For many years, teen fathers were either overlooked or blamed for their role in teen pregnancy. However, interest in designing programs to reduce teen pregnancy and to enhance outcomes for babies and children, as well as meet the needs of this vulnerable population, has increased in recent years. A National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse brief authored by Child Trends, Promising Teen Fatherhood Programs: Initial Evidence Lessons from Evidence-Based Research, identifies ten common features of "model" and "promising" programs for teen fathers. Eighteen fatherhood programs were assessed and, of these, one was identified as a "model" program and three as "promising" programs.

True Majority and US Action are leading a coalition for a recovery package that stabilizes financial institutions; guarantees quality, affordable health care; grants all children access to high quality education from early childhood through college; develops a clean energy economy and independence from fossil fuels and oil; tackles poverty and strengthens our nation's infrastructure.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that at least 44 states are facing budget shortfalls -- the budget gaps for the remainder of this fiscal year to 2011 are estimated to more than $350 billion. At least 30 states have made or proposed budget cuts that threaten vital services, including public health, education and state workforce reductions.

One in nine children in America is uninsured, according to a new Families USA's report. The vast majority of uninsured children -- 88.2 percent -- come from families where at least one parent works and five states (Texas, California, Florida, New York and Georgia) account for nearly half of all uninsured children in the country.

A new report from the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine finds that physical activity among adolescents has decreased in the past 10 years and rates of chronic diseases, such as asthma and diabetes, have increased. The report also found that, although 10-20 percent of adolescents annually experience a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, their access to specialized mental health care has decreased.

The National Center for Children in Poverty finds some improvements in states since its original report, but there is a long way to go.

New data finds widespread increases in teen birth rates in 2006 in all ethnic groups and many states; states with the lowest teen birth rates showed the least change. Kristen Moore of Child Trends says the new state-by-state data suggest that the downturn in birth rates is over.

Project Play is an initiative to inspire families and neighborhoods to play traditional backyard games like "Follow the Leader," "Treasure Hunt," or "Kick the Can"-games that demand imagination and foster creativity. Through a series of lively hardcover children's books featuring a group of active neighborhood kids, Project Play provides guidance to parents and children for getting back to basics and enjoying the joy and freedom of playtime. In addition, Project Play encourages parents to make play a priority-for as founder and author Marlene Byrne believes-it is as equally important to be creative and imaginative as it is to be smart.

With at least 43 states facing budget shortfalls and many seeing increased enrollment in state programs, the Kasier Network reports that 49 governors met with President-elect Obama "to discuss an economic stimulus package that could include additional federal Medicaid funds for states."

Higher-income fifth grade students in suburban school districts are no more likely to have access to healthy or unhealthy foods than are their lower-income, urban peers, according to a new Child Trends study. However, schools attended by higher-income students offer their students a greater selection of both healthy and unhealthy food choices -- and more than half of elementary schools offer access to food that doesn't have to meet federal nutrition standards.