Lynnwood,WA - De Everett a Vancouver y Spokane, las personas y programas que cuidan a los niños y continúan su aprendizaje en las horas después de la escuela, están celebrando hoy (jueves) el día "Lights On Afterschool." A pesar de las dificultades que traen los recortes al presupuesto, se ha incorporado en algunos programas de los niños la introducción de las habilidades STEM (por sus siglas en inglés), que son: ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas. Comenta de Vicky Raya, directora del programa de diversidad con Edlab Group y embajadora nacional de programas extracurriculares. Imagen disponible: Foto de niñas que participan en los eventos de un campamento de verano de ciencias.

Hoy (jueves), en 30 pueblos y ciudades alrededor de Washington, la población celebra el día "Lights On Afterschool." Se trata de un evento anual que busca llamar atención hacia la necesidad de que haya programas de alta calidad y actividades para los niños fuera del horario escolar tradicional. El Grupo Edlab, organización no lucrativa con sede en Lynnwood, otorga en 36 estados subvenciones a programas extracurriculares que se centran en la tecnología y la ciencia, en especial para las niñas, a través de su Proyecto de Colaboración Nacional Girls. Vicky Raya, integrante de Edlab, dice que las mujeres siguen sub-representadas en las carreras científicas. Y las horas después de la escuela son un buen momento para despertar su interés.

"En estos programas extracurriculares hay mas libertad para inspirarlas y que pongan sus manos en los materiales, para realmente lograr el compromiso y darle relevancia a estos temas para los estudiantes -porque en realidad eso es lo que crea los pensadores criticos que necesitamos en la investigacion futura."

Raya dice que otros países están desarrollando mucho más científicos que los Estados Unidos, y las investigaciones muestran que los niños se interesan más en la ciencia o la tecnología cuando las experimentan con sus manos, lo ven más como un hobby que como un requisito escolar. (Encuentre el evento "Lights On Afterschool" en 'Afterschoolaliance.org')

Afterschool Aliance afirma que el 62 por ciento de los programas para después del horario escolar reportan que su financiamiento se ha venido reduciendo desde hace tres años. Raya es también embajador nacional Afterschool, y habla ante grupos civiles, escolares, y legisladores sobre la importancia de mantener fuertes estos programas.

"Son vitales para los estudiantes, y ellos son vitales para las familias trabajadoras. Ayudan a que los estudiantes se interesen en el aprendizaje y a mantenerlos a salvo, ademas de que ayudan a las familias trabajadoras a que sus hijos sigan participando en el proceso de aprendizaje."

Una encuesta nacional dice que más de 15 millones de niños permanecen solos en su casa después de la escuela, y que su padres considerarían la opción de inscribirlos en algunas actividades por las tardes si estuvieran disponibles en su área

Hoy (jueves), en 30 pueblos y ciudades en todo Washington, la poblacion celebra el dia "Lights On Afterschool." Se trata de un evento anual que busca llamar atencion hacia la necesidad de que haya programas de alta calidad y actividades para los ninos fuera del horario escolar tradicional. Alfonso Lopez Collada informa.



Raya puede ser localizada en el 425-977-4741, ext. 4771. Encuentre los eventos "Lights On Afterschool" en http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loaFindEvent.cfm. (Seleccione el estado 'WA' para ver la lista completa.) El evento EdLab es de las 4:30 pm a las 7:30 en el South Shore School, 4800 S. Henderson St., Seattle. Co-patrocinadores: School's Out Washington, condado de los Ninos y el condado de King Red de Desarrollo Juvenil.




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A new federal report shows anti-poverty policies enacted by New Mexico are making a big difference.

This month, the U.S. Census Bureau has released a supplemental report measuring poverty at the state level for the first time.

Emily Wildau, senior research and policy analyst at New Mexico Voices for Children, said the report still ranks the state last in the nation, at 28% under the Official Poverty Measure but when newly enacted state programs are taken into account, poverty decreased dramatically from 2021 to 2023.

"When you look at that same time period, and you use the measure that counts things like refundable tax credits and noncash benefits like SNAP, New Mexico's child poverty rate drops to just 8.9%," Wildau pointed out. "Which is actually better than the national rate."

The national child poverty rate is 10.4%. Wildau noted one disappointing figure in the data: The state's rate of uninsured children rose to almost 6% in 2023, compared to about 4% in 2022, likely because of changes made to Medicaid following the pandemic.

Wildau emphasized many policy changes made by New Mexico lawmakers are not reflected in nationally-generated data looking at children's well-being, often because the policies are new and have not been incorporated into how poverty is measured.

"We're doing really good things," Wildau outlined. "Increasing our state-level Earned Income Tax Credit, adding a new state-level Child Tax Credit and expanding SNAP eligibility October 1st up to 200% of that kind-of official poverty rate."

Along with New Mexico, 13 other states boosted fully refundable Child Tax Credits in 2024, aimed at enhancing economic security for low- and middle-income families. About 43 million people, or 13% of Americans, lived in poverty last year.

The number of West Virginia children living in poverty remains among the highest in the nation, and more children are living in households struggling with hunger, according to the latest federal data.

The end of pandemic supports combined with rising inflation, rent, and the cost of living, are to blame experts say.

The expanded Child Tax Credit cut child poverty in half, said Salaam Bhatti, SNAP Director with Food Research & Action Center.

When it ended, he said more families dipped back into poverty. Now, the child poverty rate has hit nearly 14%.

"Had we added a few more dollars to that program, it could have cut child poverty entirely," said Bhatti. "But it was a deliberate policy choice that the government made to not do that, and then another deliberate choice to remove that expansion."

According to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, child poverty in the Mountain State dipped from 25% in 2022 to around 20% in 2023.

But despite the reduced numbers, the number of kids living in poverty remains among the highest in the nation.

Nearly 14 million children live in households currently experiencing food insecurity, up by more than 3% from 2022.

Bhatti noted that nearly 35% of single parent households headed by women struggle to pay for groceries.

He said his organization wants Congress to protect the Thrifty Food Plan, which sets the standard for the maximum amount of SNAP benefits households receive.

"Some lawmakers want to cut that Thrifty Food Plan adjustment," said Bhatti, "and as a result, that would cut $30 billion from SNAP benefits over the next 10 years."

Experts say kids who eat healthy meals are less likely to develop high blood pressure, diabetes, dental cavities, and other health problems.

But as more kids go hungry or lack access to quality food, they're also more likely to be uninsured.

According to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the number of children without health coverage rose to nearly 6% in 2023.




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During this week's presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed reviving the Child Tax Credit, which was part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Harris says she'd raise the credit to $6,000 for newborns, renewing focus on its impact for Ohio families. However, the U.S. Senate recently rejected House Resolution 7024, which aimed to expand the Child Tax Credit.

Analysts have said the proposal could have lifted 400,000 children out of poverty, including thousands in Ohio.

Lauren Reliford, public policy director for the Children's Defense Fund, cited a "lack of political will" as the main barrier to expanding the credit.

"But at this point, childhood poverty is a policy choice," she said. "The folks that have the power to do it know and have seen the evidence - and they haven't done it."

A Child Tax Credit expansion initially passed in the House with bipartisan support, including all but one Ohio representative. However, critics of the expansion have voiced concerns about the cost to taxpayers and potential misuse. These factors contributed to its rejection in the Senate, despite widespread support from family advocacy groups.

Reliford also pointed to the broader impacts of poverty on children and the long-term consequences of inaction.

"Poverty is a toxic stress," she said. "Children see their parents being stressed, and they take that on, too. And so, why are we allowing these children to grow up in spaces and places without the necessary resources they need?"

The Child Tax Credit has been credited with significantly reducing childhood poverty during the pandemic, but its future remains uncertain as the debate continues in Washington.