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Published on Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center (http://www.connectforkids.org)

CFK Update: February 25, 2009

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Bringing you relevant news, research and policy updates
affecting children, youth and families.


February 25, 2009

In This Issue
New on Connectforkids.org [1]
Getting the Recovery & Budget on Track [2]
Families Struggling in Tough Times [3]
Youth Voices [4]
Improving the Odds for Youth At-Risk [5]
Keeping Kids in School [6]
Afterschool & Out-of-School Time [7]
Take Action! [8]
Grants & Funding Resources [9]
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Join Our Mailing List [10]
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Guest Editor's Note

Regarding the recovery package, child advocates and state leaders might heed the warning "be careful what you wish for, it may come true." As the federal Treasury sends billions of dollars out to states and communities, we can see a lot of opportunities but also a big challenge. Maintaining the public's trust and support will require hard work, integrity and good judgment to spend the money quickly AND wisely -- it needs to reach those who need it, jumpstart the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth.

The recovery package is just the first bite of the apple. President Obama will give Congress his budget proposal on February 26 for the upcoming fiscal year. In past years, many programs have seen no changes in their funding, so the pressure is on to adjust funding to current needs.

So what's an ordinary person to do? Check out where the new dollars are available to help families and youth in your community. For example, our Grants and Funding section has information on how new dollars might be available for summer programs.

And stay in touch with federal lawmakers to ensure that the upcoming budget keeps a focus on the needs of children and youth.

While you're at it, check out what's working to help young people stay on track and finish school prepared for 21st century careers -- including a powerful youth-written story of how a school in Philadelphia made all the difference for one teen (see Youth Voices below).

Jan Richter, CFK Update Editor Emeritus
jan@connectforkids.org [14]

CFK gathers, synthesizes and promotes the best news, research, and stories from the child and youth field. To suggest content, email
weekly@connectforkids.org [15]
New on Connectforkids.orgcfk logo [18]

Obama Signs "Largest Investment in Education in the Nation's History" [19]
The economic recovery bill, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, includes nearly $100 Billion for the U.S. Department of Education. That's less than the original House bill asked for, but more than twice last year's federal education funding, as the Alliance for Excellent Education reports.

Spotlight on "The Cost of Doing Nothing" -- and How Advocates Can [20]Avoid Not Doing Enough [21]Hershel Sarbin [22]
In Hershel Sarbin's latest blog post, he looks at a recent First Focus report, The Cost of Doing Nothing, that "offers a stunning analysis of the long-term impact of the current recession on child poverty and our nation as a whole. So is anyone really paying attention? And what can advocates do to drive home the issue -- and the solutions?"
Getting the Recovery & Budget on Track

Recovery: What's In It?

Several organizations have a breakdown of what the recovery package will look like for education, early childhood and a host of other child and youth issues.

On child care and families:CBPP Logo [23] Mike Smith [26]On education:
Line Items for Children and Youth in the Federal Budget
Every year, the president proposes a federal budget plan, which Congress uses as a roadmap to create the official federal budget. President Obama's is expected to be released on February 26.

Congressional Budget Staff to Talk about Budget [31]
On February 27 at 3 pm EST, Families USA will have a conference call with Congressional budget staff about what's in the President's budget and the next steps for Congress.

Children's Budget [32]Children's Budget Data [33]
First Focus has a new Web site where you can find customized information on more than 160 federally funded programs that benefit children and families.

PDFEvery Child Matters Calls for Closing Investment Gap [34]
Federal dollars comprise the overwhelming majority of spending on children's health, social services and income security programs in every state. This Homeland Insecurity report makes the case for closing the 'investment gap' in federal spending on children.
Families Struggling in Tough Times

NCCP [35]Working Family Budgets Can Be Stretched Too Thin [36]
It's 2009; do you know what it takes for parents to pay for housing, child care, health care and transportation? It's more than a full-time minimum wage job and far more than the official poverty rate, reports The National Center for Children in Poverty.

Welfare Aid Isn't Growing as Economy Drops Off [37]NY Times [38]
The current recession is exposing TANF's weakness as a safety net: the number of jobless people getting cash assistance remains at its lowest level in 40 years and 18 states actually cut their welfare rolls last year, according to the New York Times.

Brave New Welfare [39]Mother Jones [40]
Mother Jones' reporter Stephanie Mencimer claims that some states have aggressively pushed thousands of eligible mothers off TANF to use the savings elsewhere in the state budget.

PDFInfants and Toddlers in Recent Immigrant Families Most at Risk [41]
Child Trends reports that infants and toddlers of recently immigrated parents, often with limited English, are most at risk for not having enough food.

Kasier Interviews [42]Snapshots from the Kitchen Table: Family Budgets and Health Care [43]
In last night's address, President Obama pledged to reform the U.S. health care system. This Kaiser Foundation report from interviews with real families finds that amidst pervasive uncertainty over job security and household budgets ill-equipped to cope with unexpected costs, many families, even some with health insurance, are forgoing doctor visits, skipping prescription medications and postponing needed care.
Youth VoicesYouthBuild [44]

A School that Saved my Life [45]
A graduate of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School talks about how her school gave her a second chance to succeed.

Torn Apart [46]Rrepresent [47]
From living with a mother consumed by her drug addiction to living on the streets, three siblings relied on each other for love and care. After ups and downs in foster care, the oldest was cut off from contact with his younger siblings through a closed adoption. His eloquence bespeaks a decade of heartbreak.
Improving the Odds for Youth At-Risk

National Research Council [48]Stronger Effort Needed to Prevent Mental, Emotional, Behavioral Problems [49]
The National Research Council and Institute of Medicine reports that young people experience mental, emotional and behavioral disorders as commonly as they experience fractured limbs, costing the U.S. an estimated $247 billion annually. The report highlights classroom and other interventions that work.

PDFFoster Youth Transitioning to Independence Need Stronger Supports [50]
The Society for Research in Child Development identifies specific measures to support youth in foster care as they move to adulthood: revise eligibility requirements to include high-risk populations, develop adequate transition services and supports, involve young people in the process and allow states to extend financial assistance through age 21.

Profiles from the Youth Transition Demonstration Projects [51]
A report on the Social Security Administration's Youth Transition Demonstration Projects describes six promising strategies for helping youth with disabilities become financially self-sufficient.

Research Institute [52]2007 Guidelines for Mental Health in Child Welfare [53]
The Reach Institute offers expert recommendations for child welfare stakeholders on mental health screening and assessment, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions, parent support and youth empowerment.

PDFRacial and Ethnic Disparity and Disproportionality in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice: A Compendium [54]
This Chapin Hall report identifies strategies for addressing widespread racial and ethnic disparities in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Strengthening Pre-collegiate Education in Community Colleges: Project Summary and Recommendations [55]
Community college faculties can improve math and literacy skills for unprepared students by taking a more active role in reshaping curriculum and recording data to measure student progress, concludes this Carnegie Foundation report.
Keeping Kids in Schools
Grad Nation [56]
Keeping Kids in School [57]
The America's Promise Alliance has released its updated edition of Grad Nation, a comprehensive guidebook with supporting tools on the best evidence-based practices on keeping students in school, graduating and prepared for college.

Chronic Absenteeism in Early Grades [58]
An estimated one in ten are absent from school every day in the early grades. This recorded Coalition for Community Schools webinar reports on New York and Baltimore.

Connecticut Governor Proposes "Middle College" System [59]
The Hartford Courant reports on a budget proposal to merge Connecticut's technical high schools with community colleges, giving 10,000 technical school students free college training.
Afterschool & Out-of-School Time

New Resources for High Quality School-Age Care [60]
The Afterschool Investments Project (AIP) provides technical assistance
AIP [61] to Child Care and Development Fund grantees and other state and local leaders to support afterschool efforts. A new national profile includes information about promising state and local initiatives and information on the largest federal funding sources.

The
"State of Afterschool" [62] profiles each of the states.

Caliber of Program Staff Key to Successful Out-of-School Time Programs [63]
Three new Child Trends briefs present findings and effective strategies for selecting, training and coaching frontline youth workers.
Read Across America NEA [64]Take Action!

Read Across America Day [65] is March 2, which is Dr. Seuss' birthday.

Read Across America Day: Parent Tip Sheets for Reading with Young Children [66]
Here are some useful, age-appropriate "cheat sheets" to help parents and caregivers get the most out of their time with their children, boosting reading skills and enjoyment.

CWLA [67]CWLA Leads Charge for White House Conference on Children and [68]Youth [69]
It's been 40 years since the last White Conference on Children and Youth, an opportunity to examine the greatest needs and set the country on a path to reform, says the Child Welfare League of America. Sen. Landrieu is expected to introduce the bill soon.

Support Appropriations for Second Chance Act [70]Justice Center [71]
Two-thirds of people released from prison are rearrested for a new offense within three years. The Justice Center of the Council of State Governments is urging key lawmakers to fully fund the Second Chance Act, which would provide re-entry services. For more information, contact Leah Kane at
lkane@csg.org [72].
Grants and Funding ResourcesGRANTS

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Program Grant [73]
Applications are due March 4 for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program that supports community-wide
plans that create safe and drug-free schools and promote healthy childhood development. Deadline: March 4.

Summer Learning [74]Summer Program Opportunities
The Food Research and Action Center [75] (FRAC) has fundraising tips for summer programs. Also, get information on summer learning funding opportunities [76] in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Casey Medal [77]
Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism [78]
The Casey Medals for Meritorious Journalism honor distinguished coverage of children and families. Entries due: March 3.

Jan Richter and Thaddeus Ferber
Connect for Kids and the Forum for Youth Investment


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