For parents of children with serious mental health needs, the high cost of treatment and gaping holes in insurance coverage create agonizing choices—including deciding to give up custody of their children to make them eligible for services through the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. Rob Capriccioso spoke with parents and advocates on the issue.

The recent release of results from a three-year federal review of child welfare programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia shows that every state, not just those that have seen high-profile and often fatal mistakes by their child protection systems, is failing in its responsibility to vulnerable children. The news isn't good—but Connect for Kids Editor Susan Phillips believes that in this case, information is indeed power.

The New Mexico resort town of Taos isn't known for its elevated rates of child poverty and teen homelessness. But those harsh realities have spurred a team of seven local women to create a special place where at least some homeless teens can get the help they need to become successful young adults. Denise M. Spranger reports.

A lack of caring adult intervention contributes to school cultures that tolerate violence, bullying and guns. That's the view of journalist Caitlin Kelly, five years after the deadly Columbine High School shootings in Colorado. Kelly looked into youth attitudes towards school violence as part of the research for her new book, Blown Away.

This week, Kate Mattos, the president of our board of directors, provides an inside look at Connect for Kids' support of childhood nutrition efforts.

With an estimated one in five female high school students reporting physical or sexual abuse by a dating partner, the need to offer teens the tools they need to stay safe and build healthy relationships is urgent. Joan E. Lisante reports on some promising approaches to a devastating problem.

Readers shared their thoughts on a variety of Connect for Kids' topics over the past few months. From ?help with healing? to ?visions of sugarplums,? there are lots of issues that parents, educators, policymakers and advocates are thinking about.

In California's Contra Costa County, an environmentally-savvy mom is helping preschool administrators recognize and eliminate toxic hazards in their classrooms. This article originally appeared in the January-February 2004 issue of the Children's Advocate, published by Action Alliance for Children.

Growing concerns that some antidepressants may be linked to an increased risk of suicide and suicidal thinking in children and adolescents has raised the stakes for families struggling to help a depressed child. Connect for Kids interviewed two experts?Dr. Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Lawrence H. Diller?and found powerful similarities in the message each one has for parents.

Emotional upheaval is part of adolescence. But depression and thoughts of death pose a serious threat to teens, for whom suicide is the third leading cause of death. How can a friend, teacher, or coach help a despairing teen? The Yellow Ribbon program offers a starting place. Lee Nelson reports.