Family/Father Issues / Public News Service

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)

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…

At least 11 major cities across the United States are hosting National Day of Action rallies today to call attention to reforms they say are needed in the nation's immigration detention system. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Immigration Advocates Host National Day of Action Rally

Immigration advocacy groups are calling on New Yorkers to join them in Foley Square at noon today. It's a National Day of Action to call attention to …

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 …

Intimate-partner violence includes violence, abuse and controlling behavior committed by a partner or former partner. It can result in long-lasting adverse mental-health outcomes, and is a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Housing First Model Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors

Victims of domestic violence who are able to access housing -- at their own pace, and with support for as long as the survivor needs help -- …

The Right Time initiative conducted an online survey of 1,000 Missouri residents between April 27 and May 3. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Is Birth Control Legal? Many Missourians Unsure

One in four Missourians either doesn't believe or doesn't know that using birth control pills is legal in the state. The Right Time, an initiative …

About one in three adults age 85 or older may have some form of dementia, according to the National Institute on Aging. (pololia/Adobe Stock

Often Hidden, Research Casts Light on Kinless Adults with Dementia

Washington state researchers are spotlighting an often overlooked population: kinless adults with dementia. The population is often difficult to …

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 …

Studies show elder abuse or neglect can lead to early death, cause harm to physical and psychological health, destroy social and family ties, and lead to devastating financial loss. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH Increases Elder Abuse Prevention Efforts as Older Population Grows

New Hampshire officials in charge of investigating elder abuse are ramping up staff and education efforts to better protect the state's growing elderl…

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…

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 …

Families receiving advanced Child Tax Credit payments were nearly three times more likely to catch up on rent after falling behind early in the pandemic, according to the group Children's HealthWatch. (Adobe Stock)

MA Lawmakers Work to Enhance Tax Credits for Working Families

As state lawmakers in Massachusetts debate the final details of tax legislation, community groups are urging them to include refundable tax credits …

In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Indiana Dept. of Education identified 16,380 unhoused students enrolled in Indiana schools, or about 1.5% of the total student population. (Adobe Stock)

A New Resource for Indiana Youth Facing Homelessness

The number of homeless adults in Indiana was at a troubling level even before the pandemic, and today, another demographic is facing the same …

A 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds 74% of all kids in New York foster care are

NY Family Celebrates National Sisters Day

Sunday is National Sisters Day, and a New York family is celebrating the coming together of their two children - soon to be three. Merriah Kenneally …

Almost 60% of caregivers in the United States are women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (GeckoStudio/AdobeStock)

AARP: Texas Needs More Caregivers for Aging Population

One in five people across the United States is a full- or part-time caregiver, with those in Texas providing $41 billion in unpaid care each year…

The survey also found 83% of parents say they have concerns about their young children's behavior related to sleeping habits, aggression and separation anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Social Emotional Development a Top Priority for Parents

A new survey finds a majority of parents of children younger than six in Utah and across the country rated social emotional development the most impor…

Almost 500,000 reports of suspected child maltreatment were called into the Texas state abuse hotline in 2022, with 166,000 cases investigated, resulting in 9,600 children being removed from their homes. (IdeaBug, Inc./AdobeStock)

New Texas Law Favors Parents in Child Abuse Investigations

Texas parents under investigation for child abuse by the state will be informed of their rights before their children are removed from the family's ho…

Of the more than 54,000 children who were adopted from the child welfare system in 2021, a significant majority were between ages 1 and 5, which is in line with previous years' trends. (Adobe Stock)

An Alabama Dad Advocates for Adopting Older Teens

When it comes to adoption, people often think of infants first, but one Alabama father is actively changing some misconceptions about adopting older …

According to Arizona's Department of Child Safety, nearly 14,000 children are in foster care, but there are only about 3,000 licensed foster families. (Adobe Stock)

Group Wants to Expand Adoption Services in Arizona

One organization wants to help the longest waiting children in Arizona's foster-care system find their way into loving, adoptive family homes…

Rates of severe maternal morbidity for people with disabilities -- including intellectual, vision, and mobility-related disabilities -- were found to be significantly higher between 2011 and 2020 than those for people without disabilities, according to the Department of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Report Shows Steep Decline in MA Maternal Health

Racial and gender inequities in Massachusetts have contributed to a steep decline in maternal health, according to a new report. The Department of …

The Fair Start for Kids Act increases the income threshold to receive subisidies for child care. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

With Industry in Crisis, WA Addresses Child Care Woes

Child care is one the costliest services for families across the country. Advocates for child well being say Washington state has positioned itself …

Care provided by millions of unpaid family caregivers across the United States was valued at $600 billion in 2021, a $130 billion increase in unpaid contributions since 2019, according to AARP. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mainers Celebrate Passage of Paid Family Medical Leave Program

After years of grassroots advocacy, Maine will become the 13th state in the nation to adopt a mandatory paid family and medical leave program…

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 …

Eight of 10 distressed communities are rural, and 60% of the residents in those counties are people of color, according to the group Rural Organizing. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Rebuild Rural America Act Could Counter Economic Decline in Rural Ohio

Rural Ohio towns could see boosts in economic development projects, and investments in workforce development, emergency preparedness and water and …

Organizers behind a community-driven approach in South Dakota to prevent child maltreatment say residents volunteering as tutors can be one way to provide much-needed stability for at-risk youth. (Adobe Stock)

SD Sees Growth with Community Approach to Prevent Child Maltreatment

The federal COVID-19 public health emergency may be over, but there is lingering concern about the mental state of children. In South Dakota…

Ohio resident and foster parent Teri DeVoe with her family. (Teri DeVoe)

More Ohio Foster Parents Working Toward Reunification

June is National Reunification Month, and in Ohio more foster parents view themselves as active players working to reconnect children separated from …

In Oklahoma, 21% of children lived in poverty in 2021. (Irina K./Adobe Stock)

Report Ranks OK Among Worst in Child Well-Being

Oklahoma ranks in the bottom five in a new report on child well-being. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book ranks the state 4…

In 2021, some 53% of working adults ages 25 to 54 were parents, and more than a third of those parents had young children, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe stock)

New Data Shows Well-Being of Kentucky Kids Worsens

The latest Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book shows Kentucky, along with other Appalachian and Southeastern states, ranks in the bottom …

Child Care Crisis a Barrier to Economic Mobility for Ohio Families

Ohio ranks 29th among states in overall child well-being, according to the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. Child care …

Report: More West Virginia Parents Not Working due to Childcare Issues

Thirteen percent of young children in West Virginia lived in families in which someone quit their job or refused a job because of responsibilities wit…

One measure of children's well-being has not improved in Louisiana. The number of kids in poverty remained at 27% between 2019 and 2021, according to the new Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: LA Remains Stagnant in Overall Child Well-Being

A new annual report finds Louisiana has stagnated on measures to improve children's well-being. The Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

While most health data for South Carolina children showed declines in this year's Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book, the number of kids without health insurance improved slightly. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SC Children Need Critical Health Improvements

A new annual report finds South Carolina could be doing better to support children's health. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest Kids Count Data …

Idaho ranks fifth in the nation among states in the Family and Community category of a new report on child well-being. (Douglas Hughmanick/Adobe Stock)

ID Ranks High in Child Well-Being, But Child Care Costs Concerning

Idaho ranks fairly high compared to other states in a new report on children's well-being, but the high cost of child care lurks as a burden for …

Rhode Island's average annual cost of infant care is $13,696, equating to $1,141 per month, according to the Economic Policy Institute. The state ranks 13th among states for most expensive infant care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Affordable Child Care Needed to Help RI Families

A new annual report finds Rhode Island families need better access to affordable child care. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

American families say the lack of cost-effective and available child care is a major problem in their lives, according to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

MI Finishes in Bottom Half of Child Well-Being Rankings

Michigan continues to be ranked in the bottom half of U.S. states for child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book. This year's …

The Kansas rankings in the 2023 Kids Count Data Book include: 17th in overall child well-being; 22nd in health; 24th in family and community, and 26th in education. (Adobe Stock)

High Ranking On 'Economic Well-Being' Not Helping All KS Families

Kansas ranks seventh among states in the area of economic well-being in the 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book. Rankings on the …

The Kids Count Data Book reports in 2020-21, 15% of children from birth to age 5 in Arkansas lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of problems finding or affording child care. (ShunTerra/Adobe Stock)

Report: Arkansas Ranks 43rd in Child Well-Being

A new report found Arkansas consistently ranks toward the lowest 10 states for child well-being. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book reports the median pay for child care workers, who typically must hold a range of credentials, was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022. (Cherryandbees/Adobe Stock)

'Kids Count' Data Show Some Improvement for TN Children

The annual Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E Casey Foundation ranked Tennessee 36th among the states for children's well-being. The report found …

Virginia ranked 48th in the 2023 State of Mental Health report undertaken by Mental Health America. This indicates higher rates of mental illness among the state's youth and little access to care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA, US Children Need Better Health Supports

A new annual report found children in Virginia and across the U.S. need better health support. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

In the 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Nevada ranks 46th in education, 38th in health, and 44th in family and community factors that affect children. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nevada Near Bottom of List for Children's Well-Being

Nevada is not making the cut when it comes to children's well-being in the state. According to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book, out this week…

The rate of children under age 19 without health insurance dropped to 5% in 2021, an estimated 4,165,000 million kids nationwide, down from 6% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Kids Study Shows Dramatic Lack of Montana Child Care

The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book ranks Montana 18th nationally in overall child well-being. The just-released numbers showed …

Advocates for families say the failings of the child care market also affect the current and future health of Vermont's economy, costing the state $195 million a year in lost earnings, productivity and tax revenue, according to one study. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Available Child Care Impacts VT Economy, Families

Vermont ranks fourth in the nation on measures of child well-being, according to a new report. The 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

A new report found in 2021, 12% of New Jersey children under age 6 lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job because of issues with child care. (Digital Skillet/Adobe Stock)

Report: Affordable Child Care Hard to Find in NJ

Many New Jersey families are having a very hard time paying for child care, according to the new 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, child care workers make less than workers in 98% of the nation's other professions, with a median annual pay of just under $29,000. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Arizona Ranks Poorly in Overall Child Well-Being

New data ranks Arizona 39th in the country for overall child well-being. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2023 Kids Count Data Book…

Maine ranks first in the nation for having the lowest percentage of children in families where the head of household lacks a high school diploma, at 4%, compared to the national rate of 11%, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock) <br />

ME Parents Struggle with Lack of Affordable, Accessible Child Care

CLARIFICATION: Percentages of students' reading and math scores were clarified. (12:46 p.m. MDT, June 14, 2023) Maine ranks 12th in the nation on …

In key categories measuring child well-being, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top 20 states in an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Despite High Ranking, Child Well-Being Concerns Persist in WI

An annual report measuring child well-being in the U.S. said several benchmarks have worsened overall. States like Wisconsin fared better in the …

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