The latest report on the well-being of Tennessee's children noted improvements in some areas and challenges in others.

Statewide, child poverty rates decreased slightly, by one full percentage point between 2021 and 2022, to 17.8%.

Jonquil Newland, director of media relations for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, said the slight decrease may be due to wage growth. She explained since the pandemic, there has been a big push to increase pay, especially hourly wages.

"Where someone was making between $7 and $10 before, now they're probably making between $12 and $15," Newland pointed out. "When you think about that and all the folks who are trying to support families who are living on minimum wages, that we believe (is) one of the main indicators of why our children living in poverty has decreased ever so slightly."

One alarming finding in 2022 showed, nearly 10 of every 1,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect. The rate varied widely across counties, with Cocke County reporting the highest number of cases, and Williamson County the lowest.

The report ranked counties on 52 indicators in four areas: economic well-being, education, health, and community and family. Newland pointed out in the previous report, Perry County was ranked 84th for children's well-being and it is now 26th. She explained the area in which Perry has improved the most is education.

"Some of them have improved more in some areas," Newland noted. "For example, Perry County, their biggest room for improvement, or they've improved mostly with a youth graduation rate and on-time graduation rate and the babies born at a low birth weight. So, kudos to them and congratulations to Perry County and others."

Newland added the county profiles provide crucial data for leaders to evaluate their performance, pinpoint weaknesses, celebrate achievements and ultimately, guide resource allocation and funding decisions.


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The California Parent and Youth Helpline turns five years old today - just in time for a brand new study that confirms its effectiveness.

The study, published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, found that 85% of people felt more positive, calmer and less angry after calling in.

Lead author Elizabeth Harris, a sociology professor at Arizona State University, said that kind of result is rare in social science research.

"Parenting interventions are expensive and difficult to do," she said. "Most interventions take months to take effect, so to be able to do an effective intervention in 30 minutes, that's a big deal."

The data also show about one-third of callers improved significantly on the scale - meaning they either went from making all negative statements to feeling 100% neutral, or they started off neutral and said they felt "100% positive" by the end of the call.

Parents and youths in distress can reach a trained counselor at 855-427-2736, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Or they can reach out online at CAparentyouthhelpline.org.

Smith said the data show the helpline is especially effective at making people feel heard.

"Fifty percent of people who are lonely and isolated in their parenting role, they feel less of that by the end of the call," she said. "So, it shows that in less than 30 minutes, it's possible for a trained counselor to make a measurable difference."

She explained that the research used what's called sentiment analysis and secondary qualitative analysis, and validates the approach taken by Parents Anonymous, the group that runs the helpline.

May is National Foster Care Month and In Pennsylvania, more than 15,000 children are waiting for foster families. Their advocates are urging more people to open their homes to help.

Carrie Eckhardt, assistant director of domestic services for Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley, said their goal is to support families and children through quality social services. She shared a quote from the mother of Elle, a girl from a tough background who is now thriving thanks to a foster parent who adopted her.

"She's made honor roll every quarter, tried out for and made a sports team at her school, enjoys her youth group, volunteers with a club of her peers and in our church," Eckhardt outlined. "She handles her homework, manages her emotions, completes her chores, fills up her social calendar. I'm just along for the ride, cheering her on."

Eckhardt pointed out the group focuses on child welfare, refugee help and keeping families together, and aims to have enough homes for the 200 foster care referrals it receives each year.

Diakon Adoption and Foster Care helps around 4,000 children a year in 30 Pennsylvania counties, including support after adoption through the Statewide Adoption Network. The Steel family has been fostering with Diakon for 12 years, caring for 21 kids.

Hannah Steel, an adoptive sibling, said in a Diakon-made video her adopted sister Maya struggled at first but is now doing well.

"When she first came to us, it was a little stressful and a little different for her," Steel recounted. "But as time progressed and everything, we all learned how to live together and understand each other. And I think for her, she's made it a long way."

Patricia Menow, senior director of permanency for Diakon, said they use social media and take part in community events to raise awareness about the ongoing need for foster families and to reach as many people as possible.

"We offer 'Triple P,' which is a positive parenting training program," Menow explained. "That's an ongoing program from the time they start coming through as a resource family, through while they are a foster family."

Alyssa Snyder, executive director of permanency for Diakon, said it is important to understand there is a great need for more foster parents and organizations like hers can support families of all types.

"There's no blueprint for this," Snyder acknowledged. "We support individuals who have this interest and ability, and the youth that are coming into care deserve to live in a family. So, we just want to encourage folks to consider that for all ages of youth."


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Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care, especially in rural communities.

Medicaid provides critical coverage for child care providers, many of whom are low-paid and often go without employer-based insurance.

Brittany Boulton, vice president of the policy and advocacy organization Groundwork Ohio, said it is especially vital for rural families.

"Cuts to Medicaid would make these problems far worse and leave thousands of Ohioans and rural families without access to coverage and care," Boulton pointed out.

A report by the Georgetown University Center on Children and Family Studies said 30% of children in rural Ohio rely on Medicaid for health coverage, placing the state among the top 10 nationally for rural child enrollment.

National experts warned access to health care is essential not only for children but also for those who care for them.

Daniel Hains, chief policy and professional advancement officer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, said there is a clear link between health coverage and workforce stability. He noted about 16% of early educators lack insurance and those who do have coverage are more likely to stay in the field.

"We need more highly qualified, well-supported, well compensated early childhood educators, with 25+ percent of early childhood educators relying on Medicaid for their own health insurance," Hains noted. "With the critical supports the program provides for their education and for the children and families they serve."

Ohio's child care sector has lost nearly 6,000 workers since the pandemic began and Groundwork Ohio said access to Medicaid helps retain educators in a field facing critical staffing shortages.