Children's Issues / Public News Service

More than half of Tennessee children receive health care through the state's Medicaid program, TennCare. (N Lawrenson/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Friday, May 16, 2025

Budget cuts to Medicaid, SNAP would 'devastate' TN communities

As Congress debates a host of federal budget cuts, groups advocating for lower-income Tennessee families said the state will not be able to handle …

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has served nearly 40 million children and their families. (Save the Children)

Friday, May 16, 2025

Head Start supports WA parents, celebrates 60 years

This Sunday is the 60th anniversary of Head Start, the federally funded preschool program supporting more than 12,000 children, up to age four…

Connecticut lawmakers have until June 4 to pass a budget bill. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 15, 2025

CT lawmakers push child tax credit forward

With the end of the state legislative session in sight, Connecticut lawmakers are moving closer to establishing a permanent child tax credit…

Green Hill School is the largest state-run juvenile detention facility in the state, and has been plagued with overcrowding and understaffing in recent years. (Darya/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 15, 2025

New WA law reels in felony convictions for incarcerated youths who fight

Advocates for juvenile justice reform in Washington are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1815. The law redefines "prison riot" and lets judges …

According to data cited by the North Dakota Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force, 91% of children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

ND communities gain knowledge on preventing child sexual abuse

A North Dakota task force raising awareness about child sexual abuse is close to wrapping up its work and its leader said she hopes more communities u…

Nearly 100% of student leaders identified academic pressure as a chief stressor, according to a new report.

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Report: WI youth mental health struggles at all-time high

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the latest state data show the number of Wisconsin youth who are struggling with their mental health has spik…

Texas is part of a pilot program by the North Carolina-based Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. The organization is directing a project designed to increase employment skills for rural students. Each state taking part will use its own approach, guided by local priorities. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Program aims to connect rural TX college students with universities

By Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder C…

The proposed state budget boosts opportunities for students by adding $5.5 million to expand Career and Technical Education in schools. (Adobe Stock)

PA ‘Education Advocacy Day’ to focus on public school funding

Pennsylvanians will rally in Harrisburg on Tuesday urging lawmakers to boost public school funding. More than 1.7 million students are enrolled in …

Oregon Food Bank President Andrea Williams sits with dozens of kids, parents and advocates before entering the Oregon State Capitol. (Oregon Food Bank)

Salem 'snack-in' calls for food benefits for all OR children

Families gathered at the Oregon State Capitol for what they called a "snack-in" last week to call attention to child hunger across Oregon. …

Public health departments said when all children living in a certain area receive their MMR vaccine, it prevents major disruptions from measles outbreaks, including having to quarantine a whole school. (Adobe Stock)

ND health official: Don't take measles lightly

On the heels of measles cases popping up in North Dakota, local health officials stress the importance and safety of immunizations for young children…

The Mayo Clinic reported most people born or living in the U.S. before 1957 are immune to measles because they've had the infection and can only get it once. (Adobe Stock)

IL health officials work to combat vaccine hesitancy, stop measles spread

At least two people have tested positive for measles in Illinois and public health officials are working to combat misinformation surrounding vaccines…

The report found, youth mental health hospitalizations increased 61% over the past decade, with suicide now the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 10 to 14. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio voices call for early mental health support

As youth mental health challenges rise and federal restructuring threatens key programs, former Ohio Gov. and 2016 Republican presidential candidate …

In Pennsylvania, to become a foster parent you must be at least 21, and everyone in your home age 14 and older must pass criminal and child abuse-related background checks. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

'Forever families' needed for PA children in foster care

CORRECTION: The number of foster care referrals received by Bethany Christian Services is 200 each month. A previous version of the story incorrectly …

The California Parent and Youth Helpline has helped almost 113,000 people since its inception in 2020. (kieferpix/Adobe Stock)

Study: 85% of callers to CA Parent Youth Helpline feel 'more positive'

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…

On average, military families are more likely to have a child with special or mental-health needs compared with civilian families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD military families rely on Medicaid, critical to national security

Republican lawmakers are considering billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid. But a new report finds those spending cuts might impact health-care …

More than 180,000 Iowans gained Medicaid coverage when the state enrolled in an optional expansion in 2013, part of the Affordable Care Act. (Adobe Stock)

Threatened Medicaid cuts would hobble Iowa's child-care workforce

A new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families said the Trump administration's proposed cuts to Medicaid would hobble Iowa…

Ohio ranks eighth nationally in the number of children in rural communities who rely on Medicaid for health coverage, with 30% of rural kids enrolled. (Adobe Stock)

Health coverage holds up Ohio’s child care

Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care…

Some 1.2 million Coloradans rely on Medicaid, including pregnant mothers, people with disabilities, working families and nearly 60% of people in nursing care facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could impact 1 in 4 CO child care workers

CORRECTION: The name of the spokesperson from the Center for Law and Social Policy is Suzanne Wikle. She had been incorrectly identified as Suzanne …

In a statewide survey about Library Media Specialists for Minnesota's K-12 schools, some respondents reported using their personal funds to support the library where they work. (Adobe Stock)

Nearly half of MN school libraries lack licensed media specialist

Minnesota law requires K-12 school libraries to be staffed by a licensed media specialist but survey results indicated almost half of districts have d…

Eduardo Mata Montessori in Dallas received a technology award package valued at $1,000, which included their choice of tech

National program makes sure TX students are technology ready

Across Texas, 63 schools are participating in a Parent Teacher Association digital literacy program known as "PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go!." The …

More than 40% of families with an early childhood educator rely on one or more public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could hurt VA early childhood education workforce

As Republicans in Washington, D.C. consider steep cuts to Medicaid, a new report showed the early childhood education workforce in Virginia heavily …

Nearly 28% of child-care workers are covered by Medicaid, and 43% of early educator families rely on one or more public safety nets such as Medicaid or SNAP to make ends meet. (saksit/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR child care workers could be hurt by cuts to Medicaid

CORRECTION: The name of the spokesperson from the Center for Law and Social Policy is Suzanne Wikle. She had been incorrectly identified as Suzanne …

As of May 1, 2025, a total of 935 confirmed measles cases were reported by 30 jurisdictions nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY confirms second measles case, doctors urge vaccination

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is reporting a second confirmed measles case in March, in a child who was traveling through the …

Lead can enter drinking water when a chemical reaction occurs in plumbing materials that contain lead, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa bill would require lead water line disclosure

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would require property owners to disclose the presence of lead water service lines during a real estate tra…

The National Institute for Early Education Research conducts studies to strengthen the early childhood care workforce through evidence-based recommendations. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Federal funding uncertainty puts preschool pressure on Michigan

Michigan's Great Start School Readiness Program enrolled more than 41,000 preschoolers in the 2023-24 school year, almost 3,000 more than the year …

Business organizations say between 2017 and 2024, the cost of child-care in North Dakota increased 40% at traditional day care centers. (Adobe Stock)

ND set to offer new child care tax credit

Solving North Dakota's child-care crisis is taking another turn, with adoption of a new tax credit. The incentive is geared for employers who make …

More than one in three Ohio parents with children under 5 report serious problems paying rent or mortgage, according to a statewide Groundwork Ohio poll. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio families left waiting as child tax credit stalls

A refundable child tax credit aimed at helping families with young children was proposed in Gov. DeWine's budget but was stripped out by the Ohio …

In Spring 2023, Arkansas created the Office of Early Childhood within the Arkansas Department of Education, which unifies the Arkansas early-childhood system. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR pre-K suffers from funding gap

A report by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows Arkansas needs to improve its reach with pre-K students. The state fell from …

Families in Colorado and across the nation spend up to 60% of their income on child care, the equivalent of a second mortgage or rent payment. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of affordable child care costs Colorado $2.7 billion annually

The lack of quality child care for infants and toddlers costs Colorado nearly $3 billion each year in lost earnings, productivity and revenue but an …

Eleven states and Washington D.C., serve at least half of 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky’s federal preschool funding faces uncertain future

The number of Kentucky children enrolled in preschool increased in 2024, along with state spending per child, according to new data from the National …

In 2023, nearly 18% of U.S. households with children faced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio lawmakers consider free meals for all K-12 students

By Lauren Cohen / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. S.B. 109, a bill that …

Healthy School Meals for All serves up more than 600,000 meals every school day in Colorado, regardless of a student's ability to pay. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado voters could decide fate of Healthy School Meals for All

As Colorado lawmakers grapple with $1.2 billion in budget cuts, child nutrition advocates are turning to voters to protect funding for the state's …

In Illinois, counties cover the operational costs of juvenile detention centers, while the state reimburses for staffing at more than $40 million per year. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed bills would curb jailing of children in IL

Two bills aimed at reforming the juvenile justice system in Illinois are close to becoming law. Senate Bill 1784 proposes raising the age of …

Residents of rural communities rely on Medicaid more than do their urban counterparts because of lower incomes, fewer private insurance options and higher unemployment rates. (ISKPRODUCTION/Adobe Stock)

GOP budget cuts to Medicaid could fray NM's safety net

Medicaid is a lifeline for many of New Mexico's families, making it one of six states that could be severely affected by cuts Congressional …

The Trevor Project estimated more than 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide each year. They warn more lives would be at risk if the White House is allowed to cut specialized services under the 988 crisis line. (Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ youth advocates want crisis line shielded from federal budget ax

LGBTQ+ advocates in South Dakota are reeling from passage of another state law they said harms their community. Now, there is concern possible …

According to a study by Harvard University, nearly 25 million Americans live in areas without enough dentists. Dental experts warned taking fluoride out of water in areas with few dentists could lead to more tooth decay. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Some AR communities without fluoridated water also experience dentist shortage

By Brett Kelman for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Co…

Ohio Department of Children & Youth reports more than 15,000 children are in foster care in Ohio - and nearly a quarter have complex needs that make finding the right placement especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

As Ohio approaches National Foster Care Month in May, one family's journey highlights how therapeutic foster care can change lives. A 12-year-old …

Medi-Cal pays for a range of health services in schools, including aides and equipment for disabled students. (Ermolaev Alexandr/Adobe Stock)

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Medicaid is in the crosshairs, as Republicans in Congress are expected to lay out proposals in May to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget…

Florida's school vouchers program, which lawmakers expanded in 2023, is projected to divert nearly $4 billion this year from public education, according to the Florida Policy Institute. (Pixabay)

Florida PTA fights charter school expansion, cuts to mental health funding

Jude Bruno, president-elect of the Florida Parent Teacher Association, is leading a charge against two controversial education bills which would …

A report from the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable found Delaware has met 61.3% of its goal of hiring school psychologists but has fallen far short on hiring school-based social workers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

A new report showed Delaware is making strides in building its school mental health services. The report found the state has expanded its ratio of …

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

The Individualized Education Account Program helps Tennessee families by offering funding for approved educational expenses customized to support each student's individual learning needs. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee educators warn against dismantling U.S. Department of Education

Tennessee educators are expressing concern over President Donald Trump's push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return control to the …

Every dollar invested in SNAP generates between $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity. There are currently 3,100 authorized SNAP retailers in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Coloradans' hand-written letters on SNAP cuts heading to nation's capital

Two leading Colorado nonprofits working to end hunger are collecting hand-written letters from a wide range of people who would be directly impacted i…

New Jersey only has half of the recommended minimum number of school social workers, and three-fourths of the recommended minimum number of school psychologists. (Adobe Stock)

NJ improves in school-based mental health policies

A new report finds that states like New Jersey have made progress in providing school mental health services to its students, but work still remains…

About 500,000 children in the U.S. are exposed to lead, disproportionately on poor and Black and brown families. (Adobe Stock)

Experts say lead in Milwaukee schools is an environmental justice issue

As the city of Milwaukee continues to grapple with addressing unsafe levels of lead across public schools, experts are calling it an environmental …

In 2021, Ohio passed Senate Bill 1, requiring all high school students to take a standalone half-credit personal finance course to graduate. This applies to students entering 9th grade on, or after July 1, 2022 (i.e., the Class of 2026). (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans urged to reset budgets during Financial Literacy Month

Ohio families dealing with the lingering effects of inflation and post-pandemic economic shifts may be looking for ways to regain control of their fin…

According to a 2024 report from Mental Health America, Wyoming ranked 51st in the nation for adult mental health and 28th for youth. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming K-12 mental-health coordination program nears expiration

Wyoming consistently ranks in the bottom 10 of all states on mental health indicators. COVID-era funding has helped provide resources but it is …

The report found Washington needs to almost double its number of school psychologists in order to meet the recommended minimum. (peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

WA investments in school mental-health services slowly helping

Washington has done well enacting some policies that improve school mental-health systems in the last year, while still falling short in other areas…

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