Youth 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 …

More than 60% of LGBTQ homeless youths report being "physically harmed" by others, compared to fewer than half of non-LGBTQ homeless young people. (JP Photography)

Monday, December 6, 2021

MI Groups Raise Awareness of Dangers for LGBTQ Homeless Youth

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The holidays can be a tough time for young people experiencing homelessness, and Michigan organizations are working to provide …

One in 30 teens ages 13 to 17 experience some form of homelessness without a parent or guardian during a year. (Taylor Pecko-Reid/Flickr)

Monday, December 6, 2021

"Path to Help" Campaign: Resources for Homeless MA Youth

BOSTON -- The holidays can be a tough time for many young people who have aged out of foster care or don't have a stable home situation, and …

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 …

Black children represent 36% of the children in foster care in Ohio, while they represent 14% of children in the general population. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

The Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 1: History

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Children Services is tasked with protecting the safety, well-being, and permanency of children and families, but some experts say …

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Idaho student-loan borrowers have an average of about $32,000 in public and private education debt. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Ready or Not, Student-Loan Payments Set to Resume Next Year

BOISE, Idaho - Student loan borrowers take note: a pause on federal student-loan payments is set to end in February. The moratorium on payments has …

One survey found nearly 30% of Washington state young people who were in foster care had a child by age 21. (yufan sun-EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Housing, Other Challenges Face WA Youth After Foster Care

SEATTLE - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Washingtonians, housing is an …

HUD's Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program will support a wide range of efforts to house young people. (Roman Bodnarchuk/Adobe Stock)

HUD Grant to Help OR Fight Youth Homelessness

SALEM, Ore. - Funds from the federal government are helping communities, including two in Oregon, tackle youth homelessness. The U.S. Department of …

Nationally, one in four young people who age out of the foster system experience homelessness within four years. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Don't Leave Young People Behind in Homeless Services

CONCORD, N.H. -- As National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month comes to a close, groups will continue working to identify barriers for young people …

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…

Paige Bethmann and Ku Stevens speak in between interviews at his house on the Yerington Paiute Reservation in Nevada. (Zack Kiszka)

NY Filmmaker Reflects on Upcoming Indian Boarding Schools Documentary

NEW YORK -- A team of New York-based filmmakers is producing a documentary about reclaiming Indigenous heritage, told through the experiences of an 18…

Advocates say states extending foster care-related supports to young adults beyond age 18 is one step toward improving outcomes for those who've experienced the foster-care system. (mizinra/Adobe Stock)

Support Needed for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

INDIANAPOLIS -- As the holiday season draws near, groups are spotlighting ways to support young people transitioning to adulthood after spending time …

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 …

Research suggests that the earlier in life teens use alcohol, the more likely they are to abuse it. (Adobe Stock)

Talking with Teens about Good Choices During the Holidays

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The holiday season has officially started, and one group is encouraging Ohio parents to make a special effort to check in with their …

Advocates for eliminating group-home settings for foster care say they are more expensive per child than in-home placements with families, and lead to worse outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Report Urges Family Foster Homes, Not Group Homes

CHICAGO -- Group homes and large institutional foster-care settings should be phased out, according to the latest survey of kids in the system…

A new report says among responding districts, only 8% of North Dakota schools have LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum. (Adobe Stock)

ND Report Illustrates School-Related Issues for LGBTQ Youth

FARGO, N.D. -- A new report details how North Dakota students who identify as LGBTQ+ often struggle with the environment within their schools…

On a new national report card, Maryland receives a failing grade for not doing enough to help child victims of sex trafficking. Florida, Texas and Mississippi were the top three, respectively, although no state was given an 'A' or 'B' grade. (Adobe Stock)

MD Gets Failing Grade for Supporting Child Sex Victims

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A new report ranks Maryland as one of the worst states in providing support for young victims of sex trafficking. While Maryland …

In the United States, more than 4 million youths and young adults experience some form of homelessness each year. (Adobe Stock)

New App Part of Effort to End Youth Homelessness in MN

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- November is National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month. Compared with other Midwestern states, Minnesota has some of the …

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 …

Since 2017, North Dakota has had around 1,500 children younger than 18 living in foster care annually. (Adobe Stock)

New ND Group Fills Void in Helping Kids Avoid Foster Care System

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Efforts continue in North Dakota to carry out programs put in limbo by this year's closing of Lutheran Social Services (LSS)…

Between 2010 and 2019, felony arrests of people younger than 18 were down 53%, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Youthful-Offender Status Reform Gives New Yorkers a Chance at a Clean Slate

NEW YORK -- This month, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law advocates said gives young people who were caught up in the criminal-…

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 …

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 …

Holiday Season Tough on Foster Kids Transitioning to Adulthood

DES MOINES, Iowa - With the holidays near, foster families in Iowa are encouraged to maintain close connections with older teens no longer receiving …

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 …

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PNS Daily Newscast - December 8, 2021

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Youth

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

MI Groups Raise Awareness of Dangers for LGBTQ Homeless Youth

"Path to Help" Campaign: Resources for Homeless MA Youth

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

Making the Holiday Season Brighter for Foster Kids Entering Adulthood

The Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 1: History

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

Help for Foster Youths During Stressful Holiday Season

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

Teachers’ Union Issues Recommendations for NY Public Schools

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

Health Groups Press for Senate Passage of Build Back Better

Potential in Congress to Close TN Health-Coverage Gap

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

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

Ready or Not, Student-Loan Payments Set to Resume Next Year

Housing, Other Challenges Face WA Youth After Foster Care

HUD Grant to Help OR Fight Youth Homelessness

Groups: Don't Leave Young People Behind in Homeless Services

Report: PA Child Behavioral Health Providers Chronically Understaffed

NY Filmmaker Reflects on Upcoming Indian Boarding Schools Documentary

Support Needed for Young People Aging Out of Foster Care

NM Nature Kits Connect Foster Children with Court Advocates

Talking with Teens about Good Choices During the Holidays

Report Urges Family Foster Homes, Not Group Homes

ND Report Illustrates School-Related Issues for LGBTQ Youth

MD Gets Failing Grade for Supporting Child Sex Victims

New App Part of Effort to End Youth Homelessness in MN

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

New ND Group Fills Void in Helping Kids Avoid Foster Care System

Youthful-Offender Status Reform Gives New Yorkers a Chance at a Clean Slate

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

American Education Week: Honoring PA's Support Professionals

Holiday Season Tough on Foster Kids Transitioning to Adulthood

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