-of-School Time Programs
The American Camp Association has tools and surveys for measuring outcomes from camp activities and similar programs.
Video: The Power of Partnership Turning Promise into Progress
The National Partnership has an inspirational new video highlighting victories such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991. "We're making more progress all the time, including the first-ever expansion of the FMLA; paid family leave for New Jersey workers; paid sick days for those in the District of Columbia and more," said the National Partnership.
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Caitlin Johnson and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment
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