BOISE, Idaho -- With the stress from the pandemic raising concerns about child abuse and neglect, Idaho organizations are coming together to offer parents support.
This week, a two-year-old died in an alleged abuse case in Garden City, near Boise.
Speakers from Saint Luke's Health System and Idaho Children's Trust Fund hold a news conference today to unveil their child-abuse prevention campaign.
Roger Sherman, executive director for the Idaho Children's Trust Fund, said kids need us right now.
"There's no shame in feeling overwhelmed, especially at a time like this, when so many of us don't have some of the regular supports that we normally would have," Sherman explained. "Our friends and family are maybe a long way away."
Other organizations involved in the effort include the Blue Cross Idaho Foundation, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Micron Foundation.
The urgency to address abuse spiked after two infant deaths in Idaho last year.
The coalition has already released a public service announcement on television and social media with resources for parents.
Sherman noted the changes prompted by the pandemic for families can be debilitating.
"It's a struggle for pretty much everybody," Sherman observed. "And so we've been concerned, with families under a lot of stress, that it's somewhat of a perfect storm for abuse and neglect."
Resources for parents are online at Idahofamilysupport.org. They include urgent help, like mental-health resources, as well as parent and caregiver supports, like the "Crying Baby Plan."
Folks can also call or text the Help Now Line at 986-867-1073.
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The latest report on the well-being of Tennessee's children noted improvements in some areas and challenges in others.
Statewide, child poverty rates decreased slightly, by one full percentage point between 2021 and 2022, to 17.8%.
Jonquil Newland, director of media relations for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, said the slight decrease may be due to wage growth. She explained since the pandemic, there has been a big push to increase pay, especially hourly wages.
"Where someone was making between $7 and $10 before, now they're probably making between $12 and $15," Newland pointed out. "When you think about that and all the folks who are trying to support families who are living on minimum wages, that we believe (is) one of the main indicators of why our children living in poverty has decreased ever so slightly."
One alarming finding in 2022 showed, nearly 10 of every 1,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect. The rate varied widely across counties, with Cocke County reporting the highest number of cases, and Williamson County the lowest.
The report ranked counties on 52 indicators in four areas: economic well-being, education, health, and community and family. Newland pointed out in the previous report, Perry County was ranked 84th for children's well-being and it is now 26th. She explained the area in which Perry has improved the most is education.
"Some of them have improved more in some areas," Newland noted. "For example, Perry County, their biggest room for improvement, or they've improved mostly with a youth graduation rate and on-time graduation rate and the babies born at a low birth weight. So, kudos to them and congratulations to Perry County and others."
Newland added the county profiles provide crucial data for leaders to evaluate their performance, pinpoint weaknesses, celebrate achievements and ultimately, guide resource allocation and funding decisions.
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Companies in Colorado and across the nation are adding adoption and foster care benefits for workers, according to the 18th annual list of 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces.
Misty Valdez - a general manager for Wendy's in Aurora - was contacted by child services after her cousins were separated from their mom due to abuse, endangerment, and neglect.
All but one found new homes. When Valdez and her husband were told in 2019 that Xavi would be sent into state care unless officially adopted, they didn't hesitate.
"It felt like I had found out I was pregnant and gave birth on the same day," said Valdez. "It was an excitement feeling, but at the same time, really nervous. I can't explain it. It was one of those things where it was kind of overwhelming, but exciting at the same time."
In 2020, Colorado voters approved up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for new adoptive or foster parents per year. But nationally, nearly three in four workers still do not receive benefits.
Companies on the list offer an average of just under ten weeks of paid leave for new parents, a slight increase from 2023. They also pitch in nearly $16,000 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs.
After adopting Xavi, Valdez was able to spend ten weeks at home through her company's bonding leave program, which covered 100% of her wages.
She said that time helped bring the family, which included Valdez' two other children, closer together. It was also critical for finding resources to meet Xavi's particular needs.
"There was a lot of abuse prior to him coming into the home, so he had a lot of issues," said Valdez. "So having to move around the schedule, taking him to therapy. Having to adjust to the needs that he needed."
The annual list is compiled by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, named after the fast food chain's founder, who was himself adopted.
Valdez' advice to anyone adopting a child is to bring a lot of patience, and love. And she said the reward makes up for any challenges.
"You have another person that loves you unconditionally," said Valdez. "I'm going to have another kid that's going to have kids, and I'm going to be a grandma to another set of kids. It just expanded my family."
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Virginia is making a financial investment to help tackle the state's childcare shortage.
This year's budget allocates more than $1 billion to expand childcare capacity in 2025 and 2026. Legislation is also streamlining part of the process for people to become childcare providers.
The Center for American Progress finds 47% of Virginians live in areas considered "childcare deserts."
Allison Gibreath, senior director of policy and programs at Voices for Virginia's Children, said the state must also develop its childcare workforce.
"What I'm hearing from providers is they might have a classroom that's completely empty that could fill 15 slots in their community," said Gibreath, "but they cannot open that classroom because they cannot find the workforce to support that classroom."
A Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study finds 74% of Virginia's childcare centers are short-staffed, preventing many parents from entering the workforce.
It says a major factor is low pay for early childhood educators, ranging from $29,000 to $33,000 a year.
Gilbreath said the new investments should trickle down, enabling centers to hire more people and increase pay.
Gilbreath said the additional investment and legislation should strengthen the childcare system, but more can be done to alleviate the large-scale challenges a lack of providers creates.
"When a huge employer is looking for a place to either build a new facility or build a new office anywhere in the country," said Gibreath, "when they come to Virginia, they're starting to ask the question, 'If bring my workforce here, will there be enough childcare options for the workforce?'"
Some bills that didn't pass this year could come up again next session.
One would create an Employee Child Care Assistance Pilot Program for small businesses to help cover childcare costs for their workforce.
Another would expand Headstart's availability for parents attending community colleges.
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