Children's Issues / Public News Service

Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap study is the only one providing local-level estimates of food insecurity and costs for every county and congressional district. (disha1980/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Report: Texas tops nation in food insecurity

Texas leads the nation in food insecurity. According to the latest "Map the Meal Gap" study, from Feeding America, nearly 5 million people in the …

Each week during the school year, more than 8,300 children receive a backpack of meals for the weekend through Food Bank for the Heartland's BackPack Program. (Photo courtesy of Food Bank for the Heartland)

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Largest NE food bank challenged by rising food insecurity, costs

A new report shows food insecurity in Nebraska increased in 2022 over the year before. Feeding America's latest "Map the Meal Gap" survey showed the …

The Tennessee Lead and Copper Rule tests taps at risk of lead contamination. If more than 10% exceeds the limit, water systems must take action. (GDM photo and video/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

EDF maps show progress on Tennessee lead service line replacement

Tennessee has fallen behind on lead service line replacement, with the Environmental Defense Fund's new maps showing only one utility with a public …

A total of 38,600 transgender youth now live in states where a policy has been enacted that either explicitly or implicitly restricts their access to bathrooms and other facilities, according to the report. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 13, 2024

Report: NV fares well with transgender rights

Ninety-three percent of transgender teens live in a state that has enacted or proposed legislation that would restrict their rights - according to a n…

Research shows children in families of color, particularly Black and Latino families, have been more likely to experience gaps in health coverage. (Adobe Stock)

More than 300,000 Georgia kids lose health coverage post-COVID

More than 300,000 children have been dropped from Medicaid and Peach Care for kids since the pandemic ended. A report from the Georgetown University …

In December 2023, more than 4 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program nationwide than the month before each state began the process of renewing eligibility after continuous coverage protections were lifted. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NV sees small decline in Medicaid, CHIP enrollment

The Medicaid and Nevada Check Up programs had more than 13,000 fewer children enrolled last year than during the pandemic, according to new research …

By December 2023, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program nationwide, than the month before each state began the process of renewing eligibility after the COVID-related Medicaid continuous coverage protections were lifted. (Adobe Stock)

UT among largest percentage declines in Medicaid, CHIP enrollment

A new report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families showed Utah is one of the states to see the largest percentage declines in …

As of last December, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program nationwide than the month before each state began the process of renewing post-COVID eligibility. (Adobe Stock)

SC scrambles to re-enroll kids dropped off post-COVID Medicaid rolls

More than 65,000 children in South Carolina have lost their health insurance through Medicaid, despite being eligible for coverage, according to a …

Medicaid 'unwinding' leaves thousands of LA children without coverage

More than 56,000 children in Louisiana have lost their health insurance through Medicaid last year, despite being eligible for coverage, according to …

In Montana, 6.9% of children do not have health insurance, ranking the state 44th out of 51, according to Georgetown University's study. (Adobe Stock)

MT sees nation's highest percentage of kids losing Medicaid

More than 4 million children nationwide were removed from Medicaid and CHIP health coverage by the end of 2023 as the government reset the programs af…

The Denver Post reports the total number of Coloradans with Medicaid health insurance has dropped by 30% since 2023, just below Texas and Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 86,101 Colorado children removed from Medicaid insurance rolls

More than 4 million children in the U.S. lost their health insurance after automatic Medicaid coverage renewals enacted during the COVID public …

Arkansas is among eight states disenrolling so many children in 2023 that fewer were enrolled at year's end than before the pandemic in early 2020. (Nina Lawrenson/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

A new report showed the number of children covered by Medicaid varies widely between states as pandemic-era protections were lifted, with Arkansas …

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they're usually easier to treat, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio among top states for number of kids kicked off Medicaid, CHIP

More than 120,000 Ohio kids have been disenrolled from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP, and most were removed for …

Junior and senior Educators Rising members with Dr. Khalid Mumin, PA Secretary of Education, and Dr. Keith Miles, School District of Lancaster Superintendent. (School District of Lancaster)<br />

Education association tackles teacher shortage with 'Educators Rising' program

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools, prompting a new "Educators Rising" …

Medicaid coverage includes checkups, sick visits, immunizations as well as dental and vision care. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: ID covering fewer kids with public insurance vs. 2019

As pandemic era protections were lifted, a new report showed the number of children on Medicaid has varied widely between states, with Idaho seeing a …

National Teacher Appreciation Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984, when it was moved to May. (Perry Correll/Adobe Stock)

It's Teacher Appreciation Week 2024

The first week of May is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States. The push to honor teachers started in 1953 when First Lady …

Well-child visits include vision screenings, but if a primary care provider detects a vision problem CHIP also covers comprehensive eye exams and necessary treatment. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Report: AK covers fewer kids with public insurance vs. 2019

A new report shows the number of children covered by Medicaid varied widely between states as pandemic-era protections were lifted, with Alaska …

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)

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 …

Federal researchers found nearly three in four children who were disenrolled during the

Report: NC works to keep kids on Medicaid health coverage

A new report showed North Carolina is one of only a few states taking a cautious approach to removing families with children from Medicaid since the p…

KY keeps most kids enrolled in Medicaid coverage, post-pandemic

Nationwide, children are losing their Medicaid and CHIP coverage but Kentucky has kept the majority of its youngest residents enrolled, according to …

Children of color are disproportionately enrolled in Medicaid, underscoring the unwinding's potential impact on families of color. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: More than 59,000 Tennessee kids lose health coverage post-COVID

A new report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families says nationwide, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and …

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they are usually easier to treat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Procedural reasons driving WV kids' loss in health coverage

More than 62,000 West Virginia kids have been dis-enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP and most were removed for p…

Nearly seven in ten suicides in Wyoming were carried out with firearms between 2018 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Suicide rate prompts WY lawmakers to invest in mental-health services

Wyoming's suicide rate ranks first in the nation, according to the most recent data, and state lawmakers are taking steps to improve access to mental …

Texas, Florida, Georgia and California have seen the largest declines in numbers of children enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP. Together, the four states account for half of the total national decrease in children insured in these programs. (Andrii/Adobe Stock)

More than 1 million TX children disenrolled from Medicaid, CHIP

More than one million children in Texas no longer have health insurance through Medicaid, despite being eligible for coverage, according to a new …

Louisiana teachers are concerned private schools using tax dollars for students will not be held to the same academic standards as public schools. (Adobe Stock)

LA teachers fight voucher plan to use public funds for private schools

A plan to use public money to fund vouchers for students to attend private schools is drawing pushback from Louisiana teachers, who say the plan …

Through the SMART apprenticeship program in Michigan, a school psychology graduate student earns $25 per hour for 20 hours a week, for 30 weeks. (Monkey Business)

MI schools seek solutions as pandemic mental health funding ends

Special state funding for mental health staff at Michigan public schools during the pandemic is ending this year, leaving schools scrambling to find …

South Dakota ranks 40th in the country for per-student spending, at $12,549 annually. (Robert Peak/ Adobe Stock)

Despite increase, SD teacher salary among lowest in the country

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and there's some mixed news when it comes to how well South Dakota is compensating its teachers. According to the …

Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reached a record high of nearly 94.5 million in April 2023. The federal government prohibited states from removing people from their rolls during the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Pixabay/192635)

Report: Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

After Texas, a new report shows Florida has seen the second-largest decline in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health …

Children's advocates are pressing lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 2956, which would continue pandemic-era flexibilities in Medi-Cal that allow more people to qualify. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

Hundreds of thousands of CA children dropped off Medi-Cal since last year

Medi-Cal has dropped several hundred thousand low-income children from the health insurance rolls since April 2023, according to a new report from …

Gov. Josh Shapiro ensured $100 million for mental-health services for students and $20 million for mental health support at the county level, in Pennsylvania's 2023-24 budget. (JenkoAtaman/Adobe Stock)

Expert: Practical tools, neuroscience help parents build mentally strong kids

As Children's Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off in Pennsylvania, an expert said parents can help their children have a healthy brain to thrive…

Some states disenrolled so many children that they had fewer enrolled than prior to the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Millions disenrolled from CHIP nationwide

As pandemic-era protections were lifted a new report showed the number of children on Medicaid has varied widely between states, with Maryland doing …

Among adults in Arkansas, 32.6% report symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder, almost identical to the national average. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Expert reveals how neuroscience, practical tools helps build mentally strong kids

As Children's Mental Health Awareness Week kicks off in Arkansas, an expert said parents can help their children have a healthy brain to thrive…

Montana classrooms have seen a more than 12% increase in the number of special education students, according to the latest data. (Adobe Stock)

MT disability advocates sue to stop school vouchers

Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities have joined the Montana Quality Education Association in a suit to stop a school voucher bill in …

Eating disorders can lead to fatigue and muscle breakdown, which ultimately affects a young person's athletic performance. (Peter Kim/Adobe Stock)

Pediatricians: Watch for rise of eating disorders in young athletes

Pediatricians are warning about a rise in eating disorders among young athletes. Common eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa are …

Some groups see disproportionately high rates of suicide, including veterans, racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ people. (Adobe Stock)

Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention

Rates of suicide among young people have increased by about 36% in roughly the last two decades and the surge has caught the attention of federal poli…

Families will have 120 days from when they receive their SUN Bucks cards to use the money. (Adobe stock)

New program provides healthy summer meals for IN students

A new program in Indiana will ensure year-round access to nutritious meals for students statewide. The Summer Electronic Transfer program provides a …

Legislation to curtail the union membership rights of about 50,000 public school educators in Lousiana has the backing of some business and national conservative groups. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Louisiana teachers' union concerned about educators' future

Leaders of a teachers' union in Louisiana are voicing concerns about a package of bills they say would have the effect of dissolving labor unions in t…

Electric school buses are in the minority, with about 95% of school buses nationwide running on diesel. (Thomas/Adobe Stock)

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

School buses are getting cleaner in Washington state after this year's legislative session. Lawmakers in Olympia passed House Bill 1368, which will …

Among his recommendations for the coming legislative session, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking lawmakers to make recommendations about school safety and

TX educators react to Lt. Gov. priorities for next legislative session

Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick has released 57 "interim charges," the topics he wants Senate committees to study in preparation for the 89th …

Migrants are put on buses from Texas to other states, often without knowing where they are going. (afishman64/Adobe Stock)

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing …

Maine lawmakers expanded the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit in 2023, allowing an estimated 157,000 dependent adults and children in families with the lowest incomes to receive the full credit for the first time. (Adobe Stock)

ME lawmakers increase aid for families experiencing deep poverty

Gov. Janet Mills has signed legislation to increase temporary assistance payments to families experiencing deep poverty. Payments will increase by 2…

The 2023 Annie E. Casey Foundation Data Book ranked Arkansas 37th in the nation for education, and said 56% of young children were not in preschool programs to help get them ready for school. (Adobe Stock)

Program gives AR early education workers 'Career Pathways'

The need for child care and early learning is critical, especially in rural Arkansas. One nonprofit is working to fill those gaps by giving providers …

New research from the Episcopal Health Foundation showed the Texas economy could save billions of dollars, simply by breaking the cycle of preventable health disparities. (Colored Lights/Adobe Stock)

New study shows health disparities cost TX billions of dollars

Health disparities in Texas are not only making some people sick, but affecting the state's economy. A new study shows Texas is losing $7 billion a …

During what is known as the Medicaid post-pandemic

Report: SD Medicaid expansion enrollment remains low

Last year's Medicaid expansion in South Dakota increased eligibility to another 51,000 adults but a new report showed among people across the state wh…

Frequent staff turnover has resulted in delays for families to start or even end child welfare-related services because of delays in response time, from either the lead caseworker or supervisors. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

STEM model may offer hope for PA child welfare workforce crisis

The child welfare system in Pennsylvania faces a staffing crisis affecting children and families throughout the system. The Child Welfare Resource …

A typical New Hampshire child care worker earned roughly $32,500 in 2023 while the federal poverty guideline for a family of four last year was $30,000, according to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Burnout, low wages leave NH child care centers short staffed

A persistent child care worker shortage across New Hampshire is leaving families with few options. The state is currently short more than 7,000 …

By 2031, good jobs accessible to people with only a high school education will represent just 6% of all jobs. (bodnarphoto/Adobe Stock)

TX leaders work to improve job opportunities for rural students

Work is being done in rural areas across Texas to make sure students are prepared for the workforce even if they intend to stay put after graduation…

Environments which are violent, lack accessible and effective community resources and are disproportionately affected by poverty or unemployment are variables contributing to child abuse<br />and neglect, according to PCA Georgia. (Adobe Stock)

Georgia groups empower parents to safeguard children's well-being

As communities across Georgia come together to raise awareness during Child Abuse Prevention Month, local groups are taking steps to equip parents …

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