Connect for Kids / Child Advocacy 360 / Youth Policy Action Center - CFK Articles, Child Care

Boosting Your Recruitment and Enrollment, Lessons from a New York Beacon Center

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:01:12 -0600

Engaging young teens in quality out-of-school time programs is no easy feat. Cypress Hills-East New York, a Beacon Center located in Brooklyn, has developed a strategy for recruiting and enrolling youth ages 9 to 14 for its school-year program. What works best? The Youth Development Institute shares some of the secrets of success.

Choosing Care for a Child with Special Needs

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:00:00 -0500

Finding quality, affordable child care can be difficult for any parent. For those with a special needs child, it can also be a very confusing and emotional experience. Rebecca Freshour looks at what the law says, and what parents need to know to find care for their children.

In Need of Leave

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:26:18 -0500

Caring for a sick child or bringing home a newborn baby can be daunting responsibilities. Worries about lost income can add to the stress. Rob Capriccioso reports on how paid family leave programs can help.

Parents Speaking Up in California

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:05:48 -0500

It seems obvious that any organization that serves kids will benefit from understanding parents' perspectives. But it's not always easy to include the parent voice. This article by Casey Flaherty from the May-June 2005 issue of Children's Advocate looks at three examples of bringing parents into the discussion.

A Head Start Testimonial

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:59:47 -0500

At age 30, the Head Start program is on the defensive, facing criticism and efforts to change its basic structure. But Head Start also has its passionate defenders such as Jerrie deRose, who sent us this e-mail after seeing a profile of the Rosemount Head Start program in Washington DC on our Web site.

A Space Camp in Utah

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:39:17 -0500

At age 13, Becca Robison dreams of becoming an astronaut. In the meantime, she's sharing her dream with hundreds of young girls in Utah. Connect for Kids intern Abigail Holt explains.

Giving Homeless Kids a LIFT

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:37:24 -0500

It started as a one-week experiment, 15 years ago. But today, Project LIFT continues to offer homeless children in New York City an education in the dance, and much more. Connect for Kids intern Diana Strumbos reports.

Take Action, Win Adventure

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:33:59 -0500

Schools and other organizations have different strategies for encouraging young people to perform community service. In Denver, Colo., one of the most successful has been a program that rewards service with adventure -- whitewater rafting through the heart of the city itself. Robert Ebisch reports.

Helping Foster Youth Succeed

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:12:59 -0500

Too many children who go into foster care emerge years later with few skills, no high school diploma, and serious educational deficits. Letitia L. Star reports on a Chicago program that helps.

How Budget Trends Threaten Children's Programs

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:04:41 -0500

If you care about children, it's time to take up the challenge of understanding what federal budget trends mean for the programs aimed at helping children and families. As the annual budget battle continues in Washington, D.C., Urban Institute senior fellow Eugene Steuerle explains why children's programs are getting squeezed.

Early Education for Kids and Communities

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:04:37 -0500

A new survey by the National League of Cities shows that child care and early childhood education are high on the agenda for city leaders. That heightened attention to the early years also has some mayors worried about Bush administration efforts to change Head Start.

Is Your Kid Latch-Key Material?

Tue, 16 Nov 2004 16:52:08 -0600

Coming home to an empty house�or at least one empty of adults�is a common experience for many school-aged children. Yet parents worry, with good reason, about the risks. This article from the September-October issue of Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children, looks at latch-key reality.

Head Start

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:37:51 -0500

For the nearly one million low-income children now enrolled in Head Start programs across the nation, change is in the air. President Bush says Head Start needs to make early education the top priority--but many experts and advocates believe the traditional Head Start focus on the whole child is key to the program's success. Cecilia Garcia visited a Washington, DC-based Head Start center to learn more.

The Child Care Carousel

Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:36:19 -0600

Child care subsidies are one of the main supports offered to low-income parents under welfare reform. But two recent reports reveal that effort involved in remaining eligible for the subsidy can endanger parents' ability to hold down a job. Here's a summary from the Urban Institute's Assessing the New Federalism project.

Pre-kindergarten: What You Said

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:14:27 -0500

Should every school district offer pre-kindergarten? What should it look like? We've summarized what members of the Connect for Kids community had to say about it in our week-long e-mail discussion.