Youth Issues / Public News Service

In 2023, nearly 18% of U.S. households with children faced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Ohio lawmakers consider free meals for all K-12 students

By Lauren Cohen / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. S.B. 109, a bill that …

Healthy School Meals for All serves up more than 600,000 meals every school day in Colorado, regardless of a student's ability to pay. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Colorado voters could decide fate of Healthy School Meals for All

As Colorado lawmakers grapple with $1.2 billion in budget cuts, child nutrition advocates are turning to voters to protect funding for the state's …

The Buffalo Soldiers were the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War. The museum was founded in 2001. (serhiibobyk/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Federal funding cuts hit Houston's Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston is one of many historic and cultural institutions across the nation to lose access to federal funding…

In Illinois, counties cover the operational costs of juvenile detention centers, while the state reimburses for staffing at more than $40 million per year. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Proposed bills would curb jailing of children in IL

Two bills aimed at reforming the juvenile justice system in Illinois are close to becoming law. Senate Bill 1784 proposes raising the age of …

The Trevor Project estimated more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year. They warn more lives would be at risk if the White House is allowed to cut specialized services under the 988 crisis line. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

LGBTQ+ youth advocates want crisis line shielded from federal budget ax

LGBTQ+ advocates in South Dakota are reeling from passage of another state law they said harms their community. Now, there is concern possible …

According to a study by Harvard University, nearly 25 million Americans live in areas without enough dentists. Dental experts warned taking fluoride out of water in areas with few dentists could lead to more tooth decay. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Some AR communities without fluoridated water also experience dentist shortage

By Brett Kelman for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Co…

Ohio Department of Children & Youth reports more than 15,000 children are in foster care in Ohio - and nearly a quarter have complex needs that make finding the right placement especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

As Ohio approaches National Foster Care Month in May, one family's journey highlights how therapeutic foster care can change lives. A 12-year-old …

The Here to Observe and Here to Storytelling program helps students show their workforce skills on their resumes, making it easier for them to succeed when applying for internships, graduate school and jobs. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Funds cut off from Kutztown U.’s NASA program amid DEI crackdown

President Donald Trump's executive order dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs has led to the defunding of Kutztown …

The Young Activist Leaders Program provides a place for young people to ask questions, educate each other, and explore social justice work together. (Carlo/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

WA youth: Money for medicaid, not war

A group of Washington youths, fresh from a grassroots leadership development program, is speaking up against the Trump Administration's plans to cut …

In a North Minneapolis strip mall, Nonviolent Peaceforce recently opened a community space to work with youth to prevent violence. Officials worry about keeping it open after a key federal grant was cut without warning. (Photo courtesy Nonviolent Peaceforce)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Federal cuts bring abrupt halt to community peacebuilding in Minneapolis

Violence prevention groups said building trust in vulnerable neighborhoods is key to their success but a global humanitarian organization worries abou…

Medi-Cal pays for a range of health services in schools, including aides and equipment for disabled students. (Ermolaev Alexandr/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Medicaid is in the crosshairs, as Republicans in Congress are expected to lay out proposals in May to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget…

Florida's school vouchers program, which lawmakers expanded in 2023, is projected to divert nearly $4 billion this year from public education, according to the Florida Policy Institute. (Pixabay)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Florida PTA fights charter school expansion, cuts to mental health funding

Jude Bruno, president-elect of the Florida Parent Teacher Association, is leading a charge against two controversial education bills which would …

Lawmakers are considering several bills that would impact small farmers, including bills that would require country-of-origin labels and allow the sale of raw milk at farmers markets. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

Members of a Texas House committee this week will consider a bill that would limit the number of permits farmers must have to participate at farmers m…

The 2+2 international business degree program is the first collaboration of its kind between the University of Northern Iowa's Wilson College of Businessand an international university. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Northern Iowa launches international student exchange

Despite pushback from the Trump administration on colleges and universities recruiting foreign students, the University of Northern Iowa is part of a …

Data show 25% to 35% of first-year college students do not return for their second year. (NMSU)

NMSU's 'ringtone strategy' helps keep students enrolled, engaged

Today's college students may prefer communicating by text but New Mexico State University still finds person-to-person phone calls from faculty and st…

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

A report from the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable found Delaware has met 61.3% of its goal of hiring school psychologists but has fallen far short on hiring school-based social workers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

A new report showed Delaware is making strides in building its school mental health services. The report found the state has expanded its ratio of …

The Individualized Education Account Program helps Tennessee families by offering funding for approved educational expenses customized to support each student's individual learning needs. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee educators warn against dismantling U.S. Department of Education

Tennessee educators are expressing concern over President Donald Trump's push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return control to the …

A nationwide poll reveals that mental health is a priority for Americans, regardless of political party, with 90% of voters saying expanding mental-health care should be a priority for elected officials. (JenkoAtaman/Adobe Stock)

Report card: PA making steady improvements in student mental health

Pennsylvania is making progress in supporting youth mental health, according to a new report from Inseparable. The state now has about half the …

New Jersey only has half of the recommended minimum number of school social workers, and three-fourths of the recommended minimum number of school psychologists. (Adobe Stock)

NJ improves in school-based mental health policies

A new report finds that states like New Jersey have made progress in providing school mental health services to its students, but work still remains…

About 500,000 children in the U.S. are exposed to lead, disproportionately on poor and Black and brown families. (Adobe Stock)

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

As the city of Milwaukee continues to grapple with addressing unsafe levels of lead across public schools, experts are calling it an environmental …

In 2021, Ohio passed Senate Bill 1, requiring all high school students to take a standalone half-credit personal finance course to graduate. This applies to students entering 9th grade on, or after July 1, 2022 (i.e., the Class of 2026). (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans urged to reset budgets during Financial Literacy Month

Ohio families dealing with the lingering effects of inflation and post-pandemic economic shifts may be looking for ways to regain control of their fin…

Florida State University, where a gunman killed two people last Thursday, experienced another shooting more than a decade ago that left three people injured. (ernie114/Pixabay)

Students, lawmakers clash over gun violence response after FSU shooting

Florida State University students joined survivors of past mass shootings at the state Capitol this week, demanding that Gov. Ron DeSantis veto a …

According to a 2024 report from Mental Health America, Wyoming ranked 51st in the nation for adult mental health and 28th for youth. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming K-12 mental-health coordination program nears expiration

Wyoming consistently ranks in the bottom 10 of all states on mental health indicators. COVID-era funding has helped provide resources but it is …

The report found Washington needs to almost double its number of school psychologists in order to meet the recommended minimum. (peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

WA investments in school mental-health services slowly helping

Washington has done well enacting some policies that improve school mental-health systems in the last year, while still falling short in other areas…

Many international students have said they did not know their visas were revoked, or that their status had been changed, until they were notified by federal officials. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX

Hundreds of international college students in Texas are fighting to stay in the country after their visas were revoked and their legal status changed …

Illinois was one of the first states to implement annual mental health screenings in schools. (Adobe Stock)

IL school mental health investments leave gaps in provider ratios

Despite making major policy strides to strengthen school-based mental health services for Illinois students, a national report card showed the state …

Utah is meeting the nationally recommended standard for minimum number of school mental health staff, according to the mental health policy advocacy organization Inseparable. (Adobe Stock)

Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources

Utah has made investments in mental health resources for school-age children a priority and they appear to be working to help more kids in crisis…

Performances at Teatro Visión in San Jose are part of the 7th annual Arts, Culture and Creativity Month, a statewide celebration sponsored by the nonprofit California for the Arts. (Christian Pizzirani/Teatro Visión).

Advocates hope to teach CA lawmakers an art lesson

Supporters of the arts are gathering Wednesday in Sacramento for Arts Advocacy Day in order to lobby lawmakers on a range of issues. Educators are …

Colorado's I Matter program can connect students with a therapist for up to six free counseling sessions, which are completely confidential. (Adobe Stock)

Report card: Colorado making improvements in student mental health

Colorado has made significant improvements in connecting young people with the mental health care they need, according to the mental health advocacy …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of all serious mental health conditions begin by the age of 14 and 75% by age 24. (Adobe Stock)

Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care

A new report card on in-school mental health services found some states, including Alaska, are making significant progress toward meeting policy …

Florida is one of 16 states not requiring annual mental health screenings in schools, according to the advocacy group Inseparable. (Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio)

Report: FL schools face mental-health staffing shortfalls

Florida schools still face critical mental health staffing shortages with less than 25% of needed psychologists in place, despite expanding …

The National Library of Medicine reports that many schools are incorporating mental health awareness into their curricula to reduce stigma and help students recognize and manage emotions. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

School mental health report card highlights Michigan’s strengths and gaps

A national report card finds that even with a $150 million budget threat last year, Michigan still made solid progress in staffing up its school …

Iowa's individual income tax rate ranges from 4.40% to 5.70%, according to the Tax Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa rights activists plan to fight social service cuts

Groups working for human rights causes in Iowa warn proposed cuts being debated in Congress would trickle down to the people least able to sustain the…

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has an enrollment of around 270,000 students, spread across 33 campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Significant tuition hikes expected at MN colleges

For Minnesota households planning future college enrollment, there is a good chance tuition will cost more, as public campuses facing tighter budgets …

The current Housing First program was instituted by President George W. Bush in 2004. (Aevan/Adobe Stock AI generated)

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

It is estimated more than 2,600 people live on the streets across Arkansas. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has proposed a "treatment …

King County reported more than 16,000 people experiencing homelessness last year, which is more than half the state's unhoused population. (Mallivan/Adobe Stock)

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

A unique approach to preventing youth homelessness in Washington is proving highly effective, with more than 93% of participants still housed one …

When a tariff is imposed, the importing business pays the tax to the U.S. Treasury Department. Importers then pass much of the added cost to consumers. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation - and although tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been delayed, Texans are still uneasy about …

Research for school-based asthma therapy shows the practice reduced emergency department visits by 49%, urgent care visits by 41%, hospitalizations by 50% and pediatric intensive care unit admissions by 71%. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

MSU study: School asthma care boosts health, cuts costs

About 200,000 kids in Michigan have asthma, and nearly five million suffer from the condition nationwide. Research from Michigan State University …

About 259,300 Iowans, or 8% of the state's population, rely on SNAP benefits. A large portion are children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

SNAP benefit cuts would fall squarely on Iowa kids

Groups working to fight hunger in Iowa say proposed cuts to SNAP benefits would fall squarely on the state's kids, who rely on them for food and …

More than 40% of the 157,000 Nebraskans who receive SNAP benefits are children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska social justice group pushes back on SNAP changes

The State of Nebraska is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change which items people are allowed to purchase using Supplemental Nutrition …

At Northern Arizona University, 56% of the students are White, and 25% are Hispanic or Latino, according to Data USA. (Josh Biggs/Wikimedia Commons)

AZ universities thread needle to comply with Trump DEI order

Arizona universities are figuring out how to comply with President Donald Trump's order to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs - …

LGBTQ+ youths are nearly four times more likely to be victimized, and are particularly vulnerable to experiencing unwanted sexual advances online. (Adobe Stock)

Research: One in seven Utah children is a victim of sexual abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and new research at Utah State University finds one in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse --…

The Indiana Department of Child Services evaluates child abuse or neglect reports if the alleged victim is under age 18 and the alleged perpetrator is the victim's parent, guardian or custodian. (Adobe Stock)

IN child abuse cases rise, leave mental, physical scars

More than 7,500 Indiana children were removed from their homes last year because of abuse and neglect. According to The Indiana Youth Institute's 2024…

In Pennsylvania, the Children's Health Insurance Program provides an option for children to receive health care. However, losing Medicaid coverage would leave many children across the state without insurance and unable to access the care they need. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

Groups oppose Medicaid cuts threatening coverage for 3 million PA residents

In Pennsylvania and nationwide, federal safety net programs may face major cutbacks as President Donald Trump's administration pushes for budget …

The proliferation of Airbnbs, luxury condos and barriers to homeownership contribute to the homeless crisis in the Black community, said Chama St. Louis of the National Black Worker Center. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Black residents in IL 8 times more likely to be homeless

Black residents in Illinois are almost eight times more likely to be homeless than white people, with lack of livable wages and affordable housing …

A national public relations firm recently surveyed Americans about the barriers youths face to better outcomes. Respondents recognized the need for stronger communities, but survey officials said they still underestimate the effect poverty can have on youths. (Adobe Stock)

For youth empowerment work, experts say careful wording can save the day

April is Second Chance Month, with extra focus on helping people with a criminal past keep from becoming repeat offenders. In steering Minnesota …

Wisconsin was set to receive more than $11 million this year from the Local Food for Schools program and about $5.5 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. (Adobe Stock)

WI schools cancel local farm partnerships due to federal cuts

By Josh Israel for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indepen…

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Youth

Ohio lawmakers consider free meals for all K-12 students

Colorado voters could decide fate of Healthy School Meals for All

Federal funding cuts hit Houston's Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

Proposed bills would curb jailing of children in IL

LGBTQ+ youth advocates want crisis line shielded from federal budget ax

Some AR communities without fluoridated water also experience dentist shortage

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

Funds cut off from Kutztown U.’s NASA program amid DEI crackdown

WA youth: Money for medicaid, not war

Federal cuts bring abrupt halt to community peacebuilding in Minneapolis

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Florida PTA fights charter school expansion, cuts to mental health funding

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

Northern Iowa launches international student exchange

NMSU's 'ringtone strategy' helps keep students enrolled, engaged

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

Tennessee educators warn against dismantling U.S. Department of Education

Report card: PA making steady improvements in student mental health

NJ improves in school-based mental health policies

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

Ohioans urged to reset budgets during Financial Literacy Month

Students, lawmakers clash over gun violence response after FSU shooting

Wyoming K-12 mental-health coordination program nears expiration

WA investments in school mental-health services slowly helping

Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX

IL school mental health investments leave gaps in provider ratios

Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources

Advocates hope to teach CA lawmakers an art lesson

Report card: Colorado making improvements in student mental health

Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care

Report: FL schools face mental-health staffing shortfalls

School mental health report card highlights Michigan’s strengths and gaps

Iowa rights activists plan to fight social service cuts

Significant tuition hikes expected at MN colleges

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

MSU study: School asthma care boosts health, cuts costs

SNAP benefit cuts would fall squarely on Iowa kids

Nebraska social justice group pushes back on SNAP changes

AZ universities thread needle to comply with Trump DEI order

Research: One in seven Utah children is a victim of sexual abuse

IN child abuse cases rise, leave mental, physical scars

Groups oppose Medicaid cuts threatening coverage for 3 million PA residents

Black residents in IL 8 times more likely to be homeless

For youth empowerment work, experts say careful wording can save the day

WI schools cancel local farm partnerships due to federal cuts