Youth Issues / Public News Service

A growing body of research shows younger adults report higher levels of mental-health issues, while older adults say they feel more isolated. A North Dakota project has brought together these generations for mentorships tied to housing work, with hopes of building community connections. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Cross-generational housing mentorships close community gaps in ND

As the weather turns colder, two groups of people in one North Dakota city that are generations apart appear to be in good shape to navigate housing …

YouthTruth Student Survey finds 74% of the class of 2023 wants to go to college while 66% expect to go to college. The survey also finds the gap is further exacerbated when factoring in race and ethnicity. (Adobe stock)

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Illinois high school seniors face big college application challenges

Illinois high school seniors have new hurdles to overcome to get to college. High school students are waiting several extra weeks to get their hands …

Washington's Running Start program, offering college credit to high school students, began in 1990. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 27, 2023

Running Start lets WA high schoolers explore college courses

A program giving high school students a taste of college and college credits along the way is celebrating its 33rd year of operation in Washington sta…

As of 2018, 66% of California high school graduates had enrolled in a two-year or four-year college program. (Luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 27, 2023

Report: Almost 3 in 4 future jobs will require some college

More than two million jobs will be created in California each year through 2031 - and 72% of them will require more than a high school diploma…

This past spring, the Federal Trade Commission accused Amazon of violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Rule through its Alexa service by keeping the voice recordings of children indefinitely and failing to delete children's transcripts, even when requested by parents. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 27, 2023

Consumer watchdog: ‘Smart toys” put kids' privacy at risk

With the holiday shopping season underway, a consumer watchdog report is warning parents about the privacy risks associated with so-called 'smart …

The University of Connecticut is offering a program to prepare students to become licensed professional counselors. It combines a 600-hour internship where students combine clinical work with what they learn in class, as part of a move to develop a better pipeline into the behavioral health system. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT needs to bolster child behavioral health system

A report has found Connecticut could do more to strengthen its youth behavioral health system. Connecticut and the U.S. are facing an increasing …

Public schools and colleges are working together to build a pipeline of homegrown talent to help address the teacher shortage in Montana's K-12 classrooms. (Working Nation)

Creating a local pipeline for Montana teaching jobs

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Collabora…

Bay says it is important for multi-generational households and families to have discussions about financial planning. (Adobe Stock)

Students across AZ learn how to better financially plan, budget

As the year comes to an end, one event aims to help high schoolers in Arizona learn how to better manage their money. The "Bite of Reality" fairs …

A detail from an illustration created by Hopelab depicts climate anxiety among youth. (Julie Tinker/Hopelab)

Research links climate-change impacts to depression in high schoolers

New research found natural disasters and pollution linked to climate change are contributing factors to high rates of anxiety and depression among you…

By August 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Education is expected to establish a streamlined pathway to certification for educators who earned their certification outside Pennsylvania. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

A call for 'bold action' to address PA school funding disparities

During a public hearing on improving school funding, the Pennsylvania Basic Education Funding Commission heard from people who stressed the need to …

Around 400 million acres of American farmland are projected to change hands this year in what amounts to the country's largest-ever generational land shift. (Practical Farmers of Iowa)

Young Iowa farmers struggle for a leg up

Today is the deadline for small farmers seeking financial assistance to apply for grants from a farm advocacy organization designed to help them get t…

Between 2019 and 2021, North Dakota saw a decline in high-schoolers using e-cigarette-type products, mirroring national trends. (AdobeStock)

National tobacco use data show mixed results for teens

Cigarettes may not appeal to America's youth like they did in the 1960s, but a significant number still experiment with e-cigarettes. The Centers …

Despite middling scores for how immigrant students feel in school, a YouthTruth/Re-Imaging Migration survey finds most immigrant children enjoy school and feel prepared for college level courses. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Immigrant students feel invisible to teachers and peers

A new survey found immigrant students need better help in school. The YouthTruth, Re-Imagining Migration survey was designed to examine the …

Nebraska's school librarians serve an average of 600 students, compared with nearly a third of states where they serve 1,500 or more. (Adobe Stock)

There's a lot going on in NE school libraries

This last day of American Education Week is a great time to highlight school librarians. Nebraska's school libraries have probably changed since you …

The Washington Library Association sponsors or supports five book awards for young readers in the state. (Sergey Nivens/Adobe Stock)

American Education Week: WA libraries inspire reading

It's American Education Week and school librarians' role in students' lives are in the spotlight. Elizabeth Roberts, a teacher, librarian and …

Federal data suggest at least seven in 10 people have lost their Medicaid coverage for procedural reasons, such as missed deadlines, paperwork lost in the mail, or slow processing by state agencies. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Medicaid’s 'unwinding' takes heavy toll on Texas children

More American children had health insurance during the pandemic than ever before. But now, as states are required to re-enroll those eligible for …

University of New Hampshire students and community members gathered last week to protest the Israeli war in Gaza and demand the Biden Administration call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties. (Ahsan)

NH college students call for ceasefire as support for Dems erodes

Students at the University of New Hampshire are joining college students nationwide in demanding the Biden Administration call for an immediate Israel…

Panelists discuss the 33rd edition of Kentucky Youth Advocates County Data Book, which looks at how Kentucky kids are faring in terms of economic security, education, health, family and community. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY faces workforce crisis in sectors that support children

New county-level data show Kentucky is facing a severe shortage of workers in sectors supporting children, including teachers, counselors, child care …

WGU Indiana stresses existing partnerships and creating new partnerships between higher education and employers will create a jobs pipeline of educated talent. (Adobe Stock)

New urgency to close skills gap between college and employment

Preparing students to find a job straight out of college is not always easy in Indiana. However, barriers graduates must jump to successfully …

Annually, nearly 4,000 children and teens are shot and killed and 15,000 are shot and wounded, according to Everytown for Gun Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Study examines far-reaching impacts of gun violence on children

More than 1,300 Arizonans died by gun violence in 2021 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While mass shootings get …

Hispanic and multiracial high schoolers were most likely to report poor mental health, while Black and Hispanic students were most likely to report symptoms of depression, according to The Sycamore Institute report. (Highwaystarz/Adobe Stock)

Report uncovers trends in TN youth mental health crisis

More young people in Tennessee are experiencing poor mental health and symptoms of depression, and suicide attempts have been trending upward…

Exposure to videos and photos on social media can lead to eating disorders among teen and adolescent girls, as well as serious mental health issues, including suicidal behavior, according to researchers at Havard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Federal legislation aims to protect kids from social media harms

Pressure is mounting on lawmakers to hold social media companies accountable for algorithms and other practices linked to eating disorders, …

Community-based organizations applied for grants from $5,000 to $20,000, to support and actively promote the Healthy School Meals for All program locally. (Adobe Stock)

Free Healthy School Meals for Public School Students Underway

After Colorado voters approved a measure to provide free meals to all public school students regardless of their ability to pay last year, 41 …

South Dakota's Thunder Valley Development Corporation is recruiting teens and young adults to help mentor children on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The organization's summer leadership academy also gives local youth a chance to learn critical thinking skills. (Photo courtesy of Thunder Valley)

Some SD Native American youth get a helping hand from peers

November is Native American Heritage Month, and a South Dakota organization is working to help establish leadership skills for Indigenous youth…

Studies show math and reading scores are higher in schools staffed with full-time certified librarians. (CulturaAllies/Adobe Stock)

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Starting in the early years and continuing through 12th grade, it's often the school librarian students know best - seeking them out for help with …

Second-graders in South Portland are designing their own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to take part in a popular lesson based on the children's book,

Beyond book checkouts, ME librarians teach “digital citizenship”

School librarians in Maine are teaching students the importance of "digital citizenship." The concept is similar to civics education but helps stude…

The current state budget allocated $35 million to the California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for young people aging out of the foster care system. (Adobe Stock)

CA launches guaranteed income program for former foster youth

About 300 young adults leaving foster care in California will now receive a monthly check to help them make ends meet, part of the state's first …

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has about 6,800 students. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)

Two AK schools focus on remedies for second-year college 'stop-outs'

A group of colleges is exploring ways to keep students enrolled in their first two years - the time period when they're most likely to drop out…

Just like community libraries, Wisconsin's school libraries blend traditional reading with technology. The Wisconsin Schools Digital Library Consortium says more than 200 K-12 school districts provide more 50,000 e-books and audiobooks to over 400,000 kids, for $1.65 per student. (Adobe Stock)

School libraries no longer just defined by Dewey Decimal System

American Education Week is underway, and those who work with Wisconsin school libraries are highlighting the value they provide to students. School …

Among all tobacco products, youths perceived e-cigarettes to be the least harmful, according to the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey. yta/AdobeStock)

CDC: mixed success on tobacco reduction among school kids

Cigarettes may not appeal to America's youth like they did in the 1960s, but a significant number still experiment with e-cigarettes. The Centers …

A report by Advocates for Children of New York found the highest rate of student homelessness was in The Bronx, where one in six students was homeless from 2022 to 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NYC student homelessness continues to rise

A new report found a little more than 119,000 New York City students are homeless. The group Advocates for Children of New York said 61% were …

More than 30,000 labor activists have signed a letter calling on top U.S. union leaders to

Postal Workers become largest union to demand ceasefire in Gaza

One of the nation's largest labor unions has become the latest organization to demand a ceasefire in Gaza as Israel's war with Hamas plays out…

The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities found New York could see a $73,239,000 reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits for people in the WIC program. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed WIC cuts could prove detrimental to NY families

Congress' proposed cuts to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children will have significant effects on New York …

Harmful chemicals including lead, particulate matter, pesticides, and phthalates added to plastics, impair brain development in children. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio children are being harmed by toxic chemicals

Children of color and from low-income families in Ohio and across the nation are not only exposed to more dangerous toxic chemicals including lead…

The new survey revealed 15% of the state's congregate-care providers have programming and policies in place to serve transitioning, non-binary and/or transgender youth. (Daniel/Adobe Stock)

Report examines strengths, challenges of PA congregate-care settings for teens

For young people with serious behavioral health challenges, a new report showed Pennsylvania's congregate-care settings may be the best option…

Among households with a high school or college student, 44% said they experienced some form of educational disruption due to COVID-19, according to a BestColleges survey. They also responded they were worried about negative impacts on their students' ability to enroll or continue enrollment in college. (Adobe Stock)

Schools aim to prevent second-year college stop-outs

Colleges nationwide are improving services for students to ensure they stay enrolled after the challenging first two years. Administrators say their …

For a proposed initiative to qualify for a California ballot, backers must gather more than 546,000 signatures by next April. (Mariusz/Adobe Stock)

Signature gathering starts for CA initiative to restrict transgender student rights

Three proposed ballot initiatives affecting transgender students are now in the signature-gathering stage in California. The group Protect Kids …

A United Health Foundation report found the number of women's health care providers declined by 7% nationally between 2019 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report ranks Maryland 11th in health of women, children

A new report covering women's and children's health shows Maryland is doing well overall, but some concerning trends have emerged. The 2023 Health …

In the America's Health Rankings report, Michigan ranks 18th among states for childhood immunizations, and 27th for kids getting preventive dental care. (tigercat_lpg/Adobe Stock)

Report shows uptick in mental health concerns for MI women

Michigan women have mental-health concerns at rates higher than the national average, according to a new report. The United Health Foundation …

Indiana requires all prospective adoptive parents successfully complete tests, including aspects of their psychological and physical health, parenting values and beliefs, relationship and coping mechanisms and financial stability. (Adobe Stock)

November spotlights successful adoptions, Indiana kids still waiting

November is National Adoption Month, a time to boost awareness of the need for adoption and the number of children in foster care seeking permanent …

A new survey examined the cost of higher education, housing costs and even the average price of pizza, burgers, movies and bowling to rank the most affordable college towns. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

Texas' Edinburg tops list for most affordable college towns

A new study found Texas is home to half of the U.S. colleges located in communities deemed affordable for students. The personal finance company …

Despite every county being a full access county, 1.8% of Connecticut women do not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of where they live, much lower than the national average of 9.7%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT women, children’s health care lagging

Despite Connecticut doing a lot to bolster child health, a new report found plenty more needs to be done. The state ranked 8th in the latest …

About 13% of Black students in the United States choose community colleges. Nationally, there are 12 historically Black community colleges and 49 predominantly Black community colleges. (Adobe Stock)

Leaders advocate for increased funding for Black community colleges

Historical and predominantly Black community colleges often get overlooked when it comes to funding for higher education but leaders across the countr…

Oregon saw a drop in early childhood education enrollment between 2019 and 2021. (thepoeticimage/Adobe Stock)

Health report: Mothers, children struggling across U.S.

A new report found a troubling rise in health challenges for mothers and children across the country. The United Health Foundation has released its …

The North Dakota Child Care Action Alliance said the state needs about 10,000 more childcare slots to meet the demand for young children with working parents. (Adobe Stock)

ND childcare crisis: What's the next step during session gap?

North Dakota's special legislative session on budget technicalities did not bring many surprises. Groups wanting to see more action on child care …

Georgia high school seniors will receive a letter of college admission at their home address along with connections to resources for application fee waivers, scholarships and grants. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Georgia offers 'Apply to College Month' with no application fees

Georgia is stepping up efforts to help students seize college opportunities. Starting this week, students can apply to partner schools with the …

Stroke is ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide, with an annual mortality rate of about 5.5 million people. (Irina Strelnikova/Adobe Stock)

For World Stroke Day, learn how to spot a stroke

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke - so learning how to spot one can be vital in saving your own life or someone else's…

People with additional years of education beyond high school tend to be more civic-minded and interact more with neighbors and family members, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Increasingly, politics make their way into students' college choices

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Michigan News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News …

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Youth

Cross-generational housing mentorships close community gaps in ND

Illinois high school seniors face big college application challenges

Running Start lets WA high schoolers explore college courses

Report: Almost 3 in 4 future jobs will require some college

Consumer watchdog: ‘Smart toys” put kids' privacy at risk

Report: CT needs to bolster child behavioral health system

Creating a local pipeline for Montana teaching jobs

Students across AZ learn how to better financially plan, budget

Research links climate-change impacts to depression in high schoolers

A call for 'bold action' to address PA school funding disparities

Young Iowa farmers struggle for a leg up

National tobacco use data show mixed results for teens

Survey: Immigrant students feel invisible to teachers and peers

There's a lot going on in NE school libraries

American Education Week: WA libraries inspire reading

Medicaid’s 'unwinding' takes heavy toll on Texas children

NH college students call for ceasefire as support for Dems erodes

Report: KY faces workforce crisis in sectors that support children

New urgency to close skills gap between college and employment

Study examines far-reaching impacts of gun violence on children

Report uncovers trends in TN youth mental health crisis

Federal legislation aims to protect kids from social media harms

Free Healthy School Meals for Public School Students Underway

Some SD Native American youth get a helping hand from peers

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Beyond book checkouts, ME librarians teach “digital citizenship”

CA launches guaranteed income program for former foster youth

Two AK schools focus on remedies for second-year college 'stop-outs'

School libraries no longer just defined by Dewey Decimal System

CDC: mixed success on tobacco reduction among school kids

Report: NYC student homelessness continues to rise

Postal Workers become largest union to demand ceasefire in Gaza

Proposed WIC cuts could prove detrimental to NY families

Ohio children are being harmed by toxic chemicals

Report examines strengths, challenges of PA congregate-care settings for teens

Schools aim to prevent second-year college stop-outs

Signature gathering starts for CA initiative to restrict transgender student rights

Report ranks Maryland 11th in health of women, children

Report shows uptick in mental health concerns for MI women

November spotlights successful adoptions, Indiana kids still waiting

Texas' Edinburg tops list for most affordable college towns

Report: CT women, children’s health care lagging

Leaders advocate for increased funding for Black community colleges

Health report: Mothers, children struggling across U.S.

ND childcare crisis: What's the next step during session gap?

Georgia offers 'Apply to College Month' with no application fees

For World Stroke Day, learn how to spot a stroke

Increasingly, politics make their way into students' college choices