Children's Issues / Public News Service

Breaking down big tasks into smaller steps helps children develop what experts refer to as executive function skills. (Delete/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, June 8, 2023

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Tasks like packing a suitcase for summer travel may be difficult for some Illinois children. Experts said parents and caregivers can help kids over …

Ninety-percent of counties with the worst food insecurity are rural, according to Save the Children.(Viktoriia/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Texas Kids Can Benefit from Nonprofit's “Make Summer Fair” Initiative

The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean …

From left: Angela Hayes, Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Dr. Patricia Bautista-Cervera and Kelly Taulbee at the Kentucky Immunization Summit held May 10. (Amber Malott)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Push to Get KY Kids Back on Track for Routine Vaccinations

Two regional pediatric immunization symposiums are being held this month in Morehead and Owensboro, where experts will share strategies to promote …

Save the Children brings boxes with food and learning materials to rural low-income families in four California counties. (Mariano Friginal/Save the Children)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Nonprofit Works to 'Make Summer Fair' for Rural Kids

Summer break is broken for many children in rural America, who can become isolated once the school buses stop running in June. Research shows kids …

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2021, almost 16% of high school students reported being bullied through texting or social media. (myboys.me/Adobestock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Teachers' Union Calls for Social Media Investigation

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is brushing off calls to investigate the effect its social media platforms have on children's …

Wisconsin is among the handful of states that have yet to formally adopt expanded postpartum health coverage through Medicaid. So far, nearly 40 states have done so. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

WI Budget: Renewed Push to Include Expanded Postpartum Health Care

Wisconsin policymakers have less than a month to adopt a new state budget. Advocates for extending postpartum health coverage through Medicaid hope …

The phenomenon called summer learning loss is notable in countries with lengthy breaks, including the United States and Canada. (AdobeStock/peopleimages.com)

Monday, June 5, 2023

NM's Schoolchildren Get Help Through 'Make Summer Fair' Program

Summer, with its 90-day break from school, can be fun but also a challenge for New Mexico's rural kids who rely on school for companionship and meals…

Staffing shortages at the Department of Social Services have led to parents seeking child care assistance being placed on hold for as long as two or three hours. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Praise for MO Early Childhood Funding; Concerns About Sustainability, Gaps

Missourians scored some big wins for child care and pre-K programs in the 2023 legislative session, although some said it is just a start. Brian …

Research shows children who live in households that receive the Earned Income Tax Credit have better school performance, greater college enrollment and increased work and income in adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Advocates Push for 'Tax Fairness' with Expanded Child Tax Credits

As Massachusetts lawmakers work to finalize tax-relief measures, advocates for low-income families are calling for an expansion of tax credits proven …

Meta has until Aug. 1 to respond to the Federal Trade Commission's blanket prohibition on monetizing data from children under 18. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Unions Taking on Meta at Annual Shareholder Meeting

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, held its annual meeting last week amid new scrutiny from the federal government and multiple …

In 2022, Save the Children reached nearly 900,000 children in the United States and distributed more than 5 million meals. (AdobeStock)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Summer Break is Broken for Many Rural Tennessee Kids

An advocacy group is expanding summer learning opportunities for families in the Volunteer State. In Tennessee and across the country, isolation and …

Mental Health America's 2023 State of Mental Health found 214,000 New York children, about 16.03%, experienced at least one major depressive episode, an increase of 35,000 or 2.74% from 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: More Support Needed to Improve Youth Mental Health

Parents in New York and across the U.S. want to see schools improve kid's mental health, a recent survey found. The National PTA Survey showed 72% …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report found the number of kids entering foster care because of behavior issues has declined from 49% in 2006 to 30% in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY Foster Kids Need Better Support

Foster children in New York and across the nation need better transition support once they age out, according to a new report from the Annie E…

Kentucky children attend one of the robotics camps organized by Save the Children. (Alissa Taylor)

Summer Break Brings Uncertainty for Many Rural Kentucky Kids

In eastern Kentucky, advocacy groups are expanding summer learning opportunities for families. Isolation and learning loss plague many rural …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds the number of kids entering foster care because of neglect increased from 29% in 2006 to 48% in 2021. But, the report finds fewer kids entered foster care because of behavioral issues during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

Report: More Support Needed for VA Foster Kids

A recent report finds foster kids in Virginia and the U.S. need better support to transition out of the foster-care system. The Annie E. Casey …

According to the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support, between 2017 and 2021, more than 5 million children nationally experienced the death of a parent. (Adobe Stock)

UT Pilot Program Aims to Support Grieving Kids

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined the Children's Collaborative for Healing and Support last week to announce a pilot program in the state designed to …

Former Kentucky foster youth Tia Humphrey now helps advocate for policies that help ensure young people leaving foster care are off to a good start as they enter adulthood. (Tia Humphrey)<br /><br />

KY Foster Youth Transitioning into Adulthood Face Resources Gap

Kentucky's former foster youth have a steeper climb into adulthood than their peers, according to new research. Among 21-year-olds with foster-care …

Social Media Growing Concern for Youth Mental Health

Symptoms of anxiety and depression are up among adolescents and young adults. Health experts warn social media is playing a role in declining mental …

Either the Office of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokia or Dr. Caitlin Bernard can appeal the Indiana Medical Licensing Board's decision in Marion County Superior Court. (Adobe Stock)

Board Fines Indiana Doc for Speaking about 10-Year-Old's Abortion

An Indiana licensing board has fined a local physician $3,000 and handed her a letter of reprimand after she went public about a 10-year-old Ohio pati…

Lawmakers have requested an analysis of the impact of an insurance mandate for kids' hearing aids from the California Health Benefits Review Program. The report is due June 7. (Peakstock/Adobestock)<br />

Calls Grow to Require Insurance Companies to Cover Kids’ Hearing Aids

Groups fighting for children's health are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to require insurance companies to cover hearing aids and related …

Virginia ranked 48th in Mental Health America's 2023 State of Mental Health report for youth mental health, which indicated higher rates of mental illness among the state's youth and little access to care. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Parents Worried About Student Mental Health

A recent survey from the National PTA found student mental health is a top-of-mind issue for parents across the U.S. The survey showed 72% of …

According to an Annie E. Casey Foundation report, the number of youths in foster care has declined steadily since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights Need for Extended Transition Services for Older Youths

Teenagers and young adults in the foster care system in North Carolina and throughout the nation are not receiving sufficient services to successfully…

At the end of 2022, there were 4,524 Arkansas children in foster care, a decrease of 7% from the previous year, according to the State of Arkansas House of Representatives.<br />(Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

Helping Arkansas Foster Youth Succeed as Adults

May is National Foster Care Month and in Arkansas, the number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly, according to a new report…

In 2022, Tennessee had close to one million K-12 students enrolled in nearly 1,906 schools in 148 school districts. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeSTock)

TN School Districts Urged to Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and an education advocacy group wants school districts in Tennessee and across the country to focus on critical m…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls well-child visits

Contentious 2023 MO Legislative Session Saw Wins for Struggling Families

Although Missouri's 2023 legislative session was contentious and resulted in a historically low number of bills being passed, advocates for children …

According to ALL in Education, climate and environment has been identified as one of nine factors that have the biggest effect on student academic outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Schools Set to Receive Trees Through State Budget Appropriation

Arizona environmental-justice advocates are celebrating some big wins passed through the state budget. One of the provisions, Senate Bill 1689…

Ohio's public schools serve 1.6 million students of all races, backgrounds, genders and abilities, but diversity is not reflected in the state's education workforce, according to the Ohio Education Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio College Programs Seek to Boost Black Teacher Workforce

Ohio's historically Black colleagues and universities are working to produce a pipeline of diverse teachers. Black students make up nearly 17% of …

ACLU Plans Lawsuit If TX Anti-Trans Bills Become Law

The culture war over transgender identity is spreading in GOP-led states, and Texas is among those passing the harshest laws. The Human Rights …

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2.8% (14,400) high school students smoke in Virginia. The percentage of high schoolers who use e-cigarettes is 14.3%, slightly higher than the percentage of adults who smoke, 12.4%. (Adobe Stock)

VA Groups Aim to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use

Virginia groups are using different methods to warn young people about the dangers of smoking. Along with tobacco-free parks, the state has taken …

Adults with ADHD often cope with difficulties at work and in their personal and family lives related to ADHD symptoms. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Drug Shortage Leads Some to Alternative Treatment Options

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in Tennessee and across the country there is a shortage of medication used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperac…

In addition to preschool investments, Smart Start Illinois includes $12 million for scholarships and internships to expand the childcare workforce. (junce11/Adobe Stock)

More Illinois Toddlers Head for 'Smart Start' in Early Education

Researchers say a lot of learning begins even before birth - and especially between birth and age five. Gov. JB Pritzker's "Smart Start Illinois" …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed 55% of youth age 21 in Tennessee in 2021 were employed part-time or full-time, and 63% had stable housing. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/AdobeStock)

Report: TN Shows Strength in Foster Youth Transitioning To Adulthood

In Tennessee, the number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation looked at …

In 2022, for the first time, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended doctors screen children age 8 and older for anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

NY Works to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

With the Covid-19 public health emergency over, New York and the U.S. are dealing with a youth mental health crisis. According to Mental Health …

Teamwork, games, craft making and science projects create fun and learning activities for children. (Adobe stock)

IN Camp Pairs Children with Differences and Similarities

Summer day camps are a welcome break for kids and parents when the school year ends. One camp wants to make activities such as craft making, …

Kinship-care placements with relatives and close friends increased from 14% in 2006 to 22% in 2021 according to the Fostering in Youth Transitions 2023 report. (Pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Report: Older Foster Youths Lean Toward Higher Ed

Children who stay in foster care beyond age 18 are likely to pursue higher education, according to the Fostering in Youth Transitions 2023 report by …

A new EPA report states climate change can increase children's pollen exposures as seasons lengthen and temperatures warm. (WavebreakMediaMicro/AdobeStock)

Report Links EPA Climate Change, Children’s Health and Well-Being in TN

In Tennessee and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

More Washington youths were in foster care on their 19th birthday in 2021 than in 2015. (Dind's_Project/Adobe Stock)

Report Examines Foster Youths' Transitions to Adulthood

The number of foster youths near adulthood has dropped slightly in Washington state, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation …

Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended for the first time doctors screen children age 8 and older for anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

Group Highlights Need for Student Mental Health Services in AL Schools

A group is drawing attention to the critical need for improved mental health and student support resources in Alabama schools. According to data …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends every woman get a well-woman checkup once a year. (Bnenin/Adobestock)

Mother’s Day Kicks Off National Women’s Health Week

Mother's Day kicked off Women's Health Week this week, and experts are reminding women to prioritize their well-being. The Centers for Disease …

Ohio resident and former foster youth Kurt Holden beat the odds, graduating from college and receiving his master's degree. (Kurt Holden)

College-Bound Ohio Foster Youths Face Barriers Accessing Resources

Foster youths transitioning to adulthood are being left behind when it comes to college degree attainment and resources. New data from the Annie E…

More than 470,000 students are enrolled in K-12 schools in Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Education Data Center. (Kawee/AdobeStock)

Group Urges Arkansas Schools Districts To Focus On Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a national education advocacy group wants school districts in Arkansas to continue focusing on and investing …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and nearly half of students felt persistently sad or hopeless. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit Group Urges School Districts to Focus on Mental Health Support

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one group wants school districts in Utah and across the country to focus on critical mental health support…

Placements in foster care group homes have decreased by 13% nationwide since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

Foster Care Report Shows Fewer in System, But Achievement Gaps Remain

A new report covering foster care trends among older children in the U.S. shows some improvements but critical achievement gaps remain. The …

According to a 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation study, 57% of schools reported having insufficient access to licensed mental health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

VA Works to Improve Residents' Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Virginia is working to improve the mental health of its residents. In Mental Health America's 2023 State …

Even prior to the racial reckoning, Minnesota was known for its disparities, including child development outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

MN Faces Key Decision on Program to Reduce Child-Development Disparities

A few years ago, Minnesota launched a pilot program to give communities of color more power to improve outcomes for child development as they …

The EPA said the spread of Lyme disease, carried by black-legged ticks, is influenced by changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/AdobeStock).

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, children's growing and developing bodies are uniquely vulnerable to climate change, according to a new report …

After receiving her master's degree in Education from Arizona State University, Laura Terech began teaching in a Title I school. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Former Teacher, Now AZ Lawmaker, Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

It is Teacher Appreciation Week , and one Arizona lawmaker, who is a former elementary school teacher, wants to recognize the important work …

In Georgia, 1,156,660 people are facing hunger - and of them, 335,720 are children. (Adobe Stock)

GA Food Banks Prep for Increased Need One Year After Pandemic SNAP Ends

Georgia's food banks are taking action to address the growing demand for their services ahead of summer break. Frank Sheppard, Feeding the Valley …

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Children's

For Some IL Students, Summer Means Practicing School Preparedness

Texas Kids Can Benefit from Nonprofit's “Make Summer Fair” Initiative

Push to Get KY Kids Back on Track for Routine Vaccinations

Nonprofit Works to 'Make Summer Fair' for Rural Kids

Teachers' Union Calls for Social Media Investigation

WI Budget: Renewed Push to Include Expanded Postpartum Health Care

NM's Schoolchildren Get Help Through 'Make Summer Fair' Program

Praise for MO Early Childhood Funding; Concerns About Sustainability, Gaps

Advocates Push for 'Tax Fairness' with Expanded Child Tax Credits

Unions Taking on Meta at Annual Shareholder Meeting

Summer Break is Broken for Many Rural Tennessee Kids

Survey: More Support Needed to Improve Youth Mental Health

Report: NY Foster Kids Need Better Support

Summer Break Brings Uncertainty for Many Rural Kentucky Kids

Report: More Support Needed for VA Foster Kids

UT Pilot Program Aims to Support Grieving Kids

KY Foster Youth Transitioning into Adulthood Face Resources Gap

Social Media Growing Concern for Youth Mental Health

Board Fines Indiana Doc for Speaking about 10-Year-Old's Abortion

Calls Grow to Require Insurance Companies to Cover Kids’ Hearing Aids

Survey: Parents Worried About Student Mental Health

Report Highlights Need for Extended Transition Services for Older Youths

Helping Arkansas Foster Youth Succeed as Adults

TN School Districts Urged to Focus On Mental Health Support

Contentious 2023 MO Legislative Session Saw Wins for Struggling Families

AZ Schools Set to Receive Trees Through State Budget Appropriation

Ohio College Programs Seek to Boost Black Teacher Workforce

ACLU Plans Lawsuit If TX Anti-Trans Bills Become Law

VA Groups Aim to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use

Drug Shortage Leads Some to Alternative Treatment Options

More Illinois Toddlers Head for 'Smart Start' in Early Education

Report: TN Shows Strength in Foster Youth Transitioning To Adulthood

NY Works to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis

IN Camp Pairs Children with Differences and Similarities

Report: Older Foster Youths Lean Toward Higher Ed

Report Links EPA Climate Change, Children’s Health and Well-Being in TN

Report Examines Foster Youths' Transitions to Adulthood

Group Highlights Need for Student Mental Health Services in AL Schools

Mother’s Day Kicks Off National Women’s Health Week

College-Bound Ohio Foster Youths Face Barriers Accessing Resources

Group Urges Arkansas Schools Districts To Focus On Mental Health Support

Nonprofit Group Urges School Districts to Focus on Mental Health Support

Foster Care Report Shows Fewer in System, But Achievement Gaps Remain

VA Works to Improve Residents' Mental Health

MN Faces Key Decision on Program to Reduce Child-Development Disparities

Report: EPA Climate Change and Children’s Health and Well-Being in Arkansas

Former Teacher, Now AZ Lawmaker, Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

GA Food Banks Prep for Increased Need One Year After Pandemic SNAP Ends