Teen Pregnancy Prevention / Public News Service

In Spring 2023, Arkansas created the Office of Early Childhood within the Arkansas Department of Education, which unifies the Arkansas early-childhood system. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR pre-K suffers from funding gap

A report by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows Arkansas needs to improve its reach with pre-K students. The state fell from …

The Doula Alliance of Arkansas (DAR) was formed with help from a $250,000 grant from Ingeborg Initiatives, a group seeking to improve maternal health. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Doula Alliance of AR works to improve maternal health

Birth doulas across Arkansas have formed a new organization to improve maternal health care across the state and help pass legislation they hope will …

Changes could be coming to Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act as President-elect Donald Trump builds his administration. (I Viewfinder/Adobe Stock)

2nd Trump term to affect health coverage for Arkansans

Low-income Arkansas families could be in for some big cuts to health care under a second Trump administration, according to health experts. Policy …

President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign the issue of abortion access should be left to states. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said he hopes Trump sticks to his viewpoint. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court hears case on 1849 abortion law

It is now up to Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to decide the fate of an abortion law from the mid-1800s. A circuit court determined last year an 18…

Following Roe vs. Wade's overturn, over 40,000 people in restrictive states obtained medication abortions through shielded providers in the second half of 2023, reflecting a sharp rise in use. (NanSan/Adobe Stock)

Election Day raises new fears over Comstock Act, reproductive rights

By Lauren Rankin for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

If postpartum depression symptoms last longer than a few weeks, mothers are encouraged to talk to their doctor. (sementsova321/Adobe Stock)

TX postpartum expert: 'reach out for help'

About 20% of new mothers experience postpartum depression after giving birth. What's typically known as the "baby blues" usually lasts around three …

Community health workers provide a trust-based relational framework for addressing nonmedical health drivers of health and connecting families to medical resources and social services. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Central Texas nonprofit addresses health inequities for new moms

A program in Georgetown, in Williamson County, is working to improve health outcomes for low-income residents by helping them gain access to …

According to Every Library Institute, Project 2025 aims to reduce federal oversight protections and spending as well as reallocating responsibilities to states and localities. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Report warns of Project 2025 effect on AR libraries

Changes could be coming for libraries and the people who work there if Project 2025 goes into effect. The 900 page document outlines how agencies …

The number of Arkansas children living in poverty remained the same as last year. (bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas receives mixed results in annual Kids Count Data Book

Arkansas is ranked 45th in the 2024 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The annual report ranks states on the overall condition …

An analysis by the National Bureau of Economic Research found the drop in math scores between 2019 and<br />2022 will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48 million pandemic-era students, a total of $900 billion in lost income. (Denis Mamin/Adobe Stock)

Data helps map a brighter future for Missouri's children

Missouri children are making strides in overall health but educational challenges remain, according to the 2024 Kids Count Data Book released by the …

Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, the House Democratic floor leader, called Missouri politicians

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

The Missouri Legislature has approved a law to stop its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, from paying Planned Parenthood for medical services …

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Missourians anxious over future birth control access

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…

Six states have passed laws requiring state-regulated private health plans to cover certain over-the-counter forms of contraception, without the need for a prescription and without cost-sharing. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Mississippi 'Right to Contraception Act' to be filed in 2024

Amid ongoing concerns about reproductive access in the Magnolia State, Mississippi's Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups are slated to introduce …

Planned Parenthood employees and the union representing them have been unable to reach a contract agreement despite dozens of bargaining sessions over more than a year. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood workers file complaint amid stalled negotiations

Planned Parenthood Workers in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota have filed an Unfair Labor Practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board as …

The 340B Drug Pricing Program, a part of the 1992 Public Health Service Act, provides outpatient drugs at deep discounts to safety net providers. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Missouri community healthcare centers face 340B uncertainty

While large hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers battle over drug costs, Missouri community health centers see themselves as collateral damage…

Missouri law allows Medigap enrollees to change Medicare insurance plans at the same coverage level during their anniversary window. (Andrey/Adobe Stock)

Open enrollment means researching your healthcare options

Missourians have plenty of choices when it comes to health insurance coverage - and it's time to gear up for making those decisions. For people on …

The Right Time initiative conducted an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents between April 27 and May 3. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Is Birth Control Legal? Many Missourians Unsure

One in four Missourians either doesn't believe or doesn't know that using birth control pills is legal in the state. The Right Time, an initiative …

It costs single parents in Colorado $16,333 per year for center-based child care, which is 41% of the state's median income. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado Ranks 15th for Child Well-Being

Colorado moved up one spot overall, from 16 to 15, in this year's Kids Count Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which ranks states …

Child poverty rates worsened nationwide in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but improved slightly in New Mexico. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: NM Child Well-Being Fared Better Than Expected During Pandemic

New Mexico's Voices for Children has released its latest Kids Count Data Book - noting some quality-of-life improvements despite COVID, but also …

Texas kids are some of the least likely in the nation to receive adequate health care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (everytexan.org)

2022 Report: Texas Ranks 45th for Child Well-Being

When it comes to child well-being, Texas is slipping further behind, according to the 2022 Kids Count Data Book, compiled by the Annie E. Casey …

The COVID pandemic caused major challenges for families and blunted progress in New Mexico to improve child well-being, according to New Mexico Voices for Children. (DeanMoriarty/Pixaby)

NM Struggles in Child Well-Being Report but Celebrates Positive Trends

Since 2020, New Mexico has been working to create a more cohesive, equitable and effective early-childhood system. But it could be a while before it …

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 …

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 …

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 …

North Dakota's only abortion clinic is now planning to move out of state in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to reverse Roe v. Wade. (Lexicon Images/Adobestock)

Progressive Groups Call on North Dakotans to Rethink Abortion Policy, Post-Roe

Pro-choice advocates are calling on voters to make access to abortion a big issue in the November midterm election. The countdown has begun; in less …

Planned Parenthood in Minnesota says it is bracing for an influx of patients from the Dakotas. (Fibonacci Blue/Adobestock)

Special SD Legislative Session Planned on Abortion Policy

The South Dakota state Legislature is expected to convene in a special session to reassess abortion laws. Gov. Kristi Noem vowed to call the special …

Supporters of the right to abortion care rallied in Las Vegas on Friday to protest the Supreme Court Decision. (Shelbie Swartz/Battle Born Progress)

Nevada Group Helps Abortion Seekers Travel to State

Nevada may become a magnet for abortion seekers from around the country, since the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to ban …

Thousands attended abortion rights rallies across California over the weekend. (Longfin Media/Adobestock)

CA Moving Forward on Constitutional Amendment on Abortion Rights

The California state Legislature is expected to vote, as early as today, to place a measure on the November ballot to enshrine abortion rights into …

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 …

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 …

A majority of Nebraskans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research. (Adobe Stock)

Anti-Abortion, Pro-Choice Measures at Odds in Nebraska Legislature

As Nebraska's GOP leaders work to further restrict and even ban access to abortion services, Sen. Megan Hunt, D-Omaha, has introduced two bills …

In Texas, the majority of cancer victims die from lung cancer, followed by colon, breast and pancreatic cancers, according to UnitedHealthcare. (maleni_ferrari/Pixabay)

Texas' Medicaid Coverage Gap Cited for Healthcare Woes

Texas is one of 12 states to not expand Medicaid, and a new report showed it is one reason the state is falling further behind others in providing …

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 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 …

Financial assistance is available for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington's new at-home medication abortion services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Eyeing Trend, MD Provider Offers Abortion Drugs by Mail

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- As the Biden administration challenges a Texas law restricting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, Planned Parenthood for …

Polling by the Hart Research Associates shows 85% of voters support federal law ensuring the right to reproductive health care, including abortion, annual screenings and birth control. (Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Guarantee Access to Abortion Across U.S.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Lawmakers in Congress have reintroduced a bill they say would ensure access to safe abortions across the country, just as …

Between 2011 and 2019, states across the nation enacted 483 new abortion restrictions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

State Restrictions Increasing Demand for Abortion Medication

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansas enacted twenty restrictions on abortion during this year's legislative session, more than any other state, and a recent …

In April, the Florida House passed a bill to ban abortions based on disability, but the measure didn't move past committee. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lifting Abortion Restrictions Would Benefit Women, Economy

TAMPA, Fla. - Ending reproductive-health restrictions is beneficial for women and the economy, according to an online tool from the Institute for …

Just about half of teenage mothers earn their high school degree before age 22. (AdobeStock)

New Council Gives Michigan Young Parents a Voice

LANSING, Mich. -- The voices of expectant and parenting youths are being amplified by the first-ever Michigan Young Parent Advisory Council. Diamond …

Sex education covers healthy relationships, body autonomy, consent, hygiene and elements of social/emotional learning. (Adobe Stock)

Online Learning Could Be a Benefit for Teaching Sex-Ed

LANSING, Mich. -- Virtual learning could prove to be a benefit for teaching Michigan kids about sexual health. The Michigan Department of Education …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's new Kids Count Data Book places Maine fourth in the U.S. for family and community rankings, but 21st for education, putting the state at 13th overall for child well-being. (mhartford/Creative Commons)

Report: Maine In Top Quarter for Overall Child Well-Being

AUGUSTA, Maine -- A national report ranks Maine in the top quarter among states for overall child well-being. The annual Annie E. Casey Foundation …

Some 32,000 Wyoming kids live in homes where parents lack secure employment, and 10,000 don't have health insurance coverage. (USAF)

Wyoming Struggles to Catch Up in Children's Health

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- A new report ranks Wyoming 16th among states for the overall well-being of its children, down from last year when the Cowboy State …

As the result of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, the percentage of New Mexico children without health insurance continued to drop in 2018, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Victoria_Borodinova/Pixabay)

Despite Small Advances, NM Child Well-Being Stuck at 50th Nationwide

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A yearly report that looks at indicators of child well-being shows New Mexico in last place among the 50 states, but there is …

A new report shows when it comes to protecting and providing for children, Texas has no counties that rank among the top U.S. 50 - and one county, Dimmit, in the bottom 50. (Bessi/Pixabay)<br />

Report: Childhood Ends Too Soon for Too Many Kids

AUSTIN, Texas -- Childhood is ending too soon for too many children in too many counties across the U.S, according to a new report from the group …

Iowa is among several states where a debate over whether abortions should still be allowed during the pandemic has surfaced. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Filed Against IA Leaders Over Halt to Abortions During Crisis

DES MOINES, Iowa -- A lawsuit has been filed against Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds over the suspension of abortion procedures during the pandemic. Pro-…

Sexy Sex Ed's new online resource maps all reproductive health locations in Appalachia. (Sexy Sex Ed)

New Online Map Shows Sexual-Health Resources in Appalachia

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- The traveling sex-education workshop that teaches about consent and anatomy in rural Appalachia has created a unique new online …

New Mexico is not adequately providing opportunity for children of color, who make up 75% of the state's child population, according to New Mexico Voices for Children. (sonamabcd/Pixabay)

Well-Being Disparities Persist for New Mexico's Children

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- There is positive news for children in the annual data book released Wednesday by New Mexico Voices for Children. But the …

Only 13 states in the nation have passed legislation requiring sex education to be medically accurate. (Adobe Stock)

Traveling ‘Sexy Sex Ed’ Workshop Aims to Educate Appalachian Youth

WHITESBURG, Ky. — Access to sex education is on the decline in rural areas, but one eastern Kentucky native aims to fill the knowledge gap with …

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