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A special session of the Missouri Legislature to complete the budget may be needed if it is not finalized by Friday at 6 p.m.(luzitanija/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Critical child care funding hangs in balance as Missouri budget nears deadline

Child care advocates are pushing for increased funding as the budget deadline approaches this Friday. Robyn Schelp, director of policy and advocacy …

Operation Food Search distributes $30 million worth of food and necessities each year to 330 community partners in 40 Missouri and Illinois counties. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO summit tackles rising child food insecurity as benefits expire

As COVID-era benefits near expiration, a recent Child Wellness Summit brought together nonprofits to tackle urgent child well-being and food-…

Although food insecurity can be faced by anyone, Black and Latino children are twice as likely to face hunger. And in 2022, 33% of single-parent families experienced food insecurity. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

MO gears up for participation in kids' summer food program

Missouri is planning ahead to make sure kids from lower-income families have enough to eat this summer. The state has opted into a federal food …

When schools have automated external defibrillators, 70% of children survive cardiac arrest, according to American Heart Association data. (hooyah808/Adobe Stock)

MO schools and health advocates promote cardiac emergency response plans

Missouri Senate Bills 1032 and 1081 would require public schools to develop and implement cardiac emergency response plans and advocates are stressing…

Census data from 2020 included population counts of nearly 1,500 race and ethnicity groups and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its "Race for …

Section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934, enacted as part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, provides limited federal immunity to providers and users of interactive computer services. (Aleksei/Adobe Stock)

Social media CEOs apologize to victim families for harm experienced online

A contentious congressional hearing on Wednesday saw a unanimous push for regulations on social media specifically related to children. U.S. Sen…

Did Parson's abortion stance prompt historic family, education funding?

State legislators applauded Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's State of the State address last week - although for very different reasons. The governor's …

Part of the program allows taxpayers who donate to child-care facilities to receive the tax credits. Another portion would issue tax credits to employers who provide child care for their employees.(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Child care tax credits gain momentum in MO

While Missouri's legislative session has just begun, child-care tax credits are at top of mind with a bipartisan House bill. HB 1488 takes a three-…

Studies show the development and dissemination of vaccines have saved millions of lives and played a critical role in historic increases in average life expectancy, from 47 years in 1900 in the U.S. to 76 years in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

MO groups dispel online vaccination misinformation

Public health experts are saying the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates and an i…

More than 180,000 rural students attend public pre-K-through-12 schools in Missouri, almost double the rural U.S. average. (Song_about_summer/Adobe Stock)

Where's the money for rural Missouri education?

Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students. But Missouri …

A 2017 report in the New England Journal of Medicine found, among participants with coronary artery disease, fluctuation in body weight was associated with higher mortality and a higher rate of cardiovascular events, independent of traditional risk factors. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Post-holiday 'yo-yo' diets: risk factors for heart health

The holiday season is filled with recipes passed down from years before, and feasting with family and friends. But think again before you have …

The 17th annual 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces list includes a diverse group of organizations, representing 22 industries. The companies offer an average of $14,831 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs and an average of nine weeks paid leave. (Olesya Shelomova/Adobe Stock)

As National Adoption Month ends, MO families head into new future

Many parents complete their families through adoption, and November has been the month to encourage awareness, recognize those still waiting to be …

Gov. Mike Parson in June signed the fiscal year 2024 budget, which included an increase to the child-care subsidy rate from July 1 through next June 30. (Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock)

Missouri gets jump in child-care subsidy rates

An increase in child-care subsidy reimbursement rates up to 58% of market rate is being hailed as a big win for providers in Missouri. Sarah Gould …

Obesity researchers in Missouri have been working on a five-year study of childhood obesity in lower-income families, led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. (Adobe Stock)

MO parents urged to 'lead by example' for kids' heart health

Heart disease takes more than 15,000 lives in Missouri every year, making it the number one cause of death in the state. This is the time of year …

Proponents of regular dental care cite the case of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver of Maryland, who died of a toothache in February 2007. (Anna Kosolapova/Adobe Stock)

Greater access to dental care through MO HealthNet

More Missourians should be able to get routine dental care, with a recent change in the way providers are paid by the state. MO HealthNet is paying …

Many of Missouri's working parents have limited and often unaffordable access to quality child care, resulting in

MO loses $1.35 billion annually due to child care issues

Among Missouri parents surveyed, 30% reported they have limited their working hours or stopped altogether because of unreliable child care. The …

While you may feel too busy to de-stress, you can decide to take back your

Simplify Family Schedule to Decrease Stress, Boost Heart Health

As fall classes and after-school activities are in full swing, Missouri families can feel pressure to do it all, but the American Heart Association …

The process of recertifying enrollment in Medicaid, which generally had been done on an annual basis before the COVID pandemic, was paused during the Public Health Emergency by federal law in early 2020. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Half Those Losing Medicaid in MO are Children

With the pandemic era ending, Medicaid annual renewals are unwinding in Missouri. Eligibility for Medicaid is being verified and more than 54,000 …

Missouri Healthy Schools, Success-Ready Students (MHSSS) reports the health of students is strongly linked to their success in school.(WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

Nutrition Won't Skip a Beat as MO Kids Head Back to School

Many Missouri families struggle to feed their children while school is out for the summer and have been able to get breakfast and lunch at summer yout…

According to Salary.com, Missouri child care workers typically earn between $32,581 and $41,250 annually. (lordn/Adobe Stock)

MO Child Care Experts Elaborate on Issues in 2023 Kids Count Report

The resounding theme of the 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book is child care shortages and unaffordability. In Missouri, the …

Staffing shortages at the Department of Social Services have led to parents seeking child care assistance being placed on hold for as long as two or three hours. (Adobe Stock)

Praise for MO Early Childhood Funding; Concerns About Sustainability, Gaps

Missourians scored some big wins for child care and pre-K programs in the 2023 legislative session, although some said it is just a start. Brian …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls well-child visits

Contentious 2023 MO Legislative Session Saw Wins for Struggling Families

Although Missouri's 2023 legislative session was contentious and resulted in a historically low number of bills being passed, advocates for children …

By federal law, all states provide Medicaid coverage for pregnancy-related services to pregnant women with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level and cover them up to 60 days postpartum, according to KFF. Missouri lawmakers are considering expanding these services to cover a year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Push for More Postpartum Healthcare Funding

Healthcare advocates in Missouri are urging support for a measure that would expand health care services for new mothers on Medicaid. Senate Bill 45…

Fortune magazine reported in January 2022 child care expenses had risen an average of 41% from the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and some families spend 20% of their income on child care. (Ljiljana/Adobe Stock)

MO Legislation Would Help Families Afford Child Care

Like others across the country, many Missouri families struggle with the cost of child care, and state lawmakers are proposing some relief. Rep…

A yearlong study of the use of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools found that some states track both, some track only the use of restraint, and some track neither. (Adobe Stock)

MO Schools' Seclusion, Restraint Incidents Shared for First Time

Missourians can now see how often their schools use seclusion and restraint to address student behavior. A 2021 law requires that schools report …

Un estudio de un a�o de duraci�n sobre el uso de la reclusi�n y la restricci�n en las escuelas de EE.UU. revel� que algunos estados registran ambos, otros s�lo el uso de la restricci�n y otros ninguno. (Adobe Stock)

Incidentes de aislamiento en escuelas de MO se comparten por primera vez

Los ciudadanos de Missouri ahora pueden ver con qué frecuencia sus escuelas utilizan el aislamiento y la restricción para abordar el comport…

Nationally, the number of uninsured children fell by more than 200,000 during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Health Insurance Coverage Increases for MO Kids During Pandemic

A new Georgetown University report showed the number of uninsured children in Missouri dropped during the pandemic thanks to a shift in federal policy…

Book bans occurred in 138 school districts in 32 states between 2021 and the middle of 2022. These districts represent 5,049 schools with a combined enrollment of nearly 4 million students, according to PEN America. (Adobe Stock)

Librarians Lament Censorship in MO

In what the American Library Association has called an unprecedented year of censorship, libraries in Missouri are fighting a rule proposed by the …

Research indicates kids of middle-school age are most frequent victims of bullying. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

Preventing Bullying: The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and experts are reminding Missourians to be aware of the patterns within bullying. One in …

About 227,000 Missouri kids live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Programs Target Improving Economic Security for Missouri Families

Missouri has made strides in recent years when it comes to the economic stability of families, but advocates stressed there is more work to be done…

Prenatal home-visitation programs are connected to reduced low birth-weight deliveries. (Adobe Stock)

Partnerships Focus on Building Healthy, Resilient Missouri Children

A strong future for Missouri depends on ensuring its youngest residents grow up healthy and resilient, and partnerships are helping children grow up …

Young adults can benefit from mentoring in career development, and sometimes that one-on-one relationship is just the push they need to help them succeed. (Adobe Stock)

Graduation Rates: Putting MO Teens, Young Adults on the Right Path

Understanding future success is closely linked to educational outcomes, organizations in Missouri are helping teens and young adults meet their …

LPI reports annual teacher turnover rates are highest in the South and lowest in the Northeast. (Adobe Stock)

Missouri School Districts Face Ongoing Teacher Shortage

School districts nationwide are struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. The Missouri Department of Elementary …

An estimated one in five families skipped preventive checkups during the pandemic, so health experts encourage families to get back on track. (Adobe Stock)

Health Advocates Call for Back-to-School Checkups for Kids

As summer draws to a close, experts are reminding parents not to overlook health screenings for kids. Back-to-school time brings a lot of additions …

While child poverty has improved in Missouri, still 23,000 kids live in families with incomes below the poverty line. (Adobe Stock)

Annual Child Well-Being Report Ranks Missouri 27th Among States

Children in Missouri are facing unprecedented levels of anxiety and depression - that's according to the 2022 Kids Count Data Book, released today by …

Missouri has no waiting period to enroll children in the Children's Health Insurance Program. (Adobe Stock)

Pediatricians Celebrate CHIP Turning 25, Urge Improvements

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program. Since its start in 1997, the child uninsured rate in the U.S…

Between February 2020 and June 2021, more than 139,000 Missourians enrolled in Medicaid. (sofiko14/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO Kids Could Lose Medicaid When Public-Health Emergency Ends

A new report shows Missouri kids enrolled in Medicaid could be at risk of losing that coverage when the official public-health emergency for COVID-19 …

Nearly 30% of Missouri families reported paying more than $1,000 a month for child care, according to a report from United WE. (santypan/Adobe Stock)

MO Budget Proposal Includes Dispersing Federal Funds for Child Care

More than half of Missouri families report paying more than $500 a month for child care, and child-care providers have been struggling to keep their …

More than 5,000 Missouri children and teens leave foster care every year. For older teens who are transitioning to adulthood, housing can be a challenge. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Life After Foster Care: MO Youth Need Housing, Support Systems

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The holidays can be a tough time for young people who have aged out of the foster-care system. For young Missourians, housing …

Families of three making less than $45,000 a year are eligible for Missouri's Medicaid and CHIP programs. (H_Ko)

Groups: Build Back Better Could Improve Health Outcomes for MO Children

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act after it passed the House last month. The bill …

There are 28 million American kids between the ages of 5 and 11 now eligible for the pediatric version of the coronavirus vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(didesign/Adobe Stock)

MO Health Centers Get Word Out on COVID Vaccines for Younger Kids

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Health officials are optimistic broad immunity against COVID-19 can be achieved for children, because the Centers for Disease …

Only about 20% of children with mental-health disorders receive care from a specialized mental-health care provider, according to the American Academy for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (Adobe Stock)

Report Confirms Disparities in Getting Behavioral Health Support

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Women and young people have faced increased behavioral health challenges since before the pandemic, according to a new report…

Between 2015 and 2019, food insecurity declined 5% statewide, and groups are working to keep that going. (Kimberley Sprenger)

Summer Nutrition Program Includes Meals for Kids to Try On Their Own

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More than 200,000 Missouri kids are facing food insecurity, according to the Missouri Kids Count 2021 Data Book. Today is the …

St. Louis public-school students are encouraged to come to Gateway Middle School Saturday for information, health screenings, vaccines and school supplies ahead of the first day of school on Aug. 23. (Jenifoto/Adobe Stock)

Teachers Unions Inform MO Families About Safe Return to School

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- St. Louis educators' unions are working to let families know what to expect at school this fall, and urging them to get ready…

In a CDC survey, 57% of pediatricians said loss of health insurance has been at least

Report: Families Urged to Catch Up on Kids' Doctor Visits

ST. LOUIS - The pandemic paused many facets of life, and a new report says wellness checkups for children were among them. With school resuming this …

Help to fill out a FAFSA form for federal student aid is one example of now Missouri community partnerships support young people pursuing education and careers as they age out of the foster care system. (Bill Doss/Adobe Stock)

Groups Connect MO Youth in Foster Care with Life, Work Skills

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Community partnerships in Missouri are working to help young people, either in or aging out of foster care, connect with …

One in ten Missouri teens didn't graduate high school on time in 2019, down from 19% in 2010 - though last fall, more than 40% of Missourians planning to pursue higher education either cancelled or reduced course loads. (Tom Wang/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO Children, Families to Benefit from Child Tax Credit Expansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri is ranked 30th among states for overall child wellbeing in a new report, and advocates for kids and families say the …

Missouri is one of two states, along with Oklahoma, in the process of implementing Medicaid expansion with voter-approval through ballot initiatives. (Julia/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO Kids to Benefit from Voter-Supported Medicaid Expansion

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Voters in Missouri passed a ballot initiative last fall expanding Medicaid, and the state is on track to receive more than $1 …

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