ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Missouri Safe Schools Coalition is gearing up for the 2011 Missouri legislative session with what's being called a "power summit" in Jefferson City on Dec. 9. The members' goal is to design a "safe schools law." A similar proposal was defeated last year; since that time, the Coalition has grown to 40 groups across the state.
Nancy Belt with Coalition member Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel points to the national headlines of teen suicides and a recent national poll that found almost half of all high school students had been bullied, as reasons why Missouri needs tougher anti-bullying laws. The faith community is involved, in part, because of research that found 20 percent of children are bullied based on their religion, she says.
"Religion is one of those areas that there can be a lot of discrimination applied to."
Along with religion, Belt says, the proposed law would protect young people who might be a target because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or race. Opponents argue there should be equal protection for everyone, and certain characteristics should not be singled out as more worthy of protection than others. However, advocates with the Coalition, such as Promo Fund, contend a law that defines categories gives educators guidance by addressing specific forms of bullying.
Morgan Keenan, Missouri Safe Schools coordinator with Promo Fund, says identifying categories such as religion is an effective way of decreasing bullying incidents.
"Kids are being bullied not just because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, they're being bullied because they have a different religion. That's something we've got to think about in every school district."
Within the past year, several states, such as New York and North Carolina, passed anti-bullying laws that include categories.
The statistics are from the report "Torment to Teasing" released by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), available at www.glsen.org.
get more stories like this via email
Today is National Daughters Day and for one Utah teenager, the title only seemed like a dream until recently.
Lilyauna Coffey, 19, lives in Salt Lake City. She spent nine years in the foster care system looking for her forever home and family. It was just last year her dream became reality.
Jessica Coffey said she and her husband Sam temporarily took Lilyauna in as she was waiting for an initial adoptive family to be ready. But after not having "clicked" with the family, Jessica said Lilyauna wanted to stay with them.
"When her adoption worker, that does work with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, called us and was like, 'Hey, you know, Lilyauna was wondering if you guys would adopt her?' We already were ready to say yes," Coffey recounted. "What was supposed to be like two weeks max, just turned into forever and it's been great."
Coffey stressed it is important for families looking to adopt to realize there are many teenagers looking for permanent homes. She noted being a teen is hard already and for those who lack the support, consistency and love of a family, entering adulthood can be overwhelming.
The latest state data show there are about 2,000 children in Utah's foster care system, with fewer than 600 adopted per year.
Rita Soronen, president and CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, said when a judge permanently severs a child's relationship to their biological family, whether it be due to neglect or abuse, children are promised permanency. But about 20,000 children nationwide turn 18 each year and leave foster care without a family.
Soronen argued more must be done.
"That's why Wendy's Wonderful Kids programs -- for example, in Utah and across the nation -- are so critical to move those children to permanency," Soronen explained. "To minimize the trauma they've already experienced, and to move them toward a journey of healing with a family that can provide them the support and the care."
Soronen added what everyone strives for at the end of the day is a home, which she contended is evident in art and literature throughout American history.
"T.S. Eliot said, 'Home is where we start from,'" Soronen said. "Think of Judy Garland in the movie, right? 'There's no place like home, there's no place like home.' It is at the essence of who we are."
Disclosure: The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption contributes to our fund for reporting on Children's Issues, LGBTQIA Issues, Philanthropy, and Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
About 53% of high school students think voting is important, according to a survey out today from the nonprofit Youth Truth.
Researchers polled 115,000 American high school students, including Californians, on civic engagement and found 60% believe "helping others is important," but only 44% feel confident in their ability to make a difference.
Jennifer de Forest, interim vice president of Youth Truth, said 30% of students translate their intentions into meaningful action.
"They say, 'We don't know where to start,'" de Forest explained. "And that's the best-case scenario, because for many students, they've actually internalized the message that the system is broken, and that what they have to say doesn't matter."
Latino students report feeling the most disempowered. Only 26% have taken civic action and just 46% believe voting is important. Many students said they are more focused on academic success and college acceptance. But they say extracurriculars like scouting, band and sports do make them feel more civic-minded.
Kate Snow, coordinator of school climate for the Davis Joint Unified School District, which brought diverse student groups together for a youth empowerment workshop, said districts need to build young people's confidence in the importance of their voices.
"There's a link between how schools are engaging students and helping students see their own power and use their power, with how they see and use it in the public arena," Snow pointed out.
The report encouraged schools to promote the importance of voting and students getting involved in their community.
Disclosure: YouthTruth contributes to our fund for reporting on Education, Philanthropy, and Youth Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
People who have gone through the foster care system in Oregon will get a chance to help improve it. The Oregon Department of Human Services has agreed to a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed by foster children. As part of the agreement, foster youth and anyone who has aged out of care since 2019, when the suit was filed, will get a chance to share their feedback about the settlement with U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken on September 12th.
Emily Cooper, legal director for Disability Rights Oregon, one of the organizations that filed the initial lawsuit. She welcomes the opportunity for input.
"They have an opportunity to say, 'I think the state should also, maybe do these other things,' or 'the state should really focus on this.' And the court and we really want to hear from these children and young adults," she said.
A listening session is being held today at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. to provide instructions on how to share feedback. Cooper notes nearly 5,000 people will be eligible to participate. Those wanting to share must sign up online by August 15th or send a letter to Judge Aiken by August 16th.
Cooper said the state needs to make drastic changes to the foster care system. The initial suit was filed because of concerns about kids being abused, neglected and going without essential services. She says the state has agreed to make certain changes over the next ten years.
"Making sure that kids aren't cycling in and out of the system, going home, coming back. That's called reentry. It's making sure they have case plans within the first two months of entering care, making sure they get the services like medical, dental, mental health care when they're in care," Cooper said.
Cooper shared the agreement with one of the women involved in the case and she told Cooper she cried after reading it.
"She said, 'Because if all of these promises that are in this agreement had been kept before I entered care, I wouldn't have the scars I have. So I think this is not just for me but every single kid like me," Cooper added.
get more stories like this via email