CFK Update: July 1, 2009

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

July 1, 2009

In This Issue

New on CFK [1]

What's Moving in Washington [2]

Going to College? Got Debt? [3]

Recalls: E. Coli Contaminations [4]

Early Learning: Voices & Tips [5]

State of the States [6]

Covering Kids in the News [7]

Building on What Works [8]

Funding Resources [9]

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[10]

Quick Links

Connect for Kids [11]

Forum for Youth Investment [12]

Youth Policy Action Center [13]

Editor's Note

My local newspaper rarely covers national news -- for example, the photo-story on last week's front page was about the new elevated "goat walk" at our local country store.

But the same day, the top non-photo story was about our county receiving $1.18 million over two years in federal stimulus funds, all for schools. It is a rare moment demonstrating the connection between Washington, DC and our local community.

Communities across the country are starting to receive stimulus funds. Many dollars are controlled by the states, but local nonprofits working in distressed communities can apply for stimulus funds under the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program [14]. Note: the deadline is July 7.

Congress is in recess this week, but work will likely continue on two major proposals that impact on families and local communities everywhere: reforming health care and reshaping the clean energy bill just passed in the House.

Both initiatives are critically important for children and youth. Despite public insurance by Medicaid and SCHIP, some 8.8 million kids in the U.S. -- 11 percent of all U.S. children -- lack any kind of health coverage and millions of parents are without coverage as well. The energy bill has a clear impact on our children's future, as well as on green job incentives for young people.

This week, we also take a look at prospects for high school graduates going on to college, from efforts to open doors for undocumented students to better deals on student loans and grants. And, check out a neat federal website that matches volunteers with local service projects [15].

Happy Fourth of July and here's to you for speaking up for kids as part of our national responsibility!

Jan Richter, CFK editor emeritus

jan@connectforkids.org [16]

CFK gathers, synthesizes and promotes the best news, research, and stories from the child and youth field. To suggest content, email weekly@connectforkids.org [17].

[18]New on CFK

School Connectedness: A Video Highlight [19] VIDEOSTILL

[20]
What is the secret behind students staying in school? Interesting courses? GPA? A new CDC study shows the unwavering support of teachers and community members is a primary contributor to students' success in school. During a June 23 Congressional briefing, experts from the Search Institute, CDC and local schools shared their insight on how to create these essential connections and their lasting impact on students. We've got the scoop.

Twitter/Facebook: Time Well Spent for Child & Youth Advocates? [21]
Child Advocacy 360 blog
Can Twitter and Facebook really perform miracles for hardworking child advocates? Journalist and Child Advocacy360 blogger Ray Schultz takes a look at the brave new world -- and the real data -- of social networking.

A Changed Mind in the Health Care Reform Camp [22]
Commentary by Jan Richter
I am happy that I was proven wrong about how important it is to have the peace of mind and access to affordable, quality care when you need it...

What's Moving in Washington

Keeping Kids Foremost in Health Care Reform

I've been around long enough to have taken several personal and opposing positions on reforming health care coverage since Medicaid and Medicare were proposed in the 1960s. Hopefully experience brings wisdom, as I note in my health care blog post [23].

CFK has a quick fact sheet [24] of why we need to reform health care now and key reasons, resources and campaigns for keeping kids foremost in health care reform.

First Focus has a good summary of key principles [25] for addressing children's unique needs in health care reform.

Reform Health Care with Adolescents in Mind [26]. Health care reform could offer care earlier and better suited for the needs of adolescents, says First Focus.

Health Care Reform Provision Could Hurt Low-Income Workers [27]. While an employer responsibility requirement is an essential component of health care reform, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says a proposal being considered by Senate committees would have serious unintended consequences for low-income and minority workers and workers with disabilities.

Also in Washington: Poverty, Home Visitation
Rep. McDermott (D-WA) has introduced legislation to update the official definition of poverty [28] for today's set of typical family expenses and benefits. Many government social programs are tied to the official definition of poverty.

Senators Menendez (D-NJ) and Casey (D-PA) have introduced a bill to expand funding to include home visits [29] for low-income pregnant women and low-income families with young children.

Energy Bill Passes House
Those concerned about children and youth will want to watch the American Clean Energy Security Act as it makes its way through Congress -- it will impact young people's futures, from health and the environment to employment. The House passed its version and Care2 says the House bill marks a critical first step [30] in reducing global warming pollution, investing in clean energy technology, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and creating green jobs.

A key piece of the House-passed energy legislation is a "cap and trade" provision to limit carbon pollution. The National Parks Conservation Association has a good Q&A on cap and trade. [31]

Going to College? Got Debt?

DREAM Act Shouldn't Languish [32]
A June 23 New York Times editorial put a human face on the struggles of students arriving in America as children and graduating high school only to face huge barriers imposed by their undocumented status. The editorial argued that the DREAM Act could open doors for these young people and should not be held hostage to larger immigration reform dreams.

The National Council of La Raza has background information on the "DREAM Act [33]."

Graduating with Debt? Today Counts [34]
July 1 is a big day for student loans. The U.S. Department of Education reports good news about students needing loans, from locking in lower interest rates on previous student loans to increases in Pell Grant awards for current students.

The Education Department says student aid applications are being redesigned to be simpler and easier to use. [35]

Recalls: E. Coli Contaminations

Beef Recalled [36]
Because of possible E. coli contamination, 380,000 pounds of beef distributed for sale as steaks or ground beef throughout the country has been recalled. USDA says that "color" is not a safe way to tell if ground beef is cooked sufficiently to kill bacteria; a meat thermometer should register 160 degrees.

Raw Cookie Dough Recall [37]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that it has found E. coli bacteria in a sample of Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough after testing at a Virginia plant.

Early Learning: Voices & Tips

Why Isn't Johnny In Preschool? [38] COVER1

[39]

This new report by the organizing group POWER-PAC reveals what has stymied Pre-K attendance among children with the greatest need for it and offers a series of recommendations for how to increase enrollment. The best part? It was written by low-income Black and Latina mothers and grandmothers who went door to door for two years to survey more than 5,000 parents and caregivers.

Conversation Good for Young Children's Learning [40]

My late mother-in-law used to tell the story of how her neighbor said "you have to talk to them" when she had her first baby. Now there's proof! A UCLA study reported in Pediatrics confirms that young children develop better learning skills the more adults talk with them in back-and-forth conversation.

State of the States
CFK Banner

Follow the Money -- Stimulus Money [41]
About 60 percent of the federal stimulus money is going to states and localities for health and education. Track how states are managing the red tape and using the money, with the help of these new Stateline.org reports.

Get Help, Give Help: New Summer Service Initiative [42]
President Obama recently announced a new summer service initiative in partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Local service projects can find volunteers and volunteers can find projects in education, health, energy, the environment and more.

U.S. Ed Department Outlines Guidelines for "Race to the Top" [43]

[44]Education Secretary Duncan is outlining priorities for the "Race to the Top" Fund. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, states must offer assurances that they are making progress in adopting rigorous standards; recruiting and retaining effective teachers where they are needed most; turning around low-performing schools; and building data systems to track student achievement and teacher effectiveness.

Illinois' Ground-Breaking System Reforms Face Devastating Cuts [45]

[46]Illinois made major strides this year to keep more teens out of the adult prison system and implement a pilot program focusing on alternatives to incarceration. Youth Today reports that the state's model child welfare system along with its new ground-breaking juvenile justice reforms are threatened by state budget cuts.

Nashville Coordinates After-School for Middle School [47]

The Forum for Youth Investment (our publisher) says Nashville, Tennessee has launched a quality-based citywide coordination of after-school services for middle school students.

Covering Kids in the News [48]

Covering Child Sexual Abuse [49]
Child sexual abuse cases make headlines, but how can reporters move beyond reporting the basic facts of a single case and help audiences understand the risks -- and what can be done to protect children? The Casey Journalism Center offers a new training module for reporters on covering child sexual abuse stories.

2009 Casey Medalists are Announced [50]
"Growing up in the System," a photo essay on uninsured in America and investigative reports on toxic air around our schools are among the winners of this year's Casey Medalist winners.

Children's PressLine Launches DC Bureau [51]
For 33 years, Children's PressLine has trained underrepresented youth age 8 to 18 to advocate for children around the world through the power of journalism. This month, CPL launched a national bureau to cover current events with a youth perspective and provide an outlet for city young people, many of whom are "at risk," to be heard.

Building on What Works

Laying a Solid Foundation: Strategies for Effective Program Replication [52]

You have an effective program, so how do others repeat it more broadly? Public/Private Ventures shares its long experience in this guide to a systematic approach to program replication, including when in a program's life to replicate, where the replication should take place and the staff resources needed.

Out of School Supports Critical to Student Success [53]
The Harvard Family Research Project reports on how out-of-school complementary learning, particularly for children in low-income families, is a key component to help students gain the skills necessary for success in the 21st century.

Funding Resources

Nonprofits and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [54]
Nonprofits working in distressed communities can get a piece of the stimulus package pie, but must act quickly. Deadline: July 7.

ARRA Funding for Early Childhood Service Coordination [55]

Details about how and when states should apply for a part of $100 million in stimulus funds is now available for early childhood learning "state advisory councils"

Funding Opportunities in ARRA [56]

Much of the stimulus money is being funneled through formula-based block grants to states or is otherwise restricted, but there are opportunities there for local services. CLASP summarizes some funding opportunities available through the stimulus package.

Grants.gov [57]

Check the official notices of deadlines and funding opportunities from the federal government. Green job training grants should be posted soon.

STEMester of Service [58]

Middle school teachers, administrators and service-learning coordinators in several states are eligible for Youth Service America grants to engage middle school youth in science and technology-focused service-learning projects that address community problems.

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