Children's Issues / Public News Service

About three in five kids in foster care return home to their parents or other family members.<br />(avtk/Adobe Stock) — About three in five kids in foster care return home to their parents or other family members.
(avtk/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 3: The Future

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a system plagued by a history of disparities, Ohio's child-welfare workers and children's advocates say it is time to reimagine …

A new report says child-care expenses make up roughly 10% of a family's income in South Dakota. The percentages are much higher for families of color. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

New Report Details Child-Care Issues in SD

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- If South Dakota wants to turn out a thriving economy, quality affordable child care needs to be a vital component, according to a …

An estimated 181,000 children and families in Pennsylvania were served through Child Protective Services in 2020, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Report: Child-Abuse Cases in PA Rose in 2020

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With kids stuck at home early in the pandemic, a new report said child-abuse cases decreased in 2020, but children's advocates say …

More than 48,000 foster children live in institutional placements in the U.S., representing 10% of the foster-care population. (Adobe stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Report: Stop Using Group Homes for Foster Kids

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Almost 4,000 children in Maryland are in foster care, and a new study calls for ending the use of group homes and institutions …

Poverty can be misconstrued as neglect. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 2: The Present

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As policymakers and child-welfare leaders move to transform the foster-care system, advocates say there are misconceptions about …

Maine has more than 2,000 children in foster care, but not enough families for family placements. (cristalov/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Groups: Maine Foster Youths Need More Families Available for Placements

PORTLAND, Maine -- About 2,200 children are in foster care in Maine, and agencies say there are not enough families who are actively able to accept …

Advocates for children and families say the Build Back Better Act would improve Medicaid and CHIP, the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

CONCORD, N.H. -- Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it cleared the House last month. It would …

North Dakota has seven community action agencies spread across the state. They offer a number of programs, including Head Start. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

ND Head Start Programs Encounter Enrollment Issues

FARGO, N.D. - As North Dakota families navigate the latest phase of the pandemic, community action agencies worry the crisis is affecting parents' …

About one in 10 births in the U.S. happens in Texas, but the state's maternal mortality rate is 6% higher than the U.S. rate overall. (regina_zulauf/Pixabay)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Build Back Better Would Close Gap in TX Kids' Health Coverage

HOUSTON -- Children's advocates say the difficulty in providing health coverage for poor families in Texas could be largely solved if the Build Back B…

More than 5,000 Missouri children and teens leave foster care every year. For older teens who are transitioning to adulthood, housing can be a challenge. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Life After Foster Care: MO Youth Need Housing, Support Systems

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Missourians, housing …

Human service providers say even after a foster contract has been fulfilled, maintaining connections with kids who have aged out of the system can provide much-needed stability as they move into adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Making the Holiday Season Brighter for Foster Kids Entering Adulthood

MILWAUKEE - With the holidays here, Wisconsin foster families and other mentors are encouraged to maintain close connections with older teens no …

Florida KidCare is the umbrella brand for the four government-sponsored health insurance programs - Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan. (Semevent/Pixabay)

Monday, December 6, 2021

FL Health Groups Urge Senate Passage of Build Back Better

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Healthcare reform advocates are asking U.S. senators to pass the Build Back Better Act, saying it would provide a federal fix for …

The Build Back Better Act contains provisions that would bolster coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and Medicaid. (Arlette/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Children's Advocates: Build Back Better 'Crucial' for UT Kids' Health

SALT LAKE CITY -- Health-care reform advocates in Utah are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act. They say it would improve …

Over 200 Colorado youths age out of foster care each year in the state, without being adopted or placed with extended family members. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Help for Foster Youths During Stressful Holiday Season

DENVER - Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Colorado it happens on their 18th birthday…

New York City launched a community schools initiative in 2014. A study three years later found it had a positive impact on student attendance and credit accumulation. (Adobe Stock)

Teachers’ Union Issues Recommendations for NY Public Schools

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has released a new report this week, with recommendations from educators about how best to …

Healthcare provisions in The Build Back Better Act would increase Medicaid and CHIP coverage for people after a pregnancy, from 60 days to one year postpartum. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 'Build Back Better' Could Shrink NC Health Coverage Gap

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Many low-income North Carolinians without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

The Early Learning Center at Everett Community College provides free preschool to eligible families through the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. (Image capture: Jul 2017 �2021 Google)

Everett Community College Pauses Plans to Close Early Learning Center

EVERETT, Wash. -- After community pushback, Everett Community College has paused plans to close its Early Learning Center, which has provided child-…

Research shows that only 50% of kids who experience a gap in coverage in a given year will see a doctor. (Drazen/Adobestock)

Health Groups Press for Senate Passage of Build Back Better

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Children's advocacy groups are calling on senators to pass the Build Back Better Act, saying it will protect millions of …

Families of three making less than $45,000 a year are eligible for Missouri's Medicaid and CHIP programs. (H_Ko)

Groups: Build Back Better Could Improve Health Outcomes for MO Children

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act after it passed the House last month. The bill …

Most families of four making up to $300,000 per year would be eligible for savings on child care if the U.S. Senate passes the Build Back Better Act. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

IL Groups: Build Back Better Would Improve Children's Health

CHICAGO - Children's advocates in Illinois are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it passed the House last month…

Potential in Congress to Close TN Health-Coverage Gap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Many low-income Tennesseans without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

Healthcare advocacy groups say increasing Medicaid postpartum coverage up to one year after a child's birth can help decrease maternal mortality rates, which disproportionately affect people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Build Back Better's CHIP, Medicaid Changes Support NY Families

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act will soon get a vote in the U.S. Senate, and in New York, advocates say it could mean major …

Wisconsin's Black infant mortality rate is the highest in the country. Backers of the Build Back Better Act say it's one priority the legislation could address. (Adobe Stock)

Report: BBB Could Help with Maternal Care Needs in WI

MADISON, Wis. - As Congress debates the Build Back Better plan, a new report shows how it could address health coverage needs for children and …

When it comes to health coverage, 36% of Iowa children are enrolled in public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: BBB a Win For Kids' Health Coverage

DES MOINES, Iowa -- As Congress continues to debate the Build Back Better Act, a new report shows how it would address health coverage and access …

The Build Back Better Act would require states to provide 12 months of postpartum health coverage and 12 months of continuous health coverage for children, as well as making federal funding for CHIP permanent. (didesign/AdobeStock)

Children's Advocates See Build Back Better Act Improving AZ Kids' Health

PHOENIX -- Health advocates in Arizona and across the country are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would …

Without health-care coverage, children are more likely to have unmet health needs and a regular source of care. (Rido/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br /> — Without health-care coverage, children are more likely to have unmet health needs and a regular source of care. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

New Research Highlights Child Health Benefits in Build Back Better

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would improve Medicaid and the …

Young people who are transitioning out of foster care could be spending the holidays without a support system. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Aging Out of Foster Care System Presents Challenges for MT Youth

MISSOULA, Mont. - Young people who age out of the foster care program face unique challenges. Those challenges can feel especially acute and …

The report suggests student loan forgiveness, for human services employees in the state who work at a<br />behavioral health provider for a minimum of two years, could help with the worker shortage. (Adobe Stock) — The report suggests student loan forgiveness, for human services employees in the state who work at a
behavioral health provider for a minimum of two years, could help with the worker shortage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Child Behavioral Health Providers Chronically Understaffed

CAMP HILL, Pa. - Pennsylvania's child welfare and behavioral health services are in crisis, with a worker shortage exacerbated by the pandemic…

The <a href= — The 2021 Nevada Children's Health Report from the Children's Advocacy Alliance found that only 56 percent of uninsured kids receive regular medical attention. (Rawpixel/Adobestock)

Advocates Tout Child-, Maternal-Health Aspects of Build Back Better Act

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would improve Medicaid and CHIP - …

Nearly 2,000 children in New Mexico's foster care system will be recipients of new EcoCare Kits to help them connect to nature and their court-appointed advocates. (3330852/Pixabay)

NM Nature Kits Connect Foster Children with Court Advocates

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The 800 children living in foster care near Albuquerque are some of the first to receive a new therapeutic kit designed to help …

Nearly 1.5 million low-income children benefited from suppers through after-school nutrition programs in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

More CO Kids Received Supper During Pandemic School Closures

DENVER - Colorado was able to increase student participation in Afterschool Nutrition Programs in 2020, even during school closures, according to new …

Ivy Smith, who was part of the foster care system, recieved her undergraduate degree from Boise State University in 2020. (Ivy Smith)

Struggles of Aging-Out Foster Youth in Focus as Holidays Approach

BOISE, Idaho - The holidays can be a hard time for foster care youth, especially young people who have recently aged out of the system. Ivy Smith…

The expensive costs of child care in New York create economic hardship for some families, according to a report from the Children's Agenda. (Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Would Amplify New York's Child Care, Pre-K Investments

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.7 trillion Build Back Better Act now moves to the Senate where it will face an uphill battle after passing the House Friday…

This is one the new homes in the Simply Smiles Children's Village on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The specialized homes provide culturally specific foster care to Indigenous children. (Simply Smiles)

New SD Project Builds Foster Homes in Tribal Communities

LA PLANT, S.D. -- South Dakota has struggled to establish a network of foster parents in tribal communities, but solutions are in play, including a …

The child tax credit provides families $300 a month for children younger than age six and $250 for children ages 6 to 17. (vetre/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better to Provide Boost to MT Families, Supporters Say

HELENA, Mont. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Montana and across the country…

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

Black youths are disproportionately impacted by the lack of a minimum age for criminal responsibility in Illinois; 60% to 62% of kids age 10 to 13 who are arrested are Black. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

CHICAGO -- At this week's World Congress on Justice with Children, Illinois experts and researchers shared ways the U.S. could work to get back in …

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability. (Adobe Stock)

All Eyes on New Douglas County School Board Over Masks

DENVER -- Students with disabilities in Douglas County won some time after a federal judge ruled last week a new county health department order making…

The Build Back Better Act could add 3,900 rental vouchers to Oregon that could house 8,000 people. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Act Could Support Families, Affordable Housing in OR

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Oregon and across the country…

Dee Scales works with students in sixth through eighth grades at Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy in Pittsburgh. (Photo courtesy Pennsylvania State Education Assn.)

American Education Week: Honoring PA's Support Professionals

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - They work with students in the classroom, in the school office or even in the cafeteria - and in celebration of American Education …

Social-emotional skills help kids learn, since they improve attendance and also decrease the need for disciplinary referrals. (Adobe Stock)

Schools Work to Give Ohio Kids a Safe Space to Learn

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio schools continue to adjust to the evolving impacts of COVID-19, which means addressing both the academic and mental-stress …

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

Students often face delays in getting their academic records transferred to their new school, which can lead to delays in re-enrollment. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Address Barriers to Graduation for Some PA Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A bill making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly would help ensure a smooth transition to graduation for young …

When schools were able to offer free meals to all kids regardless of their financial situation at home during the global pandemic, school nutrition departments saw an increase in participation. (Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Urge Congress to Pass Build Back Better Act

DENVER - This week the U.S. House is expected to finally put the Build Back Better Act up for a vote, and children's advocates in Colorado are …

A report from the group "Listen to Us" finds that abused children too often are traumatized further while in foster care. (Wallyir/Morguefile)

Advocates Call for Eliminating Group Homes for Foster Kids

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Group homes and large institutional foster-care settings should be phased out - that's the recommendation of a recent report …

A recent study from the group "Listen to Us" recommends states do more to place foster children with relatives and make sure to consider the child's preference on placement. (Altanaka/Adobestock)

Report: Group Homes for Foster Kids Should Be Phased Out

CARSON CITY, Nev. - More than 3,000 children in Nevada are in foster care - and a recent study recommends that much more be done to keep them in …

Philadelphia has over 100 Park Friends groups that act as stewards of public lands in the city. (Adobe Stock)

PA Lawmakers Consider Bills to Keep Parks Programming Afloat

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Bills making their way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly would provide more resources to people who keep parks and …

Nearly 100,000 children in Arkansas have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to state Department of Health data. (Adobe Stock)

AR Leads Multistate Research on Kids' Long-Haul COVID Cases

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas will lead a 14-state study of the long-term effects of COVID-19 on children, with the hopes of finding effective …

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Children's

Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 3: The Future

New Report Details Child-Care Issues in SD

Report: Child-Abuse Cases in PA Rose in 2020

Report: Stop Using Group Homes for Foster Kids

Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 2: The Present

Groups: Maine Foster Youths Need More Families Available for Placements

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

ND Head Start Programs Encounter Enrollment Issues

Build Back Better Would Close Gap in TX Kids' Health Coverage

Life After Foster Care: MO Youth Need Housing, Support Systems

Making the Holiday Season Brighter for Foster Kids Entering Adulthood

FL Health Groups Urge Senate Passage of Build Back Better

Children's Advocates: Build Back Better 'Crucial' for UT Kids' Health

Help for Foster Youths During Stressful Holiday Season

Teachers’ Union Issues Recommendations for NY Public Schools

Report: 'Build Back Better' Could Shrink NC Health Coverage Gap

Everett Community College Pauses Plans to Close Early Learning Center

Health Groups Press for Senate Passage of Build Back Better

Groups: Build Back Better Could Improve Health Outcomes for MO Children

IL Groups: Build Back Better Would Improve Children's Health

Potential in Congress to Close TN Health-Coverage Gap

Advocates: Build Back Better's CHIP, Medicaid Changes Support NY Families

Report: BBB Could Help with Maternal Care Needs in WI

Report: BBB a Win For Kids' Health Coverage

Children's Advocates See Build Back Better Act Improving AZ Kids' Health

New Research Highlights Child Health Benefits in Build Back Better

Aging Out of Foster Care System Presents Challenges for MT Youth

Report: PA Child Behavioral Health Providers Chronically Understaffed

Advocates Tout Child-, Maternal-Health Aspects of Build Back Better Act

NM Nature Kits Connect Foster Children with Court Advocates

More CO Kids Received Supper During Pandemic School Closures

Struggles of Aging-Out Foster Youth in Focus as Holidays Approach

Build Back Better Would Amplify New York's Child Care, Pre-K Investments

New SD Project Builds Foster Homes in Tribal Communities

Build Back Better to Provide Boost to MT Families, Supporters Say

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

All Eyes on New Douglas County School Board Over Masks

Build Back Better Act Could Support Families, Affordable Housing in OR

American Education Week: Honoring PA's Support Professionals

Schools Work to Give Ohio Kids a Safe Space to Learn

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

Bill Would Address Barriers to Graduation for Some PA Kids

Children's Advocates Urge Congress to Pass Build Back Better Act

Advocates Call for Eliminating Group Homes for Foster Kids

Report: Group Homes for Foster Kids Should Be Phased Out

PA Lawmakers Consider Bills to Keep Parks Programming Afloat

AR Leads Multistate Research on Kids' Long-Haul COVID Cases