The Spring 2008 issue of Evaluation Exchange from the Harvard Family Research Project looks at promising practices in family involvement. In particular, it highlights the importance of partnerships within communities for better child outcomes, and how family involvement fits into a broader approach to children's success in education and in life.

Check out this blog from the nonprofit Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) for the latest happenings in child nutrition, with easy-to-digest writing about policies, research and what we can all do to help kids eat and live more healthily in and out of school.

Children who have been abused or neglected often have a range of unique physical and mental health needs and developmental delays, far greater than other high-risk populations. In fact, studies suggest that nearly sixty percent of children in foster care experience a chronic medical condition, and one-quarter suffer from three or more chronic health conditions. This First Focus policy brief analyzes some of the key health care issues facing foster care children.

At least one-third of children in foster care have physical or mental disabilities and are at higher risk for poor educational, employment and well-being outcomes. This report from the National Council on Disability finds that federal investments are undercut by lack of coordination across programs and agencies. It offers recommendations for policymakers.

Drugs4Real is a free Web-based prevention program that teaches early adolescents (ages 11 to 14) about the influence of alcohol and other drugs, and strengthens their commitment to avoid taking these substances. This program has been scientifically tested with kids and was shown to effectively improve knowledge regarding the risks of drug and alcohol abuse.

ParentingTeensOnline is a free monthly e-magazine for parents of teens ages 12-19. It offers practical, expert-guided advice and support on teen health, media and technology, drugs/alcohol, education, volunteering, sports, social issues, babysitting, sexuality ... and more. Parents can learn what's happening before they need to know it's happening. The site has a variety of interactive features, including as Ask An Expert (advisory board members respond to parent questions) and polls.

Young people with emotional or mental illness risk an abrupt interruption in or loss of services when they age out of the child mental health system at age 18 or 21. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Partnerships for Youth Transition Initiative brought together systems and resources in five sites to serve transition-age youth. This brief looks at the results, what’s next for federal and state policy, and what communities can do to support these young people.

The DRC can be used to identify and compare the health and health needs of children and youth. It provides asy-to-understand tables and graphs that users can download to (1) stimulate and inform state and community improvement partnerships, (2) educate program leaders, policymakers, and the public, (3) build data literacy, and (4) inform research and grant development. Technical assistance and education are also available to further advance evidence-based policy, program development, and advocacy on behalf of children, youth, and families.

Community health workers can help families overcome barriers to accessing health care in their communities and in their language. For many low-income families with children, community health workers are the front-line of health care. This new policy brief from the National Assembly's Family Strengthening Policy Center includes case studies, resources, and policy recommendations to apply the lessons learned so far.

New research on Swedish twins—published in the March issue of the U.S. journal, Archives of General Psychiatry—suggests that anorexia nervosa may be inherited, and linked with anxiety and/or depression early in life. Noting that this is not a "disorder of choice," researchers posit that a genetic predisposition may be triggered by environmental factors. Anorexia has highest death rate of any mental illness; this study may influence identification and treatment.