Youth Issues / Public News Service

65% of LGBTQ+ young people in Indiana reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety, and 43% reported of LGBTQ+ young people in Indiana seriously considered suicide in the past year.(Adobe Stock)

Rural IN LGBTQ+ youth seek safe, welcoming spaces

Rural LGBTQ+ youth in Indiana face greater mental health challenges, but have found ways to build community online, according to a new report…

Experts recommended placing limits around kids' screen time and social media use. (Adobe Stock/AI)

NJ parents encouraged to check in on kids’ mental health

Back to school is often a time of anxiety for students of all ages and experts are reminding New Jersey parents to check on kids' mental health…

Experts recommend not overscheduling kids in the first few weeks of school because they are often more tired and emotionally drained as they adjust to a new routine. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier experts stress mental prep before heading back to school

Indiana families are preparing kids for back-to-school season, and mental-health experts say emotional readiness is just as important as school …

Studies show participating in sports lowers rates of anxiety and depression for children. (Adobe Stock)

WA coaches struggle for fair wages

Coaches in the Renton School District, just south of Seattle, are organizing with the American Federation of Teachers to fight for what they say are …

EducationData.org reports 16% of borrowers owe less than $5,000, almost 23% owe $20,000 to $40,000, and 1.55% owe more than $200,000. (Adobe Stock)

IN students face uncertainty on loan repayments

Due dates for student loan repayment remain uncertain for many Indiana students amid changes at the federal level. For those who were not granted …

Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis and Maurer School of Law in Bloomington combined enrollment in the juris doctorate program in 2024 totaled 415 students. (Adobe Stock)

New charter school hopes to help ease IN attorney shortage

A new charter school with a unique mission plans to open next year in Indianapolis. Its goal is to interest more kids in the legal profession…

Immigrants Rising facilitates free online therapy and support groups for undocumented students. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Free online therapy now available for California undocumented students

Therapists are stepping up to help undocumented students deal with the pervasive fear created by the Trump administration's ongoing ICE raids…

Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account provides up to $7,700 in state money for parents to enroll their children in private schools or for home education materials. (Adobe Stock)

Federal measure could affect Arizona's school choice program

Proposed federal legislation would expand school choice options for families to send their students to private schools or home educate them and the mo…

Parents can help students avoid the academic

Arlington program helps students avoid 'summer slide' through poetry

Many Texas students lose nearly 40% of what they learned during the year on summer break. A new program in Arlington is helping kids avoid the …

In 2023, nearly two-thirds of adults nationwide covered by Medicaid were working, and nearly three in 10 were not working because of caregiving responsibilities, illness or disability, or due to school attendance. (Adobe Stock)

Eau Claire resident ‘terrified’ of Medicaid cuts, federal changes

An Eau Claire resident is speaking out about how federal cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could affect his life and …

The FutureReady States initiative is part of Lumina Foundation's national goal to have 75% of adults in the U.S. labor force with a college degree or other credential by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

IL hopes to build upon success in new FutureReady States workforce initiative

A new workforce initiative in Illinois is hoping to provide working adults with better access to short-term work credentials to help them get better p…

The FutureReady States initiative will collaborate with a dozen states to assess the return on investment and its effect on each state's economy, when they improve job training programs. (Adobe Stock)

FutureReady initiative aims to align LA education with workforce needs

A new initiative aims to help adults get high-quality job credentials which can lead to economic prosperity, in Louisiana and 11 other states…

Colorado joins FutureReady States workforce training initiative

Colorado now has backup for its efforts to get more working age adults into high demand, good-paying jobs. FutureReady States, a new Lumina …

Other states in the FutureReady States initiative include Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. (CarlosBarquero/Adobe Stock)

National program to increase short-term workforce credentials in TX

Texas is one of 12 states in a new national program to increase the number of Americans who have a college degree or short-term workforce credential…

The Community Compass app, maintained by Indy Hunger Network serves between 4,000 and 8,000 users per month seeking food access resources. (Adobe Stock)

IN food pantries hit by SUN Bucks blackout

Indiana families are navigating the summer without SUN Bucks, a federal grocery benefit which delivered $120 per child last summer. Gov. Mike …

Federal private school tax incentive draws mixed reviews

Mixed responses continue to swirl about the new federal law offering tax incentives to people who donate to organizations providing scholarships to pr…

Federal data show more than 1.6 million American middle and high school students report using tobacco products. (InfiniteStudio/Adobe Stock)

Report: Youth vaping down but Hollywood still glamorizes tobacco

Hundreds of millions of American young people are exposed to vaping and smoking in popular movies, TV shows and music videos each year, according to …

The Feeding Texas network said despite federal cuts, the organization stands united in its commitment to fight hunger but food banks cannot fill the gap left by the cuts. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Food banks across Texas prepare to help the needy despite federal cuts

Almost 3.5 million Texans utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase food. The budget reconciliation bill recently signed …

The Indiana Commission on Higher Education says almost 268,000 students enrolled in at least one funded Career and Technical Education course for the 2023-2024 school year. (Adobe Stock)

IN students want help with higher education choices

Uncertainty about the current job market is influencing high school graduates' choices for a career. Parents are generally the go-to for guidance…

Authors of the law may add enforcement language, such as fines for parents or involvement from the prosecutor's office, during the committee process. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana mentors: ‘Curfew alone won’t cut it’

By Garrett Bergquist for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Serv…

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

The Trump administration considers programs focusing on any facet of diversity, equity or inclusion to be a violation of federal anti-discrimination law. (Adobe Stock)

IL school districts serving immigrants work to stay low-key

The Trump administration has made it clear it will cut funding from schools continuing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and with record …

The recommended ratio of students to counselors is 250 to 1, Washington is over that at 363 to 1. (Christoph Burgstedt/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Gen Z teens don’t know their options after high school

Most Gen Z high school students and their parents are unaware of the range of options available to kids after graduation, according to a new survey…

Nationwide the recommended ratio of students to counselors is 250 to 1, Oregon is over that number at 330 to 1. (Adobe Stock)

Survey finds gaps in how high school students learn about post-grad options

Most Gen Z high school students and their parents are unaware of the range of options available to kids after graduation, according to a new survey…

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

The Indianapolis Public School district is the state's largest, with a student enrollment of about 31,000, according to its website. (Adobe Stock)

IN parents seek better transportation, more funding for student success

School funding is ranked as the top education priority in a spring survey of 850 Marion County voters by the education organization RISE Indy…

Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, which represents children in low-income families, is a model for other states working to place qualified attorneys in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska program adds juvenile justice attorneys in underserved rural areas

The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas…

The U.S. Department of Education has not said if or when it will release $6.8 billion in federal grants to school districts. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

NV schools face budget emergency as Congress impounds federal funds

Panic is setting in at school districts across the Silver State as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. State data show the …

The federal government has not released a timeline for disbursing $6.8 billion in grants to school districts nationwide. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)<br />

CA school budgets in disarray after Trump freezes federal funding

Panic has set in at school districts across the Golden State as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. Tony Thurmond…

State governments await guidance on whether or when $6.8 billion dollars in federal grants to school districts will be released. (Insta_photos/Adobe Stock)<br />

Freeze on federal grants squeezes WA school budgets

Panic has set in at school districts across Washington state as the Trump administration continues to withhold federal funds. Chris Reykdal…

Residents along the Guadalupe River say it will take years for the area to recovery from the deadly flooding event on July 4. (Photo courtesy Casey Claiborne)

Texans grieve victims of deadly Hill Country flooding

Tributes and memorials are pouring in for victims of the deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County. The storm stalled over the Texas …

A U.S. citizen is legally defined as a person born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, yet experts say human psychology and identity politics result in ingrained biases over who truly belongs. (Adobe Stock)

'American' most often associated with white English speakers

With Donald Trump in the White House, Illinois and the nation face new challenges about who "belongs" in the United States. Nationality has become a …

Pennsylvania gets $4.3 billion yearly for SNAP, helping 1.9 million people but the reconciliation bill could cut benefits for 401,000 Pennsylvanians, according to the Center for American Progress. (Kleberpicui/Adobe Stock)

PA educators warn federal cuts threaten health care, food benefits

As the Senate passes President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill and sends it back to the House, Pennsylvania educators warned in its current form…

The budget bill being debated in Congress would shift some Medicaid administrative costs to states, which could force some hospitals in rural Iowa to reduce services or close. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid reductions would end coverage for tens of thousands of Iowans

Members of Congress are still debating the massive tax and spending bill which could include deep cuts to social service programs critical to Iowa…

North Dakota classrooms sit empty right now but when they fill up in late August, K-12 students and parents might notice more districts trying to juggle staff to help with lingering teacher shortages. (Adobe Stock)

ND school districts get no 'summer break' from budget maneuvering

It is only early summer but North Dakota school districts are preparing for the fall. As in recent years, some administrators are performing what …

Constance Meadors, director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, said an $800,000 NASA grant will help develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators in Arkansas. (PhotoSpirit/Adobe Stock)

AR Space Grant Consortium receives $800,000 NASA grant

The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will use an $800,000 NASA grant to train students in STEM education a…

Homelessness among children in Ohio has increased by 10% since January 2020 and family homelessness has risen 11%, highlighting deepening housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio mayor says rising rents drive 'hidden homelessness'

As housing costs continue to squeeze Ohio families, Youngstown's mayor warned out-of-state landlords are pushing many out of their homes, undermining …

Meals are free to kids in Texas during the Summer Food Service Program. They are paid for by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX summer meal programs keep kids fed while out of school

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger. Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the …

The California Parent and Youth Helpline offers free professional counseling seven days a week, with translation services in 240 languages. (Carballo/Adobe Stock)<br />

CA Parent and Youth Helpline cut from state budget

The California Parent and Youth Helpline is in serious jeopardy after Gov. Gavin Newsom cut it from the new state budget, saying the money was needed …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said one in six young children in the United States ages 2-8 have a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Do not overlook mental health issues in young children

Minnesota teens are using their summer break to set aside added stress and anxiety they deal with during school and as the age group gets more attenti…

The national organization RAINN says DNA evidence is a critical factor in achieving justice for survivors of sexual violence, but there are still challenges in the way evidence is collected, stored, tracked and used to hold perpetrators accountable. (Adobe Stock)

SD eyes possible reforms involving sexual assault kits

When South Dakota's new budget kicks in this week, there will be money to address potential funding shortfalls for rape kits. At the same time…

The student enrollment figure at Indiana's four-year colleges and universities in 2024 was nearly 172,000, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. (Adobe Stock)

IN students weigh politics, mental health factors for college choices

University officials in Indiana are rewriting guidelines for on-campus protests to address a tense political backdrop. More students are watching …

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is seeing an increase in out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care as neighboring states enact restrictions and bans. (Adobe Stock)

IL abortion services continue to skyrocket, straining provider resources

Illinois serves as a crucial access point for abortion services and sees the most out-of-state patients in the country. Since Roe v. Wade was …

Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence is boosting summer reading with incentives to help kids stay sharp and build stronger literacy skills over the break. (Adobe Stock)

Giving circles provide funding for PA youth mentorship, empowerment

Two youth-focused nonprofits in Pennsylvania are expanding enrichment and mentoring programs, thanks to $500,000 in grants benefiting hundreds of …

Some 67% of college students say a characteristic of

Report: To Gen Z, ‘campus safety’ includes ideology, mental health

Nearly 30% of "Gen-Z" college students decided where they would attend school based at least partly on political reasons, according to a new report…

Report: Gen Z considers politics, mental health in choosing a college