Family/Father Issues / Public News Service

Young people who are transitioning out of foster care could be spending the holidays without a support system. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 29, 2021

Aging Out of Foster Care System Presents Challenges for MT Youth

MISSOULA, Mont. - Young people who age out of the foster care program face unique challenges. Those challenges can feel especially acute and …

State data show that between 2017 and 2019, the number of paid-leave claims from the lowest-wage workers declined while claims from the highest earners rose by one-third. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi)

Monday, November 29, 2021

Paid-Leave Advocates Press for Build Back Better, Aim to Improve CA Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The push to offer paid leave nationwide is in high gear. A plan already passed the U.S. House as part of the Build Back Better …

Ivy Smith, who was part of the foster care system, recieved her undergraduate degree from Boise State University in 2020. (Ivy Smith)

Struggles of Aging-Out Foster Youth in Focus as Holidays Approach

BOISE, Idaho - The holidays can be a hard time for foster care youth, especially young people who have recently aged out of the system. Ivy Smith…

Of the 142,176 veterans living in Nebraska, only 33% have utilized their earned benefits at VA health care, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Navigator Aims to Streamline Access to Veteran Health Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and AARP has launched a free, one-stop online resource to help more …

This is one the new homes in the Simply Smiles Children's Village on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. The specialized homes provide culturally specific foster care to Indigenous children. (Simply Smiles)

New SD Project Builds Foster Homes in Tribal Communities

LA PLANT, S.D. -- South Dakota has struggled to establish a network of foster parents in tribal communities, but solutions are in play, including a …

Since 2017, North Dakota has had around 1,500 children younger than 18 living in foster care annually. (Adobe Stock)

New ND Group Fills Void in Helping Kids Avoid Foster Care System

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Efforts continue in North Dakota to carry out programs put in limbo by this year's closing of Lutheran Social Services (LSS)…

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

Human service providers say even after a foster contract has been fulfilled, maintaining connections with kids who have aged out of the system can provide much-needed stability as they move into adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Holiday Season Tough on Foster Kids Transitioning to Adulthood

DES MOINES, Iowa - With the holidays near, foster families in Iowa are encouraged to maintain close connections with older teens no longer receiving …

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

A report from the group "Listen to Us" finds that abused children too often are traumatized further while in foster care. (Wallyir/Morguefile)

Advocates Call for Eliminating Group Homes for Foster Kids

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Group homes and large institutional foster-care settings should be phased out - that's the recommendation of a recent report …

A recent study from the group "Listen to Us" recommends states do more to place foster children with relatives and make sure to consider the child's preference on placement. (Altanaka/Adobestock)

Report: Group Homes for Foster Kids Should Be Phased Out

CARSON CITY, Nev. - More than 3,000 children in Nevada are in foster care - and a recent study recommends that much more be done to keep them in …

Research shows low-income families spend a much higher percentage of their income on food than families with a higher income. (Adobe Stock)

Ogden Legislator Leads Push to Eliminate Utah's Food Tax

OGDEN, Utah - Utah is one of only a handful of states that taxes food, but one state legislator says taxing groceries should become a thing of the …

Rachel Winn, right, says her new van should be handicap accessible for her son by November. (Rural Dynamics)

Program Helps Montanans with Disabilities Afford Assistive Tech

HELENA, Mont. - It can be hard for people with disabilities to afford the assistive technology they need to perform daily activities. A program in …

Working Americans pay a higher tax rate on their wages than people who are wealthy pay for passive income gained through investments in stocks and bonds. (Adobe Stock)

Wealthy Coloradans Urge Congress to Raise Their Taxes

DENVER - Some 200 wealthy taxpayers and business owners, including 14 in Colorado, are asking Congress to raise their taxes. An open letter …

A new report spotlights the economic impacts of limiting a woman's right to safe and legal abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Restricting Abortion Access Brings Big Financial Trouble

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Limiting women's access to abortion and other reproductive health care can have a devastating impact on state economies. According …

Male survivors of sexual assault sometimes feel shame or self-doubt that prevents them seeking help. (AdobeStock).

Sexual-Violence Prevention: Patriarchal Ideas a Barrier for Men

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Anyone can become a victim of sexual violence, and work is underway in Ohio to ensure that men feel welcome in the anti-violence …

President Joe Biden's American Families Plan would provide paid family leave and improved pay and working conditions for caregivers. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Groups Back American Families Plan to Boost Pay for Caregivers

PHOENIX, Ariz. - A coalition of social activists and care-industry groups is calling for Congress to pass President Joe Biden's American Families …

The pandemic has added extra stressors for California's 9 million children and their parents. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

CA Parent and Youth Helpline Flooded During Pandemic

SACRAMENTO, Calif - More than 10,000 people have called the California Parent and Youth Helpline during the pandemic so far - but the funding is set …

According to CWEALF, Connecticut's family and medical leave program is the strongest and most comprehensive in the country, from broadening the definition of "family" to a progressive wage replacement rate. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Privatization of Paid-Leave Claim Services Raises Red Flag

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Campaign for Paid Family Leave has been raising concerns about outsourcing of the state paid leave program's …

Federal food assistance programs, including SNAP and Nebraska's Farmers Market Nutrition Program for seniors and families with children, ensure that farmers get fair market prices for their goods. (Adobe Stock)

Double Up Food Bucks Program Boosts Farmer’s Markets

LINCOLN, Neb. -- After a new state law expanded eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the program formerly known as …

Raising women's hourly wages to match those of Wyoming men would add $153 million in labor income in a single year, a report says. (Adobe Stock)

Report Cites Economic Power of Wyoming Women

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- Women left the workforce during the pandemic at higher rates than men, and a new report suggests full economic recovery won't be …

Family caregivers are spending, on average, 26% of their income on caregiving activities, according to an AARP report. (Adobe stock)

Report: Family Caregivers Buckling Under Out-of-Pocket Expenses

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Caring for an older loved one can be emotionally draining, and a new report shows 78% of family caregivers also face significant …

The Institute for Women's Policy Research ranked New York 8th among states in 2019 for the number of women entering managerial and professional occupations. (Adobe Stock)

Pre-COVID Snapshot Puts NY in Top 5 for Women’s Economic Standing

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Before the pandemic, more women were in the workforce than ever before, and new research ranks New York state fifth in the country …

Yellowstone National Park has a new mobile app with live updates to the status of lodges, campgrounds, roads and geyser predictions when in cell service. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Yellowstone During a Crowded Summer

CANYON VILLAGE, Wyo. - Yellowstone National Park is experiencing record numbers of visitors this summer, and park officials are offering tips to help …

New parents can save money with smarter meal planning and trips to secondhand stores for baby clothes. (AntonioDiaz/Adobe Stock)

With Father's Day Coming, These Money Tips Can Help New Dads

BOISE, Idaho - Father's Day is approaching and, for new dads, some financial tips can help set their families up for success. First, revising …

West Virginia received a "D" grade on statewide infrastructure in a 2021 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers. (Adobe Stock)

WV Groups: Corporate Taxes Should Fund American Jobs, Families Plan

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Former West Virginia Lt. Gov. Jeff Kessler and the Huntington-based Service Employees International Union Local 1199 are among …

New dads - and moms - have a lot to consider when it comes to financial wellness for their families. (Anatta_Tan/Adobe Stock)

Father's Day: Financial Checklist for New Dads

PORTLAND, Ore. - Father's Day is approaching and, for new dads, some financial tips can help set their families up for success. First, revising …

Financial experts say parents should start saving as early as possible for priorities such as a child's higher education. (anoushkatoronto/Adobe Stock)

New Dads Should Prepare Financially for New Additions to Family

SEATTLE - Father's Day is approaching and, for new dads, some financial tips can help set their families up for success. First, revising household …

Ryan Meier was able to reunite with his daughter seven weeks after she was born. (Courtesy of Ryan Meier)

Reuniting Parents, Children in Focus During Reunification Month

BOISE, Idaho -- June is Reunification Month, and the spotlight is on parents being reunited with their children. Ryan Meier, a parent who was …

Hospitals saw sharp increases in mental health-related emergency room visits by children from April to October last year. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Helping NY Kids Cope with Lingering Trauma of COVID

NEW YORK -- As the pandemic wanes, experts advised it's important to recognize the impact of the fear, loss and isolation it caused on children's …

Parents' poor mental health due to pandemic-related disruptions can be a contributing factor in negative mental-health outcomes for children. (Pixabay)

Helping Children Navigate Through Trauma

DENVER, Colo. -- School closures, social isolation, gaps in health-care access and other pandemic-related disruptions have taken a toll on children's …

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that 140,000 jobs were lost in December, and all those jobs were held by women. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Could Worsen Educational Inequity for Indiana Women

INDIANAPOLIS - The pandemic may have long-term consequences on women's ability to earn degrees and make inroads in the workforce, and higher-…

Roughly 10% of foster youth in the United States are entitled to Social Security benefits, either because their parents have died or because they have a physical or mental disability that would leave them in poverty without financial help. (Nenad Stojkovic/Pixabay https://bit.ly/3gvdEbG)

Nebraska Among States Taking Foster Kids’ Benefits

LINCOLN, Neb. - A new report shows at least 49 states, including Nebraska, are seizing thousands of dollars in Social Security, veterans and other …

Among working families with children younger than age 5 that pay for child care, average child-care spending amounts to nearly 10% of the average family income, or 40% higher than the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' definition of affordability. (Adobe Stock)

Child-Care Wages Called Key to Boosting Early-Education Access

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Early-childhood educators in the state say they support President Joe Biden's American Families Plan, which would include an …

In Florida, prospective foster parents work with local community organizations to complete the licensing process to become a foster parent. (Pexels)

Florida Sees Growing Need for Foster Families, Training

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- May is National Foster Care Month, and states like Florida are still adjusting to federal changes put in place three years ago…

According to data from the National Partnership for Women and Families, both parents work in 64% of all West Virginia households. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Leave Could Mean Fewer WV Women Exiting Workforce

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Nearly 60% of West Virginia workers lack access to any form of time off, either paid or unpaid. Kelly Allen, executive director …

A majority of women are breadwinners in their families. (Pixabay)

Survey: Moms Want More Than Breakfast in Bed This Mother’s Day

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- As Mother's Day draws near, a new survey conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Research offers a clearer picture of what …

Survivors of sexual violence are often reluctant to seek help. (Adobe Stock)

Rape-Crisis Agencies, Already Burdened by Cuts, Brace for More

Correction: MacMath directs COMPASS (Sexual Assault Education, Prevention & Support), an affiliate of Goodwill Industries. An earlier version of this …

A national universal paid-leave program is projected to generate two million jobs and more than $22 billion in economic activity per year. (Vitalik Radko/Deposit Photos)

Advocates Push Paid Family and Medical Leave as "Critical" Infrastructure

DENVER -- As the Biden administration continues to promote its plan to address the nation's crumbling roads and bridges, a coalition of worker …

Parents without access to paid leave must often decide between staying home with a sick child or going to work and getting paid. (pixel-shot/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Plan to Include Paid Family Leave for Utah, U.S.

SALT LAKE CITY - President Joe Biden says he will include a federal paid leave program as part of his multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to reb…

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 3 million U.S. women have dropped out of the labor force to care for children at home. (Adobe Stock)

Women with No Paid Family Leave Face “National Emergency”

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Biden administration says it will soon release its American Family Plan, aimed at providing relief for working families. The plan …

Backers of paid family leave say it would help working Pennsylvanians who face economic insecurity when they need to take off work for medical or family emergencies. (luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Paid Leave Called "Critical" to Economic Recovery

PITTSBURGH - The COVID pandemic has shown that the lack of a paid family-leave system has devastating consequences for families, public health and …

Lack of paid leave has hurt many families during the pandemic, when child-care facilities closed. (Adobe stock)

Biden Infrastructure Plan to Include Family Leave

RICHMOND, Va. - President Joe Biden today is expected to announce his infrastructure stimulus plan to boost the pandemic recovery. In the coming …

Colorado ranks eighth in the nation as a state with the least affordable and available units, nearing the rate in Texas, Florida and Delaware. (Pixabay)

Need for Affordable Housing in Colorado Dwarfs Available Units

DENVER - The need for affordable housing continues to outgrow supply in Colorado and across the United States, according to a new report. For every 1…

OECD data show the United States is one of the only industrialized countries that does not mandate paid parental leave. (Jessica Shamout)

Federal Infrastructure Plan Likely to Include Paid Leave

CARSON CITY, Nev. - President Joe Biden is set to release his new infrastructure proposal today in Pittsburgh - and within a few weeks, its second …

Child care for one infant accounts for more than half the salary of a Michigander earning minimum wage. (AdobeStock)

Child Care Costs as Much as College for Some Michigan Families

LANSING, Mich. -- Affordable child care is a crucial support for working parents, rivaling the cost of college or housing for some Michiganders…

Students from multi-generational families who studied at home during the pandemic may be putting their grandparents at risk now that Arizona is returning to in-class studies. (studio romantic/Adobe Stock)

Keeping Grandparents Safe as AZ Students Return to Classroom

TUCSON, Ariz. -- As Arizona classrooms begin reopening this week, students and educators seem equally enthusiastic over a return to in-school …

Every dollar paid out to retirees in Wyoming creates an estimated $1.12 in economic activity. (Pixabay)

Closing Wage Gap Would Boost Retirement Security for WY Women

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Women in Wyoming earn just 70 cents for every dollar a man makes, and that wage gap plays a deciding role in how and when women can …

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