Youth Issues / Public News Service

While Virginia's ranking by Mental Health America for adult mental health improved from 2022 to 2023, its youth mental health ranking plummeted to one of the lowest in the nation during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

VA works to improve, better fund mental health services

Virginia is bolstering mental health care during and beyond Mental Health Month. Since the pandemic, the need for behavioral health services has …

By May 10, around 1.8 million Floridians lost Medicaid access, per KFF Health's Medicaid unwinding tracker. (Pexels)

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Delay in Florida Medicaid trial raises stakes for hundreds of thousands

Florida's trial on Medicaid eligibility, resulting in 1.8 million people losing coverage, has been indefinitely postponed because the judge …

In teacher training programs, critics said a new Indiana law could create a snowball effect on preservice teachers and their future students. (Adobe stock)

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

New IN law stirs debate over academic freedom, teacher training

By Aleksandra Appleton for the Chalkbeat Indiana .Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Indiana-Free Pre…

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…

When student demonstrators gather unopposed, data show police have intervened in pro-Palestine demonstrations four times more than pro-Israel demonstrations. (Suiren2022/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, May 13, 2024

Virginia groups show support for ongoing college protests

Some Virginia groups are choosing to offer support to pro-Palestine student protestors. Recent weeks have seen more than 100 arrests of protestors …

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)

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 …

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 …

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 …

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…

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" …

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 …

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 …

The Kids Online Safety Act could necessitate that platforms verify users' ages. (momius/Adobe Stock)

NM LGBTQ group fears far-reaching effects of 'Kids Online Safety Act'

Legislation meant to protect minors on social media platforms could be voted on in Washington this week. But some in New Mexico's LGBTQ community …

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…

Ohio students participate in a die-in at Case Western University on April 19 in protest over what they say is an ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio student protestors say their movement is gaining momentum

After hundreds of Ohio students gathered at Kent State University over the weekend to protest the conflict in Gaza, on the 54th anniversary of …

Students and faculty at Northeastern University in Boston surround a pro-Palestinian encampment on their school's campus, which stood for two days before administrators called in police to remove it. (Ehn)

Northeastern University students, staff condemn arrests, charges of antisemitism

Students and faculty at Northeastern University are demanding their school issue a public apology for what they say are false charges of antisemitism …

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 …

The Maine Labor Climate Council finds that building net-zero single-family residential homes (including renewable energy) would create 839 direct jobs per year and reduce carbon emissions by 16,770 metric tons per year. (Adobe Stock)

ME promotes youth apprenticeships to build green economy workforce

State officials in Maine are highlighting apprenticeships as a way to earn a living wage and contribute to the state's growing green economy…

Downtown Hazard, Kentucky, is shown with one of several colorful murals added in recent years. (Austin Anthony for The Hechinger Report)<br />

As some rural states cut higher education, Kentucky does the opposite

By Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

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 …

A report by the National Women's Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center found when Black girls were sexualized or harassed, they were often blamed for the event or had their experience minimized. (Pexels)

Black girls' safety in schools: Miami-Dade study makes urgent call for change

A new report shows Black girls are enduring disproportionate discipline, sexual harassment and public humiliation from school-based police and …

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 …

The federal government invests just 5 cents in civic education - about such things as voter turnout - for every 50 dollars that goes to education in STEM subjects, according to the Carnegie Corporation of New York. (Adobe Stock). <br />

MA municipalities aim to lower voting age for local elections

Cities and towns across Massachusetts hope to increase young voter turnout in local elections by lowering the voting age to sixteen or seventeen…

The National College Attainment Network reported the graduating high school class of 2023 in New York left more than $226 million in Pell grants unclaimed, the fourth-highest of any state. (Adobe Stock)

NY approves universal FAFSA access for graduating students

New York's 2025 budget creates universal access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program. School districts statewide will have the …

Maine has already experienced eight inches of sea-level rise over the last century with another 1.5 feet expected by 2050 and four more feet by 2100, according to the Maine Climate Council. (Adobe Stock)

ME prepares young people for climate change-related jobs, activism

State officials in Maine are preparing the next generation for climate change-related activism and careers. A new state-run website helps young …

A Washington Post study found the number one issue cited by callers to LGBTQ+ help lines in 2023 was

NE LGBTQ+ community, advocates see wins at state, federal levels

Members of Nebraska's LGBTQ+ community and their supporters saw positive actions at both the state and federal level this month. At the state level…

The number of undergraduate degree earners fell for the second year in a row in the 2022-23 academic years, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: College affordability, debt keeping adults out of college

More than 70% of adults with student loans report having delayed at least one significant life event because of their debt situation, yet a new …

(PPstock/Adobe Stock)">

ACLU of TX concerned about arrests at pro-Palestinian demonstrations

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas says it is monitoring protests at college campuses, after almost 60 students protesting the Israeli-…

The New Hampshire Senate has voted to table a bill which would have rolled back some of the protections that outlaw discrimination against transgender people in public spaces but advanced two other bills which advocates say target LGBTQ+ students. (Adobe Stock)

NH businesses, educators: anti-LGBTQ bills hurting kids, economy

Some New Hampshire businesses and educators say legislation targeting LGBTQ+ students is harming both kids and the state's economy as it faces a criti…

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…

As of March, 5.6 million students had been reached by the JED Campus Program, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

College students' mental health improves with adequate support

Mental Health Awareness Month starts next week, and a new report finds a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, planning and attempts on college …

As of March 2024, 243 schools have completed JED Campus and 201 are active JED campuses, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

A new report showed a significant decrease in suicidal ideation, planning and attempts on college campuses around the nation, as well as improved …

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 …

The Endangered Species Coalition supports the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project in preparation for Endangered Species Day, which takes place the third Friday in May. (Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project)

AZ group highlights importance of pollinators on Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, and one initiative in southern Arizona is helping build public gardens providing beneficial habitat for pollinators, from Monarch …

A new study concludes that while anti-bullying protections in schools are effective, they are likely insufficient to address the mental health struggles of LGBTQ youth. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Study: NM's laws help reduce suicide among LGBTQ youth

A new study suggests laws in New Mexico and 22 other states to protect school-aged LGBTQ youth are having a positive impact. According to research …

According to a new poll, 71% of currently and previously enrolled student borrowers report delaying at least one significant life event because of student debt. (Adobe Stock)

Debt dilemma poll: Hoosiers wrestle with college costs

A new Gallup and Lumina Foundation poll unveils a concerning reality: Hoosiers may lack clarity about the true cost of higher education. The survey …

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Youth

VA works to improve, better fund mental health services

Delay in Florida Medicaid trial raises stakes for hundreds of thousands

New IN law stirs debate over academic freedom, teacher training

EDF maps show progress on Tennessee lead service line replacement

Report: NV fares well with transgender rights

Virginia groups show support for ongoing college protests

Medicaid 'unwinding' leaves thousands of LA children without coverage

MT sees nation's highest percentage of kids losing Medicaid

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

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

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

UT among largest percentage declines in Medicaid, CHIP enrollment

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

Critical child care funding hangs in balance as Missouri budget nears deadline

Report: NC works to keep kids on Medicaid health coverage

Education association tackles teacher shortage with 'Educators Rising' program

It's Teacher Appreciation Week 2024

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

More than 1 million TX children disenrolled from Medicaid, CHIP

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

MI schools seek solutions as pandemic mental health funding ends

NM LGBTQ group fears far-reaching effects of 'Kids Online Safety Act'

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

Ohio student protestors say their movement is gaining momentum

Northeastern University students, staff condemn arrests, charges of antisemitism

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

Report: Millions disenrolled from CHIP nationwide

ME promotes youth apprenticeships to build green economy workforce

As some rural states cut higher education, Kentucky does the opposite

MT disability advocates sue to stop school vouchers

Black girls' safety in schools: Miami-Dade study makes urgent call for change

Pediatricians: Watch for rise of eating disorders in young athletes

MA municipalities aim to lower voting age for local elections

NY approves universal FAFSA access for graduating students

ME prepares young people for climate change-related jobs, activism

NE LGBTQ+ community, advocates see wins at state, federal levels

Poll: College affordability, debt keeping adults out of college

ACLU of TX concerned about arrests at pro-Palestinian demonstrations

NH businesses, educators: anti-LGBTQ bills hurting kids, economy

Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention

College students' mental health improves with adequate support

Report: Suicidal ideation, planning, attempts decrease on college campuses

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

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

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

AZ group highlights importance of pollinators on Earth Day

Study: NM's laws help reduce suicide among LGBTQ youth

Debt dilemma poll: Hoosiers wrestle with college costs