Family/Father Issues / Public News Service

About 18,000 Montana kids will experience the loss of a family member by the time they're 18. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 26, 2022

MT Hosts Conference on Supporting Grieving Children

A touring conference from the National Alliance for Children's Grief comes to Montana this week. The event will be in Whitefish on Tuesday. The …

A University of Massachusetts study showed an uptick in sports betting in recent years is due partly to the increase in states that allow it, from 10 in 2019, to 30 in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 26, 2022

Kids' Exposure to Sports Betting a Risky Gamble in MA

Young people in the Commonwealth were already exposed to sports betting even before it was made legal last month. So, what will Massachusetts do to …

Three in four good-paying jobs in Colorado require a college degree or other post-secondary credentials. (Adobe Stock)

Deep Data Dive Finds Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Students

The biggest obstacle facing Indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the National Native …

Children of color are more likely than white kids to experience the death of a parent, as are children living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Conference on Grieving in Lincoln to Focus on Supporting Kids

Nebraska is one of six states participating in "No Child Grieves Alone," a series of regional conferences aiming to help communities recover after the…

Research suggests that with intensive support, parents can overcome addiction and be reunited with their children as part of their recovery. (Adobe Stock)

Recovery Month: Ohio START Shows Success in Reuniting Families

September is National Recovery Month, and a program in Ohio is showing success in healing families who have struggled with addiction. Ohio START (…

According to a 2020 Gallup poll, there's only been a five percent increase in the number of people who have a living will from 2005 to 2020. Most of those people are 65 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Procrastinators' Alert: Time to Start End-of-Life Planning

August is National Make-a-Will Month, one of many opportunities for Connecticut residents to begin end-of-life planning. Only around 46% of …

Some 18,000 children on average experience homelessness each year in Colorado, according to most recent Colorado Department of Education data. (Adobe Stock)

Solving Homelessness Key to Success in Multiple National Priorities

"Opportunity Starts at Home," a short documentary film released this week by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, exposes how housing …

A 2021 Gallup poll shows most of the folks who have their end-of-life plans in order are age 50 or older. Only one in five Americans younger than age 30 has a will. (Adobe Stock)

Numerous Reasons Why People Delay End-of-Life Planning

August is National Make-A-Will Month, which experts say is an opportune time for New Yorkers to begin end-of-life planning. According to a 2021 …

The Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act builds on protections passed by Congress in 1978 by clarifying state policies and procedures regarding implementation of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. (Adobe Stock)

Brief Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Indian Child Welfare Act

The ACLU of Nebraska has joined a national brief filed in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a 1978 law passed by Congress aiming to …

To date, more than 550,000 individuals have used the Free Will platform to write a legal will. (Adobe Stock)

Online Tool Helps Create Legally Valid Will in 20 Minutes

August is National Make-a-Will Month, a gentle reminder to some seven in ten Americans who don't currently have a will or estate plan that it's never …

North Dakota has nearly 20 counties that are considered child-care deserts. (Adobe Stock)

ND Rolls Out Incentives for Child-Care Workers

North Dakota is looking at ways to stabilize its child-care workforce as parents struggle to find openings. Part of that involves a new initiative …

In the decade preceding the pandemic, Colorado's child poverty rate fell by nearly 30%, one of the largest declines in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks High in Child Well-Being as Kids Face Mental-Health Crisis

Colorado ranks 16th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

According to the Federal Trade Commission, financial fraud totaled $5.9 billion in 2021, although experts like Stokes believe the real cost is much higher because many victims are too ashamed to come forward. (Adobe Stock)

Study Calls for Ending Financial-Fraud Victim Blaming

A new report suggested changing how we talk about victims of financial fraud could lead to a shift in how Wyoming and the nation respond to this growi…

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 …

Around 38% of Michigan nursing homes are facing staffing shortages. (Dragana Gordic/Adobe Stock)

MI State Budget Includes Funding for Long-Term Care, Direct-Care Workforce

The state budget Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law Wednesday includes funding for bolstering long-term care. It funds a direct-care workforce …

April to October 2020 saw a 31% increase in emergency department visits for mental health concerns in pre-teens and teens, ages 12 through 17. (Adobe Stock)

More Can Be Done to Boost Youth Mental Health in CT, U.S.

Connecticut ranks among the top 10 states in offering access to mental health services for its youth population, according to the latest report from …

Before the pandemic, CDC statistics showed about 700 women died each year of pregnancy-related complications, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women about three times more likely to die compared to white women. (parentingupstream/Pixabay)

Study: Maternal Deaths Would Skyrocket with Nationwide Abortion Ban

Texas is home to one in 10 Americans of reproductive age, and mandated births due to the state's abortion ban will increase the number of maternal …

Many Latinos celebrate those who have died on Dia de los Muertos, but don't talk about death beforehand and shy away from hospice services. (EduardoTaboada/Pixabay)

NM Latino Families Urged to Initiate End-of-Life Discussions

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people in New Mexico and elsewhere to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before ill…

An American Hospice Association study shows while there has been an increased effort by hospices to reach out to non-white populations, hospice care is still underutilized by Latino families. (ljr_images/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Latino Families to Discuss End-of-Life Options

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people in Arizona and elsewhere to begin end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illne…

A study to find out whether sperm age plays a role in pregnancy outcomes involved 379 male partners in couples who discontinued use of contraception for getting pregnant. (Andriy Bezuglov/Adobe Stock)

Study: Sperm Cells' Age May Play Role in Reproductive Success

A new study found an association between what researchers are calling the biological age of sperm and reproductive success. While age is considered …

Latinos have succumbed to COVID at two to three times the rate of white Americans, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. (Dubova)

Higher Latino COVID Death Rates Spur Interest in End-of-Life Options

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illness or tragedy strikes…

Compassion & Choices Latino engagement director Maria Otero meets with Hispanic Heritage Foundation CEO Antonio Tijerino to discuss a partnership to promote end-of-life planning. (Compassion & Choices)

Hispanic Groups Collaborate to Raise Awareness of End-of-Life Options

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illness or tragedy strikes…

Wyoming-based Chelsea's Fund provides financial support for women seeking an abortion, and also is accepting donations. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Roe Resources Available for Wyoming Women

Abortion is on course to be illegal in Wyoming after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Friday. Justices ruled the 50-year …

Depression and lower rates of academic attainment are among the effects that can persist in a child's lifetime after losing a caregiver. (Adobe Stock)

Losing a Caregiver to COVID: Helping Kids Grieve

Roughly 200,000 children in the U.S. have lost a caregiver to COVID-19. In South Dakota, mental-health experts say these cases can have added …

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

Foster parents strive to build connections between children and their biological families. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Foster Parents: Providing Safety, Nurturing Families

National Foster Care Month in May celebrates Ohioans who care for children in times of crisis, and as the calendar turns, the focus shifts to an …

There are 3,000 Idaho children in out-of-home placement in each year. (sewcream/Adobe Stock)

ID Looks to Recruit More Parents During Foster Care Month

May is National Foster Care Month and Idaho is focused on bringing more foster parents into the fold. It's always been difficult for states to …

During the pandemic, 141 child-care centers closed in Maine, and many more closed temporarily. That's limited some women from getting back into the workforce. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Report: Gaps in Data Limit Maine's Ability to Support Marginalized Women

A new report finds the pandemic disproportionately impacted women, but that gaps in data limit Maine's ability to help those in need. Women are …

The National Parents Organization contends it is in the best interest of the child to spend as much time as possible with two fit parents in cases of divorce. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Bill Would Make Shared Parenting the Default for Child-Custody Cases

CORRECTION: Article updated to include comment from the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (6:30 a.m. EST. April 21, 2022) By Halena …

On April 22, AARP Wyoming will hold paper-shredding events in Sheridan, Rock Springs and Cheyenne, where folks can bring their personal documents to be safely discarded. (Adobe Stock)

Breaking the Silence on Elder Abuse

Elder abuse is experienced by at least one in 10 people aged 60 and older who live at home, and AARP Wyoming is working to ensure people have the …

The California Parent and Youth Helpline provides trained counselors to listen to people's problems and steer them to the right resources. (Tanitost/Adobestock)

CA Parents Anonymous Program Gets $1 Million Grant to Strengthen Families

Parents Anonymous, part of the nonprofit Raising the Future, just got a grant from the federal government to the tune of $1 million. President Joe …

LB 933 would make it a felony to provide medicine or procedures that end pregnancies, even in cases of rape and incest. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Lawmakers Advance Abortion Ban Opposed by Majority of Voters

Nebraska is on track to ban all abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns its landmark Roe v. Wade decision. On Friday, lawmakers …

Eight in 10 Nebraska voters support increasing funding for the respite care program which provides short-term help from a home health aide or adult day-care program so family caregivers can take a break. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraska Lawmakers Urged to Support Family Caregivers

The strain of unpaid family care-giving is pressing down hard on many Nebraska residents, according to new AARP research. Nearly half of people …

Child sex trafficking can have devastating immediate and long-term consequences, including health impacts, psychological and physical trauma. (Steven Depolo/HungryKids.org)

Child Sex-Trafficking Numbers Rise in Texas

Texas Rangers investigating reports of child sex trafficking at a shelter in Bastrop reported they did not find enough evidence to support the charges…

Calls to the Parent and Youth Helpline have increased month over month during the pandemic.(Monkey Business/Adobe Photostock)

During Parent Leadership Month, Advocates Push to Fund Helpline

As National Parent Leadership Month draws to a close, advocates are calling on lawmakers - who are writing the new state budget - to fund programs …

Nebraskans age 50 and older account for 56 cents of every dollar in consumer spending in the state, and generate $50 billion in economic activity. (Adobe Stock)

NE Lawmakers Consider Dropping Tax on Social Security Income

A bill designed to eliminate state taxes on Social Security benefits by 2025 is making headway in the Nebraska Legislature. Sen. Brett Lindstrom…

Under a new proposal, California employees could use up to three days of paid sick leave to get and recover from a COVID vaccination. (Mangostar/Adobestock)

Parents’ Advocates Cheer CA Deal on COVID Paid Sick Leave

Parents' rights groups are praising a plan to extend paid sick leave for many California workers, which is now on a fast track to pass. Gov…

Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funds varies greatly by county in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Colorado Families Living in Poverty Receive TANF Cash Assistance

Colorado and other states are hoarding more than $6 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2020, Colorado denied …

Children who have reliable access to housing and nutritious foods are more likely to have better health and financial outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Denies Emergency Assistance to 90% of Poor Families

Nebraska and other states are hoarding more than $5 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2019, for every 100 …

A body of research has found frequent family visits and family phone calls to someone who's incarcerated not only reduces recidivism, but also strengthens family relationships. (Adobe Stock)

Researchers: Family Contact Vital for People in Jail or Prison

As holiday celebrations continue, groups that study issues in prisons say families with a loved one who's incarcerated should make attempts to …

A body of research has found frequent family visits and phone calls to someone who's incarcerated not only reduces recidivism, but also strengthens family relationships. (Adobe Stock)

Family Visits for People in Jail Seen as Key to Success

As holiday celebrations continue, groups that study issues in prisons say families with a loved one who's incarcerated should make attempts to …

Experts say parents can reduce kids' dependency on screens by setting a good example themselves and arranging more outdoor family activities.(TheVisualsYouNeed/AdobeStock)

New Year's Resolution: Reducing Kids’ Screen Time

Some families make New Year's Resolutions to cut down on screen time, and experts have some tips for actually getting your kids to put down the cell …

West Virginia has been among the leading states nationwide for the number of children in the foster-care system per capita for the past several years, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. (Adobe Stock)

CPS Shortages, Lack of Data, Plague System as Demand for Foster Parents Rises

Children's advocates said they are hoping for major changes to the state's foster-care and child-protective services systems in the new year…

Fewer than one-in-five workers in the United States has access to paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

MD Paid Leave Supporters: It's Time for the Time to Care Act

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Advocacy groups say a paid leave proposal in Maryland would provide peace of mind for workers, especially those with disabilities …

While there are some uncertainties, including inflation, Minnesota officials say the state's financial outlook is bright with a large surplus taking shape. (Adobe Stock)

MN Budget Surplus: Calls for Investments in Child Care, Other Needs

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Following this week's announcement that Minnesota is looking at a historic budget surplus, lawmakers face pressure to prop up …

Even though Wyoming officials have tried to prioritize mental-health care for youths, many facilities are having difficulties keeping their doors open due to budget cuts. (Adobe Stock)

Holiday Poses Challenges for Foster Youths Aging Out of System

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Young people in Wyoming who have not been adopted officially age out of the foster-care system when they turn 18, joining 24,000 …

About three in five kids in foster care return home to their parents or other family members.<br />(avtk/Adobe Stock)

Evolution of Ohio's Children Services System, Part 3: The Future

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a system plagued by a history of disparities, Ohio's child-welfare workers and children's advocates say it is time to reimagine …

A new report says child-care expenses make up roughly 10% of a family's income in South Dakota. The percentages are much higher for families of color. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Details Child-Care Issues in SD

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- If South Dakota wants to turn out a thriving economy, quality affordable child care needs to be a vital component, according to a …

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