Michigan is taking steps to improve the child welfare system for National Foster Care Month.

In Michigan, nearly a quarter of young people who are in foster care at age 17 experience homelessness by the time they turn 19, and it jumps to about a third by 21. And unemployment rates for former foster youths are 2.5 times higher than the general youth population.

Demetrius Starling, executive director of the state's Children's Services Agency, said things such as wraparound and mental-health services have not always been available to families and kids in a timely manner.

"We're looking at permanency, we're looking at ways to wrap services around our families and communities and keep kids safely at home if at all possible," Starling explained. "But also, we're really looking to make sure that we keep siblings placed in foster care together, and also limit the time that children are spending in foster homes."

The steps build on reforms that have been in progress for more than a decade, after a national advocacy group filed a class-action lawsuit in 2006 alleging constitutional and federal law violations regarding permanency of foster placements, lack of proper medical and dental care and few supports for those aging out of the system. Since then, there have been multiple consent decrees to make improvements.

Starling added National Foster Care Month is also a time to encourage individuals and families to consider fostering a child.

"Michigan right now has approximately 10,500 children in foster care at any given time," Starling reported. "So we truly need foster families to keep these children safe, and to care for them until they can be returned to their family, which of course is our priority."

He noted people who are interested can call one of the state's foster-care navigators, at 855-MICH-KIDS. He said navigators are experienced in connecting potential foster families with the right agency and any guidance they may need.

Over the next couple of weeks, kids across Minnesota will head back to school. Addiction specialists say now is a good time for parents to address any concerning behavior in their child's online habits. Internet addiction is not formally recognized yet in a key reference tool from the American Psychiatric Association.

But Dr. Sara Polley, Minnesota-based child & adolescent psychiatry specialist and director of addiction psychiatry at Ellie Mental Health, feels it will eventually be considered a disorder. For adolescents, being on social media too much can be harmful to brains that are still developing, she said. So, if they have been spending a lot of time online this summer, parents need to re-establish healthy habits.

"It's really helpful to discuss with your family a media plan that applies to both the children in the family and the parents in the family, with potentially specific times set aside for use of social media or use of the internet not related to completing school assignments," she explained.

She also recommended "tech-free zones" in places like the kitchen, in hopes of sparking more family conversations. If your teen becomes combative when asked to limit screen time or is becoming socially withdrawn and only prefers to be online, Polley said it is time to seek advice from a family doctor or mental health professional.

Polley added pushing above the "three-hours-a-day" mark of social media use can put adolescents at greater risk for depression and anxiety. It can also prevent them from getting a good night's sleep, making the back-to-school transition problematic.

"And when I ask young people, 'What are you doing when you're up late at night?' - nearly 100% of the time, they say that they're on their computer, they're using social media, they're watching videos on YouTube." she continued. "And that can make it really difficult for them to do what they need to do during their usual full-time job, which is going to school."

Other experts worry the effects could result in disruptive behavior in the classroom. Middle school and high school students are often sent home with tablets and laptops for school use. They might come with settings limiting what can be done online, but Polley said it is still good for parents to set their own boundaries. Those could include only allowing the devices to be used in the living room, or making sure they are placed in backpacks when homework is completed.


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Mental-health coverage and using digital devices to communicate with doctors' offices are among the health-care priorities of Generation Z. Providers are urged to make note of the needs of patients born between the late 1990s and the early 2010s. Industry researchers say like a lot of other age groups, Gen Z embraces telemedicine. But as these individuals begin to navigate adulthood, they also value apps that make it easier to schedule appointments, manage conditions and look up data.

Richelle Andrae, government relations specialist with the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, said more importantly, this generation wants to feel empowered when receiving care.

"I don't think a Gen Z individual is really likely to just be directed to what to do with their health care," she said. "They need that buy-in and options so that they can have a voice in the process of providing care."

She said Gen Z deserves praise for normalizing conversations regarding behavioral health amid nationwide calls to expand mental-health care and insurance plans to cover those expenses. According to Y-Pulse data, 71% of consumers in this age group say they value brands that incorporate mental health as part of their marketing.

Dr. Donald Tavakoli, national medical director for behavioral health with United Healthcare, said Z is just starting to enter the workforce. Because they report higher rates of depression, eating disorders and even suicidal behaviors, he said it is important they understand terms such as deductibles, co-insurance and out-of-pocket when signing up for plans.

"They have significant rates of mental illness, so we think it's really important that they first have their health insurance lingo down - really understanding the common terms of how to navigate health insurance," he said.

Industry experts say because they prioritize their mental health, these individuals are likely to seek out employers who offer packages with quality behavioral health coverage.

Health equity is another priority for Gen Z. Andrae said her organization, which is the member association for community health centers around Wisconsin, is trying to reduce access barriers for underserved populations, including young adults and adolescents.

"They may not have a parent or a family member or a guardian who can take them to a clinic after work," Andrae said. Maybe that parent or guardian is working multiple jobs."

Wisconsin has the largest and longest-running youth apprenticeship program in the country. And social policy researchers are out with new findings that detail its strengths in creating pathways for better economic outcomes.

This summer, the Urban Institute issued a policy brief about the history and reach of the state's apprenticeship program for high school-age students.

The authors say Wisconsin has adopted a well-structured, low-cost system with state support that allows for plenty of local control.

Robert Lerman is a fellow with the Institute's Center on Labor, Human Services and Population - and he helped compile the findings. He said the Badger State's approach really gets to the heart of blending academics with "on-the-job" training.

"They have part of the day or part of the week," said Lerman, "they're at their workplace. But the whole point is that the workplace is a learning center for them."

Lerman said that's especially important for high-school students worried about the cost of college.

The Institute says another highlight of Wisconsin's program is that it has statewide curricula and skill standards, meaning an apprentice's credentials can be portable.

Researchers say a weak spot is limitations for youth to move on to registered apprenticeship systems that offer extended training.

Lerman said even though rising college costs might inspire more teens to take up apprenticeships, it's important to remember that some people like to "learn by doing," no matter the circumstances.

He suggested that if more states beef up their programs as Wisconsin has, the nation could benefit in a variety of ways.

"We can improve equity and improve opportunity," said Lerman, "and efficiency, and productivity for the country."

He added that his research has found that in general U.S. apprenticeship programs lag behind many other countries in terms of their scope.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin's program for youth has seen strong demand - including this past school year, with more than 5,700 employers providing apprenticeships to nearly 8,300 students.




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