SEATTLE - Foster care alumni in Washington state have one month left to apply for pandemic aid.

As part of a large relief package in Congress last year, Washington is distributing $1.65 million to people who were dependents of the state or tribal foster-care programs after their 15th birthday. They now must be between ages 23 and 26.

Dawn Rains, chief policy and strategy officer at Treehouse, an organization helping the state's Department of Children, Youth, and Families distribute funds, said recipients will receive $1,000 at a crucial time.

"We know that many of them struggle in the transition to adulthood," she said. "They don't have the same kinds of safety nets of families to help with their transition, either through the education, post-high school education, or into the world of employment."

Rains noted that folks are eligible even if they weren't in foster care in Washington state. She said they've reached about 400 people so far of the 2,800 known to be eligible in the state. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30.

Rains said there's a lot of flexibility for how the $1,000 can be used, adding what a difference this amount of money can make.

"We're so hopeful that this is going to help people stay housed, to get food that they need, to maintain going to school, if that is their path," she said.

Rains said she sees it as a critical investment for people who have been in foster care.

"They are the young people for whom the state became parent," she said, "and we have a special responsibility to help make sure that they make a successful transition to young adulthood - both for them personally and for all of us."

The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean isolation, hunger and falling behind academically. The global nonprofit, Save the Children encourages parents to learn more about programs offered through its "Make Summer Fair" initiative.

Claudia Vargas, Texas director for Save the Children, said the 90-day break from the school routine can be hardest on kids who need the most help.

"Summer can mean no more access to books, regular meals, art supplies - and end of exercising and playing with other friends until the next school year comes," she said.

Families can learn more about programs offered in their area to help kids through SavetheChildren.org/MakeSummerFair.

Shane Garver, senior director of national field operations for U.S. Programs and Advocacy, said excitement about the school year's end can produce anxiety for children who live outside of cities.

"We know at Save the Children that while poverty affects millions of children across the U.S. - it's strongest grip is on the lives of children in rural communities, as rural child poverty is higher than urban areas in 40 states," Garver explained.

Vargas added in a state as large as Texas, there is a dramatic variability in "Summer Learning Loss" or SLL, but it is has been shown that kids can lose up to 34% of what they learned during the prior school year.

"Children in low-income families are affected by the summer slide. When you lose learning during the summer in ways that can affect them years into their education and in rural communities, the impact can be higher," Vargas said.

Vargas cites one study that showed 75% of students with a failing grade point average were food insecure, compared with 42% of students with a GPA equivalent to an "A".

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is brushing off calls to investigate the effect its social media platforms have on children's mental health.

Last week shareholders rejected a proposal to hire an independent law firm to evaluate the effectiveness of Meta's audit and risk oversight committee.

The resolution alleges the company regularly breaks pledges to remove content harmful to children.

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten spoke out in favor of the resolution.

"In classrooms and communities across the country," said Weingarten, "AFT members are witnessing firsthand the impact of students suffering from anxiety, bullying, trauma, body dysmorphia and the eating disorders - as a direct result of exposure to images on Instagram, as well as the violence glorified on Meta's platforms."

Meta's proxy statement advised a "no" vote, saying the company already prohibits harmful content and provides parents tools to monitor their children's activity online.

Last week the U.S. Surgeon General issued a 19 page advisory on adolescent social media use, saying it is predictive of a decrease in life satisfaction for girls 11 to 13 years old and boys 14 to 15.

Weingarten is a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council. The labor organization's pension fund holds significant shares in the company, and it introduced the resolution at last week's Meta shareholder's meeting.

She said we need more clarity on what Meta is doing to protect children.

"While Meta's audit and risk oversight committee is charged with evaluating risks," said Weingarten, "shareholders have no idea how the committee operates, what information it considers or whether it just cedes its authority entirely to CEO Mark Zuckerberg."

The White House recently called for changes, alleging that Meta uses "manipulative design techniques embedded in their products to promote addictive and compulsive use by young people to generate more revenue."

The Federal Trade Commission is calling for a ban on collecting young children's data.

Two regional pediatric immunization symposiums are being held this month in Morehead and Owensboro, where experts will share strategies to promote vaccine dialogue and resources - as families get back on track for routine vaccinations disrupted by the pandemic.

Amber Mallot - health communicator program manager for the Immunize Kentucky Coalition and Kentucky Rural Health Association - encouraged families to check up on what routine vaccinations are needed before kids head back into the classroom.

"We want parents and caregivers to start thinking and planning for that," said Mallot, "because we know that it can be overwhelming to get into a provider's office and get those appointments scheduled, sometimes a month out."

The pandemic disrupted many kids' routine vaccination schedules - and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of kindergartners nationwide who received routine childhood vaccinations during the 2020-'21 school year dropped by around 1% compared with the previous school year.

For more information on the symposia, visit 'immunizeky.org.'

Kelly Taulbee, director of communications and development with Kentucky Voices for Health, pointed out that kids can resume their routine immunizations that were disrupted when the pandemic hit.

"They can pick right back up where they left off," said Taulbee. "There's not any sort of delay in the care now. So please talk to your pediatrician. Get into the doctor. Tell them you're interested, if you want to talk and go through questions first. "

Malott said the Coalition is currently focused on building competence among providers to address vaccine questions with patients.

"Be able to address any of the particular questions that caregivers may have specifically in regard to making the informed choice to vaccinate their children," said Mallot, "not just for required vaccines, but recommended vaccines - HPV, COVID, flu, things of that nature."

A Pew survey released last month found most adults have a lot or some confidence in their own health care provider to give an accurate picture of the health benefits and risks of childhood vaccines.





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