Youth Issues / Public News Service

There's been a roughly 38% drop in drowning deaths over the past two decades. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 27, 2022

Keep Swimming Kids Safe with a 'Water Watcher'

With the unofficial start to summer, pools around Ohio are opening this Memorial Day weekend, and when it comes to swim time, experts encourage …

A 2019 report from the Economic Policy Institute found teacher shortages were especially acute in higher-poverty schools. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 27, 2022

Union Leaders Push for More Support for Students', Teachers' Mental Health

As the nation processes the horrific shooting in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed, teachers' unions across Illinois and America …

Of 62 large districts surveyed, 98% identified challenges with supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages, and said providing school meals would be even greater if not for USDA child-nutrition waivers. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Report: School Meal Waivers a Game Changer During Pandemic

During the COVID health emergency, Congress removed a lot of red tape in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) school meals programs, and a new …

Kids in 10th and 12th grades in New York City shelters had attendance rates below 70%, meaning they missed the equivalent of more than a week of school in a single month (Oct. 2021), according to a new policy brief. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

NYC Youth in Shelters Face School Attendance Challenges

New York City students in insecure housing situations continue to have alarmingly low school attendance rates, heightened by the pandemic. Youth …

Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is one of the career pathways young Missourians can train for through the St. Joseph Youth Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

MO Group Receives Grant to Help Young People Start Careers

The St. Joseph Youth Alliance has been awarded a YouthBuild Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, to help students earn their high school …

Georgetown researchers found that Black American women are the most likely to have to turn to student loans for college, and hold the most student loan debt, compared with their peers. (Adobe Stock)

Study: College Grads Twice as Likely to Have Good Jobs

By age 35, workers with a bachelor's degree or higher are about twice as likely as workers with just a high school diploma to have a good job - one …

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks' seven regional food banks distributed approximately 165 million pounds of food in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Food Banks Seek Support Amid High Inflation, Supply-Chain Issues

Virginia's food banks are facing a perfect storm of issues. High inflation for everyday goods is driving up food costs for lower-income families…

Beyond school counselors, parents and private providers, mental-health advocates urge faith-based and other community groups to provide safe spaces for kids dealing with stress and anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

IA Mental Health Voices: The Kids Aren't All Right

As the school year winds down, education leaders are shedding light on increased mental-health demands among students, including thoughts of suicide…

Keeping siblings together in foster care is a national best practice. (mytrykau/Adobe Stock)

MI Foster Care Agency: Youths, Families Need Wraparound Services

Michigan is taking steps to improve the child welfare system for National Foster Care Month. In Michigan, nearly a quarter of young people who are …

Around 40% of young people who've experienced care will experience homelessness. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

MA Group: Campus-Based Supports Needed for Former Foster Youth

May is National Foster Care Month, and groups that serve foster youths and families say improvements are needed for outcomes and to reduce …

Activities like hikes can help improve Idaho kids' mental health. (Brocreative/Adobe Stock)

HOPE Week Promotes Positive Experiences for Kids' Mental Health

May is mental health awareness month. As part of that, groups in Idaho are using HOPE Week to help kids in crisis and reduce the state's worrying …

The Degrees When Due initiative has identified more than 39,000 Iowa students who earned college credits, but outside factors forced them to put their education on hold. (Adobe Stock)

'Degrees When Due' Helps IA College Students Get Back on Track

Iowa has seen a 5% increase in the number of college students who left school without a degree. But some campuses are making it a priority to help …

The Degrees When Due initiative has identified nearly 60,000 Minnesota students who earned college credits, but outside factors forced them to put their education on hold. (Adobe Stock)

Program Helps MN Colleges Break Up the 'Stop Out' Pattern

The pandemic and other factors forced some Minnesota college students to put their academic careers on hold. Several schools around the state…

The Pennsylvania Council for Children, Youth and Family Services says a $94.7 million one-time funding increase would break down to about $5,000 for each filled and vacant position in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Child and Family Providers Request $94M to Address Staff Shortage

Advocates for juvenile-justice and child-welfare providers in Pennsylvania want the General Assembly to approve one-time funding to boost staff recrui…

This year, the theme for Mental Health Awareness Month is "Together for Mental Health." (Benjavisa Ruangvaree/Adobestock)

During Mental Health Awareness Month, CA Policymakers Mull Priorities

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and advocates are hoping Gov. Gavin Newsom will prioritize the issue in his revised budget, due by Sunday…

The Journal of the American Medical Association says trans youths with access to gender-affirming care are 60% less likely to have moderate to severe depression and are 73% less suicidal. (MaryBettiniBlank/Pixabay)

States Form Coalition to Counter Anti-LGBTQ Bills

New Mexico and 18 other states have announced plans to introduce legislation they say will be needed to protect transgender kids from civil and crimin…

Seven in 10 parents say their kids have interacted with a smartphone before age 11. (dubova/Adobe Stock)

MI Educator: Engage With Your Kids' Social Media Use

During Mental Health Awareness Month, experts, parents and health professionals are spotlighting the effects of screens and social media on young …

<a href= — Ohio teens are 4% less likely to have used drugs in the past month than the average teen in the United States. (Prevention Action Alliance)

Ohio Youth Council: Drug, Alcohol Use is Not the Norm

Hundreds of Ohio teens join together today to bust myths about teenage substance use. The "We Are The Majority" rally promotes the fact that most …

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 …

Recent data show the number of young people in Connecticut admitted to juvenile-detention centers dropped 87% between 2005 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Youth-Justice Advocates Concerned as Crime Bill Heads to Gov's Desk

A youth crime bill passed by the Connecticut General Assembly has been sent to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, even as some youth-justice advocates view the …

Close to half of the students who responded to <a href= — Close to half of the students who responded to the Pennsylvania Youth Survey in 2021 said during the pandemic, they "played more online games with others" than they usually do. (Adobe Stock)

Parents, Advocates Voice Concerns about Social-Media Impact on Youth

It's no secret that the last two years of the pandemic have taken a toll on young people's mental health. During this Mental Health Awareness Month…

Tech Insider, Health Experts Call Social Media Growing Threat to Kids

Last year, a whistleblower lifted the curtain on how Facebook and its sister companies impact children's mental health. Now, alongside teachers and …

Some experts believe<a href= — Some experts believe children can be better protected by strictly enforcing age restrictions. Users' identities could be verified while still being allowed the freedom to not use real names while posting. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: CA Must Act Now to Protect Youth from Social Media Dangers

As children grow up, parents and caregivers across California face the difficult decision of how to oversee social media use. But is that decision …

A leak of thousands of internal documents to journalists in 2021, detailing how social media giant Facebook handled everything from the January 6th insurrection to mental health issues among young women and girls. (Adobe Stock)

Facebook Whistleblower, Health Experts Discuss Social Media's Impact on Kids

Last year, a whistleblower at Facebook lifted the curtain on how the platform, and its sister companies, impact young kids' mental health. Frances …

Some experts feel the age children are considered "adults" for the purpose of using internet services and agreeing to terms of usage should be raised from 13 to 16. (Adobe Stock)

TX Caregivers Urged to Take Active Role in Children’s Social Media Use

As children grow up, parents and caregivers across Texas face the difficult decision of how to oversee social media use, with an ongoing debate on …

A bill before the New Hampshire General Court would require parental notification if students see a school counselor. (Adobe Stock)

NH Groups: "Parental Bill of Rights" Undermines Privacy, Harms Students

The New Hampshire Senate is holding a floor vote today on a bill they are calling the "parental bill of rights" but which advocates for LGBTQ+ young p…

A child reads during one of Save the Children's after-school programs in Central Valley California. (Tamar Levine/Save the Children)

Literacy Programs Work to Mitigate Learning Loss from Pandemic Disruption

Literacy programs are making headway against the learning loss associated with pandemic school disruptions, which put many students four to five …

The outside pool's slide and lily pad in the Township of Upper St. Clair. (Courtesy Township of Upper St. Clair)

PA Communities Gearing Up for Public Pool Season

Recreation departments across Pennsylvania are preparing to kick off their outdoor public pool seasons starting Memorial Day Weekend, marking for …

More than 600,000 children received a child protective services investigation response or alternative response nationwide in 2020, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Child Maltreatment Report. (Adobe Stock)

New KY Law Clarifies Definition of Child Abuse

Gov. Andy Beshear has signed legislation clarifying the definition of child abuse and neglect, and allowing the state to move faster on suspected …

Forty percent of first-generation students in a survey said they filled out the FAFSA forms themselves, compared with 11% of higher-income students. (photo_gonzo/Adobe Stock)

Simplifying the FAFSA: MI Groups Have Some Tips

As the U.S. Department of Education works to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, groups in Michigan have some …

As teens and adolescents report feeling more stress and anxiety during the pandemic, those who feel supported in places such as schools were less likely to feel sad and hopeless, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

ND Provider: Teen Mental-Health Needs Are Visible

As the school year winds down, mental-health providers say they recognize many students still feel the weight of the pandemic, and in North Dakota…

Almost a million students stopped attending college or universities over the past two years, citing overwhelming stress, cost, and family obligations. (Adobe Stock)

Emotional Stress Top Reason For Higher Ed. Drop Outs

Nationally, COVID-19 has been devastating for many people pursuing higher education. Almost a million stopped attending college or universities in …

Blue pinwheels, the symbol for Child Abuse Prevention Month, represent carefree childhoods. (Fotoluminate LLC/Adobe Stock)

Idaho High-School Students Speak about Child-Abuse Prevention

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, highlighting ways people can help stop abuse in their communities, and at one Idaho high school, students are …

Around 1.5 million Ohioans have some college, but no degree or credential. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Stresses, Study Shows Students Value Higher Education

In the wake of stresses, disruptions and losses due to COVID-19, research shows the majority of college and university students who stopped out over …

Per state data, there were nearly 625-thousand Hoosiers on SNAP as of March. (Adobe Stock)

IN Food Aid Groups Work to Meet College Students' Food Needs

The end of the semester is approaching for Hoosier students, and food aid groups across the state are working to ensure folks have enough to eat …

Latino and multiracial students are more likely to plan to cancel or postpone their studies than students overall, according to a report by the Latino Politics and Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

KY Colleges See Enrollment Dip

Despite a college enrollment drop triggered by the pandemic, Kentucky's colleges are continuing to close gaps in graduation and retention rates…

Research shows that 90% of high school seniors who complete FAFSA go to college immediately after graduation compared with 55% of seniors who don't complete it. (Adobe Stock)

NY FAFSA Completion Rates Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels

New data show college financial-aid completion rates in New York are five percentage points lower than they were pre-pandemic. An education advocacy …

A report from the University of Chicago's Inclusive Economy Lab compared more than 7,000 OneGoal participants to students from the same communities with similar academic profiles. (Adobe Stock)

IL Program Aims to Boost College Enrollment for Low-Income Students

Students from low-income communities in Illinois have historically faced numerous barriers to higher education, but one Chicago-based program offers …

Worker turnover at children's services agencies is linked to increased time kids spend in foster care. <br />(Adobe Stock) — Worker turnover at children's services agencies is linked to increased time kids spend in foster care.
(Adobe Stock)

Worker Turnover: Stakes High in Children's Services

While workforce shortages are plaguing nearly every field these days, the stakes are particularly high for Ohio's county children's services agencies…

Households with children in Arkansas are more likely to rely on SNAP benefits, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Worried More Rural AR Kids May Go Hungry This Summer

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

Two-year schools such as Truckee Meadows Community College have partnerships with local employers to offer coursework in fields that are in demand. (Nevada System of Higher Education)

Nevada Colleges Look to Attract More Students after Pandemic Enrollment Drop

Nevada colleges, especially two-year institutions, are working overtime to attract more students this fall, in the wake of a big drop in enrollment …

Inability to pay was the most cited reason for educational disruptions, according to an analysis by the Latino Politics and Policy Initiative at UCLA. (Adobe Stock)

For Some in UT, College Dreams Cut Short by Pandemic

Low-income families in Utah may have shifted funds from education to pay for pandemic-related costs, a trend in line with findings showing Black and …

An ACLU report says Minnesota's student-to-social worker ratio is 852-to-one, well above the recommended level. There are also wide ratios for numbers of school nurses and psychologists. (Adobe Stock)

MN School Social Workers: Mental-Health Demands are Real

COVID cases are down in much of the U.S., but the pandemic's lingering effects are growing larger. School social workers in Minnesota point to mental-…

Among young people referred to court, detention has grown even more common for Black, Latinx and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, while holding steady for white and Tribal youth, reveals a recent report from The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

NC Governor’s Use of Clemency Spotlights Juvenile Life Sentencing

Gov. Roy Cooper has used his clemency power to end life sentences for three people sent to prison as children. His decision last month followed the …

The Sentencing Project report found that, despite the number of young people arrested declining over the last 10 years, the number of referred youths who were detained increased slightly. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Officials Severely Undercount Number of Incarcerated Kids

Although youth incarceration rates in the U.S. are on the decline, a report from The Sentencing Project reveals the number of young people being …

Reforms that advocates say helped lower youth incarceration rates include the state raising the minimum age for which adolescents could be charged with most crimes as an adult to 18 in 2012. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Youth Incarcerated in US Much Higher Than Documented

Young people in the U.S. were incarcerated in juvenile facilities 240,000 times in 2019, according to a new report, and current methods significantly …

Children who are incarcerated are less likely to graduate from high school and find employment later in life. (Adobe Stock)

Incarceration Data Shows Juvenile Justice System Off Mission in Nebraska

Nearly a quarter-million children were incarcerated in the U.S. in 2019, about five times more than annual point-in-time counts, according to a new …

In a survey of former foster youths, 37% of 21-year-olds reported having experienced homelessness. (AdobeStock)

Report: Elevate Youth Voices to Transform Foster-Care Experience

While Ohio trails the nation in outcomes for older youths in foster care, a new report also suggests there are reasons for hope. According to the …

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