Children's Issues / Public News Service

According to South Dakota Health Department data, WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling for more than 13,000 participants, including 1,600 pregnant and postpartum individuals. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, September 21, 2023

SD boosts outreach for WIC participation

South Dakota health leaders have said it can be a challenge to reach people eligible for a long-standing nutrition assistance program for at-risk new …

The Indiana Girl Report says from 2015 to 2021, the rate of physical and sexual dating violence among high school girls in Indiana increased to 17%. (Adobe Stock).<br /><br /><br />

Monday, September 18, 2023

Coalition Highlights How Trauma Impacts IN Girls' Growth, Development

A new report focuses on "girl power" in Indiana - with an analysis of how young girls are faring in the state, and recommendations for improving …

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says last year's spike in the nation's child poverty rate is the largest increase for children dating back to 1967. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 18, 2023

Amid Nationwide Surge in Child Poverty, MN Mitigation Plan Takes Flight

Policy experts are reacting to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, showing the nation's child poverty rate has more than doubled, to 12%. In …

Screen time before bed can be especially detrimental for teenagers and their developing brains. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 18, 2023

Screen Time Driver of Sleep Loss Among Young People

School is back and one way parents can set their kids up for success is ensuring screen time is not getting in the way of sleep. Dr. Maida Chen…

The Massachusetts community action agency Citizens for Citizens prepares to distribute the first shipment of diapers and other necessary supplies to low-income families through the federal government's first diaper distribution pilot program. (MASSCAP)

Monday, September 18, 2023

Diaper Pilot Program Aims to Keep Families Healthy, Working

Massachusetts groups will be part of a new federal pilot program to help low-income families ensure they have the diapers they need to keep both babie…

In the Natural State, 33% of children from birth to age 6 are eligible for a Child Care & Development Block Grant subsidy under federal rules, on average, each month. (Bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)<br />

AR Adds 260 Child Care Providers, But Funding Crisis Looms

Across the country and in Arkansas, some day care providers face the threat of closure when federal government aid initiated during the pandemic …

A decision from the Washington Supreme Court ensures people can bring childhood sexual abuse cases within three years of evidence discovery. (Cagkan/Adobe Stock)

WA Supreme Court Clears Roadblock for Hearing Some Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases

A recent ruling from the Washington state Supreme Court lowers the barriers for bringing some childhood sexual abuse cases to court. Justices …

New Poverty Data Spurs Urgent Calls to Reverse Trends

The U.S. Census Bureau is out with new findings showing that the nation's child poverty rate has more than doubled, to 12%. Policy experts say a key …

Washington home care aides can get health coverage for their kids through age 26. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Relief as WA Home Care Aides' Kids Get Health Coverage Access

Home care aides in Washington state are seeing the benefits of health coverage for their kids. Members of the Service Employees International Union …

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says nationwide, up to 600,000 eligible people would be turned away from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children under a spending proposal from House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

WI Families Could See 'Double Whammy' From Budget Policies

Congress is again steeped in a looming budget crisis as lawmakers face a deadline to approve a new government spending plan. In Wisconsin, policy …

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 …

Time management is among the most important aspects of being a student and parent. (A. Frank, peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Boise State Creates Space for Student Parents, Kids

In September, the spotlight is on a college student population that is often overlooked: parents. This month is student parent month and studies show …

While several states adopted new school voucher bills this year, the Brookings Institution says another nine expanded existing programs. (Adobe Stock)

ND Public Schools State Their Case Amid Voucher Debate

New research is sharpening the focus on the debate over public funding for private school vouchers. And with North Dakota kids back in class…

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows 31% of Latino children and 18% of African-American children in Massachusetts live in poverty, compared to 7% of white children.<br />(Adobe Stock)

MA Part of Growing State Movement for Expanded Tax Credits

Massachusetts is on track to become the eighteenth state this year to enact targeted tax credits to help alleviate childhood poverty. New polling …

Some 23% of children served in Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs in Pennsylvania are non-Hispanic Black, compared to 41% of children identifying as non-Hispanic White.<br />(Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Charting a Path to Equitable Access for PA Early Learning System

The Keystone State has some work to do to provide more access to quality pre-Kindergarten programs for the youngest Pennsylvanians. Only 43% of …

New Mexico's Healthy Foods Market, operated by Roadrunner Food Bank, distributes fresh produce and perishable food items monthly in nine urban, rural and tribal communities. (Photo courtesy RRFB)

New Mexico's Food Activists Shine Light on Hunger

The lines at hunger relief organizations are longer now as pandemic-related benefits have ended, but you can help your neighbors with grocery …

Last year, CCF estimated that as many as 6.7 million children could experience a period of uninsurance as a consequence of the unwinding. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

North Carolina Children at Risk of Losing Health Coverage

Right now, many North Carolina Medicaid participants are up for redetermination - and experts are concerned about the number of North Carolina …

In 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than four in 10 students felt persistently sad or hopeless. Education observers said it has prompted more demand for mental health services in schools. (Adobe Stock)

Assessing Need for School Counselors Amid SRO Debate in MN

Minnesota lawmakers could soon be called into special session in response to a controversy over school resource officers. The situation has prompted …

Medicaid coverage during early life stages, even before birth, is linked to improved health outcomes for the next generation, according to a study published in American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Staggering Number of Ohio Kids Have Lost Medicaid Coverage

As kids' Medicaid eligibility review gets underway, experts are concerned about the number of Ohio children losing federal health insurance. Kelly …

Experts: Kids Often Eligible for Medicaid, Even if Their Parents Aren’t

Kentucky begins its eligibility review of kids' Medicaid coverage this month - and experts say it's vital the process goes seamlessly, so kids aren't …

In 2023, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states including 65 in Texas, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. (inkdrop/AdobeStock)

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

Texas has adopted some of the strictest gender-affirming transgender restrictions in the nation. And the leader of a trans advocacy group says it has …

The Indiana Literacy Organization says children who lack good reading skills in their early years are prone to leaving school without a diploma, which can lead to perpetuation of a cycle of poverty and illiteracy. (Adobe Stock)

State Kicks In to Help Boost Literacy Rates for IN Children

Reading may not be a favorite activity for some kids, but a new program aims to change that - by sending books directly to their homes. The Dolly …

Health experts say if a student in the classroom is the only one not frequently raising their hand to answer a question, it might signal a deeper issue, such as hearing loss. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Unaddressed Hearing Woes Could Make School Life Miserable

Parents in Minnesota have been feverishly helping their kids get ready for the new school year. A health expert says if hearing has been an issue for …

The data shows that victims of youth crime rarely receive full financial restitution. The Edwards family holds photos of lost loved ones at a picnic for crime survivors in Los Angeles last weekend. (LaNaisha Edwards)

Hearing Friday on Bill to Halt Restitution Fines for Juvenile Crime

A bill will be heard in the State Senate Appropriations Committee tomorrow that would stop requiring youths convicted of a crime to pay restitution…

According to the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, more than half a million children have been disenrolled from Medicaid in just 21 states that post child enrollment data on a more-timely basis. (Adobe Stock)

WI Kids Losing Health Coverage in Medicaid Unwinding

As Wisconsin kids head back to school, families who rely on Medicaid are reminded to ensure their children still have health insurance. States are …

Ninety three percent of U.S. kindergartners were vaccinated against measles in 2021, according to a CDC study. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Catch Up on Kids’ Immunizations During Back-to-School Season

Health experts are urging parents to check on the status of their child's vaccinations, amid pertussis and COVID-19 outbreaks among children that …

According to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, the poverty rate for early-childhood educators in Alabama is 17.2%, much higher than for Alabama workers in general, at 11.3%. (Adobe Stock)

Deadline Here for Alabama DHR Childcare Grants

Today is the last day for licensed child care providers in Alabama to apply for Child Care Workforce Stabilization grants from the state. Child care …

Unlike temporary expansions at the start of the pandemic, free school meals for all Minnesota K-12 students are now permanent. (Adobe Stock)

MN Implements 'No-Cost Meals' for All Students

With back-to-school season here, Minnesota is implementing no-cost meals for all students, regardless of family income. As districts prepare…

Health and environmental experts say even just low-level exposure to lead in drinking water can negatively affect a child's development. (Adobe Stock)

Education, Environmental Groups Press for Safe Drinking Water in Schools

With kids in South Dakota and around the nation back in school, the issue of whether all students and staff have access to safe drinking water …

An Advocates for Children of New York report finds 454 New York City public schools are fully accessible to some people with disabilities, 263 are only partially accessible, 65 aren't fully accessible, and 547 are completely inaccessible with no plans for renovation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Two-Thirds of NYC Schools Not ADA Compliant

A recent report finds only around 31% of New York City public schools are disability accessible. The report, from Advocates for Children of New …

Arkansas is the 32nd largest school system in the U.S., serving more than a half million students between public and private schools. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Navigating Back-to-School Challenges in Rural Arkansas

More than a half million Arkansas kids are back at school for the fall, and districts across the state face different challenges. For some in rural …

Mainers offered family insurance plans through their workplace that cost more than 9.12% of the total family income may qualify for more affordable healthcare coverage through the health insurance marketplace. (Adobe Stock)

MaineCare Recipients Urged to Update Forms to Ensure Coverage

Public health advocates are working to ensure Medicaid recipients in Maine continue to have health care coverage as pandemic-era policies have ended…

Organizers with the Backpacks for Kids Program in the Bismarck area help ensure kids have access to food when they're away from school during the academic year, so they do not return to class distracted by hunger. (Photo courtesy of Community Action Program)

Starting the School Year Right: Relief Options for Kids in Low Income Settings

The start of a new school year can bring added stress to families, especially those experiencing poverty. In North Dakota, community-level …

Families that live in rural areas, are of mixed status, have limited English proficiency or experience significant residential instability are most likely to struggle with the current

Steps New Mexicans Can Take to Preserve Medicaid Coverage

After three years of continuous Medicaid coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic, that protection has ended. As a result, New Mexico is assessing …

More than 95% of American schools switched to remote learning in the spring of 2020 in order to slow the spread of COVID-19; many classes did not resume in person for more than a year. (Rob Thomas/Adobe Stock).

Report: Teachers’ Unions Did Not Unduly Influence Pandemic School Closures

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say a GOP probe into whether teachers' unions had too much influence on pandemic school closures has come u…

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 …

According to the American Heart Association, people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct chest-compression rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. (9dreamstudio/Adobe Stock)

From Beyoncé to 'Baby Shark,' the Right Tune Can Save a Life

With popular artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift touring Michigan this summer, the American Heart Association is reminding people that some of …

In 2021, New York received $626,590,038 in federal funding for the Head Start program. (Adobe Stock)

NY Children Face Severe Impacts of Proposed Head Start Cuts

Congress is divided on how to fund the Head Start program in its upcoming appropriations bill. While the Senate is keen on investing more money for …

The overall number of Americans without health insurance dropped to a record low in the first three months of 2023, a number expected to rise as Medicaid rolls are purged post-pandemic. (NewAfrica/AdobeStock)

Texans Navigate the Post-Pandemic Medicaid Purge

A nationwide purge of Medicaid rolls is underway after a three-year pause during the pandemic. And in Texas, most of those dropped are children…

Symptoms of asthma are similar to the more common condition of bronchiolitis, and taking medicines designed for asthma alone can be risky. (Adobe Stock)

Low Value Care Costs Patients and Payers $134 Million Per Year

Coloradans received nearly 2 million potentially unnecessary health care services in 2021, at a cost of some $134 million for patients and health …

Teachers could use the new Maine Climate Hub to teach students about the Gulf of Maine, which is considered one of the fastest-warming ocean regions on the planet. (Adobe Stock)

ME Students Benefit from New Climate Change-Related Education Tool

Educators in Maine will have a new online resource this school year to help them teach what they say is one of the most challenging subjects: climate …

Data show that 72% of kids enrolled in Medi-Cal health coverage are children of color. (Creativa Images/Adobestock)

Thousands of CA Children Losing Medi-Cal Each Month; Most Still Eligible

Over the coming year about 2.3 million Californians, a million of them children, are expected to lose Medi-Cal, which is health insurance coverage …

In 2021, in the wake of the COVID outbreak, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a national state of emergency in children's mental health. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's Foster Care Crisis Forcing Hundreds of Kids to Sleep in Offices

By Cathy Candisky for the Public Children Services Association of Ohio.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Public Children Services …

As of June, close to 21,000 children are enrolled in the state's Children Health Insurance Program, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

NV Children Could Lose Health Coverage in Medicaid Redetermination

As kids head back to school, parents in Nevada should check to ensure they still have health insurance. States are re-determining people's …

Arizona was one of the first five states to start the

Health Experts Warn AZ Children Could Lose Medicaid Coverage

Parents' back-to-school checklist in Arizona might include double-checking to make sure their children still have health insurance. Arizona was one …

In its most recent session, the North Dakota Legislature advanced nearly a dozen bills deemed hostile towards the LGBTQ community, including several new laws that advocates say unfairly target transgender students. (Adobe Stock)

ND Schools Prep for Laws Targeting Transgender Students

North Dakota school districts are making final preparations for the new academic year. But there are questions about what the environment will be …

High school graduation rates in Massachusetts increased in the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022, which did not have to pass the MCAS due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Citizens for Public Schools. (Adobe Stock)

Parents, Educators Urge End to MCAS Graduation Requirement

Parents and educators in Massachusetts are joining forces to end the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) high school graduation requi…

In Arkansas, sale and distribution of vapor products, e-liquids or any component thereof are prohibited to be sold to persons younger than age 21, unless the person is an active-duty member of the military. (And.one/AdobeStock)

Report Calls for Ending Disposable Vape Sales in Arkansas

In Arkansas and across the country, disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat, according to a recent report. The U.S. Public …

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Children's

SD boosts outreach for WIC participation

Coalition Highlights How Trauma Impacts IN Girls' Growth, Development

Amid Nationwide Surge in Child Poverty, MN Mitigation Plan Takes Flight

Screen Time Driver of Sleep Loss Among Young People

Diaper Pilot Program Aims to Keep Families Healthy, Working

AR Adds 260 Child Care Providers, But Funding Crisis Looms

WA Supreme Court Clears Roadblock for Hearing Some Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases

New Poverty Data Spurs Urgent Calls to Reverse Trends

Relief as WA Home Care Aides' Kids Get Health Coverage Access

WI Families Could See 'Double Whammy' From Budget Policies

Simplify Family Schedule to Decrease Stress, Boost Heart Health

Boise State Creates Space for Student Parents, Kids

ND Public Schools State Their Case Amid Voucher Debate

MA Part of Growing State Movement for Expanded Tax Credits

Charting a Path to Equitable Access for PA Early Learning System

New Mexico's Food Activists Shine Light on Hunger

North Carolina Children at Risk of Losing Health Coverage

Assessing Need for School Counselors Amid SRO Debate in MN

Staggering Number of Ohio Kids Have Lost Medicaid Coverage

Experts: Kids Often Eligible for Medicaid, Even if Their Parents Aren’t

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

State Kicks In to Help Boost Literacy Rates for IN Children

Expert: Unaddressed Hearing Woes Could Make School Life Miserable

Hearing Friday on Bill to Halt Restitution Fines for Juvenile Crime

WI Kids Losing Health Coverage in Medicaid Unwinding

Experts: Catch Up on Kids’ Immunizations During Back-to-School Season

Deadline Here for Alabama DHR Childcare Grants

MN Implements 'No-Cost Meals' for All Students

Education, Environmental Groups Press for Safe Drinking Water in Schools

Report: Two-Thirds of NYC Schools Not ADA Compliant

Navigating Back-to-School Challenges in Rural Arkansas

MaineCare Recipients Urged to Update Forms to Ensure Coverage

Starting the School Year Right: Relief Options for Kids in Low Income Settings

Steps New Mexicans Can Take to Preserve Medicaid Coverage

Report: Teachers’ Unions Did Not Unduly Influence Pandemic School Closures

Half Those Losing Medicaid in MO are Children

From Beyoncé to 'Baby Shark,' the Right Tune Can Save a Life

NY Children Face Severe Impacts of Proposed Head Start Cuts

Texans Navigate the Post-Pandemic Medicaid Purge

Low Value Care Costs Patients and Payers $134 Million Per Year

ME Students Benefit from New Climate Change-Related Education Tool

Thousands of CA Children Losing Medi-Cal Each Month; Most Still Eligible

Ohio's Foster Care Crisis Forcing Hundreds of Kids to Sleep in Offices

NV Children Could Lose Health Coverage in Medicaid Redetermination

Health Experts Warn AZ Children Could Lose Medicaid Coverage

ND Schools Prep for Laws Targeting Transgender Students

Parents, Educators Urge End to MCAS Graduation Requirement

Report Calls for Ending Disposable Vape Sales in Arkansas