Public News Service

Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reached a record high of nearly 94.5 million in April 2023. The federal government prohibited states from removing people from their rolls during the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Pixabay/192635)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Report: Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

After Texas, a new report shows Florida has seen the second-largest decline in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health …

La inscripci�n en Medicaid y CHIP alcanz� un r�cord de casi 94.5 millones en abril de 2023. El gobierno federal prohibi� a los estados eliminar a personas de sus listas durante la emergencia de salud p�blica de COVID-19. (Pixabay/192635)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Informe: FL entre los estados con más niños que pierden cobertura médica post-COVID

Un nuevo informe muestra que Florida, después de Texas, ha experimentado la segunda mayor disminución en el número de niños …

Dalton (left) and Dawson, together after being adopted in 2017. (Dave Thomas Foundation)

A Florida family's inspiring adoption journey

As siblings in foster care, the fear of being separated is daunting. But thanks to a loving family in Jacksonville, Fla., for two brothers in Ohio…

Oral-health experts note the fact that everyone's mouth is full of bacteria. They recommend a daily routine of brushing and flossing as the best defense against bad bacteria known as plaque. (renatalferro/Pixabay)

Expert tips to prevent cavities for Children's Dental Health Month

Beyond celebrating Valentine's Day, February is Children's Dental Health Month - which serves as a reminder to prioritize oral health habits that can …

The National PTA and ConnectSafely are hosting a free virtual event to help parents safely navigate digital screen times with children and teens. (Pixabay/twinquinn84)

'Safer Internet Day' offers free resources to parents, children

As Florida lawmakers advance bills to restrict children's access to social media, today's Safer internet Day is a global campaign to raise awareness …

Along with boosting reading comprehension, other elements of the American Federation of Teachers' campaign include garnering more support staff and necessary teacher resources, and making strides to improve youth mental health. (Adobe Stock)

New Campaign Works to Aid FL, US Public Education

A new campaign is working to invigorate public schools across Florida and the U.S. The American Federation of Teachers - Real Solutions for Kids …

Researchers at the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health found that nationally, children who visit emergency departments for non-traumatic dental conditions are more likely to be uninsured or covered by Medicaid and live in lower-income households. (jennyfriedrichs/Pixabay)

Report: High Rates of Emergency Rooms for Nontraumatic Dental Conditions

A new report showed children aged 14 and younger are seeking dental care through emergency departments at alarming rates for preventable conditions su…

Adem�s de impulsar la comprensi�n de la lectura, otros elementos de la campa�a de la Federaci�n Estadounidense de Profesores incluyen la obtenci�n de m�s personal de apoyo y recursos necesarios para los profesores, y la realizaci�n de esfuerzos para mejorar la salud mental de los j�venes. (Adobe Stock)

Nueva campaña en favor de la educación pública en FL y EE.UU.

Una nueva campaña pretende reavivar las escuelas públicas de Florida y Estados Unidos. La campaña Real Solutions for Kids and …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Florida's average cost of center-based child care for a toddler in 2021 amounts to 26% of a single mother's income in the state. (Pixabay)

Report: Child Care Costs Push FL Parents to Breaking Point

New data ranks Florida 31st in the country for overall child well-being, however, it showed parents are tapped out on child care costs. The Annie E…

Robbin and Steve Brydges adopted their two boys, Dawson and Dalton, to keep them together. They encourage others to explore the benefits of adoption. (Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption)

'Have an Open Mind' Among Tips for Successful Adoption

Over the past decade, 1,000 Florida children in foster care now have permanent homes, thanks to a program focused on placing older kids who typically …

Parents, students and teachers are raising concerns over proposed education policies in the Sunshine State. (Pixabay)

Parents Fight FL Education Policies with #NotFoolingUs Rally

Some students, parents and educators plan to rally to send a message to Gov. Ron DeSantis on April Fools' Day. The group of unions, parents and …

A pandemic-era law that helped keep children and families continuously with health-insurance coverage will lift gradually starting on April 1. (Pixabay)

FL Could See Spike in Child Uninsured Rate if Health Emergency Ends

As federal pandemic health emergency protections are set to expire starting in April, child advocates are concerned the program that kept Florida's …

Una ley de la �poca de la pandemia que ayud� a mantener a los ni�os y las familias con cobertura de seguro m�dico se levantar� gradualmente a partir del 1 de abril. (Pixabay)

FL Podría aumentar la tasa de niños sin seguro si termina la emergencia de salud

Dado que las protecciones federales de emergencia de salud por pandemia expirarán a partir de abril, a los defensores de los niños les …

Studies show a variety of dental conditions such as untreated decay and tooth loss can cause a profound impact on self-esteem in adolescents. (pixabay)

Oral Hygienist Highlights Dangers of Dental Disorders in Children

Dental hygienists are trying to raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene, noting dental pain is one of the most common reasons for school …

A group of 40 Florida-based organizations has sent a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging the state to publish its plan for keeping people insured when the federal public health emergency expires. (Pixabay)

FL Child Uninsured Rate Stabilizes; Advocates Raise Future Concerns

While the Sunshine State ranks among the top 10 states with the highest rates of uninsured children, it did see more kids with health coverage during …

Un grupo de 40 organizaciones con sede en Florida envi� una carta al gobernador Ron DeSantis, instando al estado a publicar su plan para mantener a las personas aseguradas cuando expire la emergencia de salud p�blica federal. (Pixabay)

Estabilizada tasa de niños sin seguro en FL; se aproximan otras preocupaciones

Si bien el Sunshine State se encuentra entre los 10 estados con las tasas más altas de niños sin seguro médico, hubo más niñ…

The pandemic-era American Rescue Plan temporarily increased the Child Tax Credit for most families from an annual total of $2,000 per child to $3,000 or $3,600 per child, depending on their age. (Pixabay)

Florida Groups Add Momentum to Extending Child Tax Credit

Florida advocates are hopeful, as Congress negotiates an omnibus bill which would continue corporate tax breaks, it will also extend and make …

A survey by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found dealing with behavioral issues and paying for the adoption remain prospective parents' most common concerns, both for adoptions out of foster care and internationally. (Pixabay)

Survey Shows More Families Consider "Building" through Adoption

November is National Adoption Month, a chance to raise awareness about Florida kids waiting to be adopted into a "forever" home and family. A survey …

American children spend a total of 3 billion hours on school buses each year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: State Must Do More on School Bus Electrification

With the Inflation Reduction Act supporting the beginning of a transition to clean school buses, elected officials in Florida are calling for quicker …

Health experts say making sure children are current with all their check-ups is important to their health and academic success. (Pixabay)

Experts Urge Checkups for Florida Kids, Including Mental Health

Experts are reminding parents to schedule time to get health screenings for kids - and to also think beyond the basic back-to-school physical…

Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual report evaluating states on indicators of child well-being finds modest improvements in Florida, keeping its ranking at 35th in the nation for the third year. (AnnieSpratt/Pixabay)

Florida's Child Well-Being Report Card Shows Increase in Mental Distress

Children's advocacy groups are calling on lawmakers to do more to improve the well-being of Florida's kids. For the first time, the 2022 Kids Count …

Florida Healthy Kids administers the Florida Healthy Kids program for children ages 5 through 18. (Pixabay)

FL Families Urged to Sign Up for KidCare as CHIP Marks Silver Anniversary

As a program to improve health-insurance access for children celebrates its silver anniversary, there are calls to ensure it remains strong for the …

Florida Healthy Kids administra el programa Florida Healthy Kids para ni�os de 5 a 18 a�os. (Pixabay)

Instan a familias de FL a inscribirse en KidCare mientras CHIP celebra su Aniversario de Plata

A medida que un programa mejora el acceso al seguro médico para niños celebrando su Aniversario de Plata, hay llamados para garantizar que …

Since the 1990s, some researchers have argued that intense forms of grief should be classified as a mental illness. In 2021, the American Psychiatric Association made the classification official. (Pixabay)

Florida Nonprofit Helps Children Cope with Grief

Losing a loved one can be traumatic, but when it happens to children, it can leave them at risk of anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic stress …

A new report recommends limiting the types of offenses that can land youth in detention and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in placement decisions. (Pixabay)

Report: Youths of Color 50% More Likely to Face Juvenile Incarceration

Almost a quarter-million American children were incarcerated in 2019, according to a new report called "Too Many Closed Doors" from the Sentencing …

In a statement, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Florida lawmakers are

"You Matter:" Messages of Support Follow Passage of 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

LGBTQ advocates are turning their focus to encouraging words for young people who are gay, following passage of Florida's "Parental Rights in …

Florida is among the states at greatest risk of children losing coverage through its Medicaid/CHIP programs, according to the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute. (Pixabay)

Report: FL Children in Jeopardy of Becoming Uninsured

A new report found Florida kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program could be at most risk of losing health coverage when the official public-he…

Florida se encuentra entre los estados con mayor riesgo de que los ni�os pierdan la cobertura a trav�s de sus programas Medicaid/CHIP, seg�n el Instituto de Pol�ticas de Salud de la Universidad de Georgetown. (Pixabay)

Informe: Niños en riesgo de quedarse sin seguro médico en FL

Un nuevo informe muestra que los niños de Florida enrolados en el Programa de Seguro Médico para Niños (CHIP por sus siglas en ingl…

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 …

Florida KidCare es la marca general de los cuatro programas de seguro m�dico patrocinados por el gobierno: Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids y el Plan de salud de Servicios m�dicos para ni�os (CMS). (Semevent / Pixabay)

Grupos de salud en Florida instan al Senado a aprobar Build Back Better

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Defensores de la reforma del sistema de salud están pidiendo a los senadores de los Estados Unidos que aprueben la Ley Build …

Some 500 volunteers made phone calls and canvassed neighborhoods in Broward County to find truant students. (Pixabay)

FL Teachers, Volunteers Go Door-to-Door to Get Missing Students Back to Class

TAMARAC, Fla. -- Teachers and volunteers in Broward County embarked on a unique canvassing campaign to find up to 11,000 students who either have not …

Through P-EBT, eligible schoolchildren receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards that are used to purchase food. (Oleg Magni/Pexels)

Florida OK'd for More than $1B in P-EBT Funding for Children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- After weeks of pressure on Gov. Ron DeSantis to apply for a one-time pandemic food-stamp program, this week Florida became the …

Nearly one in four adults living in households with children said they felt

Report Suggests FL Gains in Child Well-Being Could be Temporary

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An annual report on child well-being underscores the need in Florida for specific action to repair the damage caused by the …

In accordance with a TSA face-mask requirement extension through mid-September, all travelers - even those who are fully vaccinated - must wear masks and practice COVID-safe behavior at all U.S. airports, and aboard commercial aircraft. (Adobe Stock)

As COVID Restrictions Loosen, Safety Urged on Public Transportation

TAMPA, Fla. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined that people two weeks out from receiving their last dose of the COVID-19 …

In Florida, prospective foster parents work with local community organizations to complete the licensing process to become a foster parent. (Pexels)

Florida Sees Growing Need for Foster Families, Training

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- May is National Foster Care Month, and states like Florida are still adjusting to federal changes put in place three years ago…

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that would block transgender children from playing on sports teams that don't align with their gender at birth. (Pexels)

FL Republicans Ban Transgender Athletes, Send Bill to Governor

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Last-minute maneuvering by Republican lawmakers revived a bill that would ban transgender girls and women from playing on public …

Conservative lawmakers across the nation are responding to an executive order by President Joe Biden that bans discrimination based on gender identity in school sports and elsewhere. (Brett Sayles/Pexels)

Opponents Call FL Bill Targeting Transgender Athletes Dangerous, Discriminatory

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Republicans in Congress and more than 20 state legislatures, including Florida, seek to ban trans athletes from competing in …

Florida continues to resist calls and significant financial incentives to expand Medicaid eligibility for nearly all poor adults and children in the state. (Trimmel Gomes)

FL Misses Out on Medicaid Funding in COVID-19 Relief Package

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The pressure is on for states such as Florida to expand Medicaid, currently now missing out on billions of health-care subsidies …

Florida contin�a resistiendo significativas llamadas e incentivos financieros para expandir la elegibilidad de Medicaid para casi todos los adultos y ni�os pobres del estado. (Trimmel Gomes)

FL pierde financiación de Medicaid en el paquete de ayuda COVID-19

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Existe presión para que estados como Florida amplíen Medicaid, ahora que están perdiendo miles de millones de …

Dental spending dropped an estimated 38% in 2020, and is expected to drop another 20% in 2021. (Iryna/Adobe Stock)

Dentists Urge Attention to Oral Health During Pandemic

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- By age five, nearly half of all children have at least one cavity, but in the last year, many kids' regular visits to the …

A new report shows a higher percentage of Florida families are struggling during the COVID crisis than families nationally. <br />(Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels)

Pandemic Intensifies Food, Housing Struggles for Florida Families

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- New data reveals what many policy experts have feared for months - the pandemic has taken a serious toll on the well-being of …

Health-care advocates are bracing for an even larger increase in the number of Florida kids without health insurance as a result of the pandemic. (Pixabay)

Report: Florida Sees Major Increase in Kids without Health Coverage

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The number of children without access to health coverage is on the rise in Florida. An annual report released today by the …

Los defensores de la atenci�n a la salud temen que las bajas en la cobertura de ni�as y ni�os puedan empeorar por la pandemia. (Adobe Stock).

Florida ve un asombroso cambio en los pequeños con Cobertura de Salud

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- La cantidad de infantes sin acceso a la cobertura de salud va a la alza en Florida. Un reporte anual lanzado hoy (viernes) por …

No Kid Hungry Florida has provided more than $1.7 million in grants to 38 schools and organizations. <br />(Centers for Disease Control/Rawpixel)

FL Partnership Adapts School Nutrition Programs to COVID-19

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Some Florida kids are back in school, while others are doing virtual or hybrid learning. Groups fighting childhood hunger are …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced K-12 schools will continue with distance learning for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19. (sweetlouise/Pixabay)

Teachers Union: Unfunded Mandate to Reopen is Unsafe

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is facing backlash from Florida's teachers union for mandating that all school …

Florida showed improvement on nearly every indicator of children's well-being heading into the pandemic, and ranks 35th among states in the latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Pixabay)

Before COVID-19, Florida Ranked 35th in U.S. for Child Well-Being

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A new report ranks Florida 35th among states for the overall well-being of its children, but signs of modest progress from …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced K-12 schools will continue with distance learning for the rest of the school year due to COVID-19. (stevepb/Pixabay)

Florida Educators: Funding Essential to Reopen Safely

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will use nearly $1 billion in federal CARES Act funds to help schools reopen at full capacity in …

Nearly two-thirds of uninsured Latino children reside in five states, including Florida, according to Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Victoria_Borodinova/Pixabay)

COVID-19 Spotlights FL's Uninsured Latino Children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The COVID-19 health crisis has many Americans without health insurance on edge, and a new report says Latino children are …

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FL: Children's