Clipmarks | dmegivern's 'children' clips

Number of Americans in Poverty Up Slightly

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:17:04 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Number Of Americans In Poverty Up Slightly

(CBS/AP) The Census Bureau reports that 12.5 percent of Americans, or 37.3 million people, were living in poverty in 2007, up from 36.5 million in 2006.

The rate also increased for children under 18 years old (18.0 percent in 2007, up from 17.4 percent in 2006). The rates remained statistically unchanged for those 18-to-64 years old (10.9 percent) and those 65 and over (9.7 percent).

Both the percentage and number of children under 18 years old without health insurance were lower than in 2006 (11.0 percent and 8.1 million, respectively). Although the uninsured rate for children in poverty decreased last year, from 19.3 percent to 17.6 percent, children in poverty were more likely to be uninsured than all children.

Number in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to 2007

Tags: poverty, usa

Over-Parenting Leads to Sex for Older Teens

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:31:03 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: psychcentral.com

Rigid Parenting May Backfire

Clip Source: psychcentral.com

New research suggests a link between rigid parenting and increased sexual activity in older teens.

Although it is difficult to confirm that controlling mothers and fathers cause kids to have more sex, the findings suggest it is wise to give children freedom.

Children also seemed to be less sexually active if their parents did not engage in “negative and psychologically controlling behaviors.”

“It is saying: ‘Support your teens, spend time with them, be less critical and controlling and more nurturing in their adolescent development. This, in turn, can help them make more informed, safe decisions about sexual activity.’”

Tags: parenting, teens, sex

Proms-Dress Drive Aids Foster Girls

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:47:18 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.socialworkers.org

Student's Prom-Dress Drive Aids Foster Girls

It's a teenage rite of spring: picking out the perfect prom dress for a magical night of dancing and romance. But for some girls, it's not as easy as just wandering the aisles and finding what strikes one's fancy. NASW member and social work student Tyleen Caffrey decided to do something about that.

Caffrey, 32, was a foster child herself. Her foster parents were unable to afford a prom dress for her, but her foster mother was able to make one. She realized, however, that not all children in foster care would have that option. She developed the plan in October with the Southern Miss Student Association of Social Workers and began collecting dresses.

Her original projections estimated the project would serve about 50 girls, with hair styling and makeup for 10 of those girls. "We collected between 450 and 500 dress altogether," she said. "And every girl who came through [the Department of Human Services] got a full makeover.

Tags: foster care, children, poverty

State's Ratings on Child Well-Being Revealed

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:41:29 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.socialworkers.org

States' Ratings on Child Well-Being Revealed

The report rates the 50 states on 10 major child well-being standards. The 10 bottom states identified are Arizona, South Dakota, Nevada, Arkansas, South Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Mississippi, and at number 50, Louisiana.

The report's top 10 states for children are Maine, Washington, Minnesota, Iowa, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, with Vermont ranked as the best state.

According to the report, children in the lowest-ranking states are:

Twice as likely to die in their first year as children in the highest-ranking state.

Three times more likely to die between the ages of 1 and 14.

Eight times more likely to be incarcerated.

A child living in the bottom 10 states is twice as likely to live in poverty as a child in the top 10. In Mississippi, the child poverty rate is 3 times greater than in Maryland or New Hampshire.

Tags: children, poverty, states

Getting Smarter Over the Generations

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:29:09 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: psychcentral.com

Intelligence Quotient Rising Worldwide

Clip Source: psychcentral.com

Genetics, social conditions and culture all may play a part in the rise of human intelligence levels around the world. But the best method of determining why some people are smarter than others is still being debated.

For most of the last century it was widely thought that intelligence was in decline. The idea was that those at the lower end of the intelligence spectrum were having more children, thereby reducing the general intelligence level. Then one day in 1984, James Flynn, a New Zealand-based moral philosopher, had a Eureka moment that turned cognitive science upside down.

Flynn found that in both the developed and developing worlds, IQ had improved in the 20th century at the remarkable rate of three points per decade. This development has since become known as the ‘Flynn effect.’

One of the key environmental factors, Flynn says, is the adult-infant ratio: The more adults there are to children, the richer the cognitive environment.

What's Possible for Our Children

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:55:58 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: He is plugging TRiO programs, which proves he is on the ball about "what works."

Clip Source: www.denverpost.com

Sen. Barack Obama's speech, "What's Possible for Our Children," was delivered at Mapleton Expeditionary School of the Arts in Thornton on Wednesday:

"And so while I know hopelessness, I also know hope. I know that if we bring early education programs to these communities, if we stop waiting until high-school to address the drop-out rate and start in earlier grades — as my Success in the Middle Act will do — if we bring in new, qualified teachers, if we expand college outreach programs like GEAR UP and TRIO and fight to expand summer learning opportunities for minority and disadvantaged students — like I've done in the Senate — or if we double funding for after-school programs to serve a million more children, as I've proposed to do as president, if we do all this, we can make a difference in the lives of our children and the life of this country. I know we can. I've seen it happen. And so have you.

My Name is Not "Those People"

Tue, 20 May 2008 23:11:34 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: A wonderful poem by Julia Dinsmore

Clip Source: depts.loras.edu

My Name Is Not "Those People"

By Julia Dinsmore

My name is not "Problem and Case to Be Managed."
I am a capable human being and citizen, not a client.
The social service system can never replace the compassion
and concern of loving Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Fathers,
Cousins, Community - all the bonded people who need to be

but are not present to bring children forward to their potential.

My name is not "Lazy, Dependent Welfare Mother."

If the unwaged work of parenting, homemaking and community building was factored into the Gross National Product, my work would have untold value. And I wonder why my middle-class sisters whose husbands support them to raise their children are glorified - and they don't get called lazy and dependent.

My name is not "Ignorant, Dumb or Uneducated."
I live with an income of $621 with $169 in food stamps.

Rent is $585. that leaves $36 a month to live on. I am such a genius at surviving that I could balance the state budget in an hour.

Tags: social services

Nexium Approved for Children

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:34:39 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: In my humble opinion, children with lots of stomach acid are overly stressed or eating too much carb-laden food. I think diet interventions would be better.

Clip Source: www.healthday.com

GERD Drug Approved for Younger Children

Ages 1 to 11

THURSDAY, Feb. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Nexium, a popular drug to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults, has been approved for the same short-term use in children ages 1 to 11, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.

Two forms of Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) were approved for younger children -- a delayed-release capsule and a liquid form. Doses approved for this age group are half of those approved for older children, the agency said. The drug was previously approved for children ages 12 to 17.

Nexium is among a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, which limit production of stomach acid and help heal erosion of the lining of the esophagus.

Common side effects among younger children who used Nexium were headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, gas, constipation, dry mouth, and fatigue. The drug's safety and effectiveness haven't been evaluated in children younger than 1 year old, the FDA said.

Teens Views of Health Affected by Social Class

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:26:34 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Social class may affect teens' view of their health

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When it comes to defining good health, low-income teenagers may put more stock in mental well-being than wealthier teens do, a new study suggests.

The study, of 1,157 U.S. children ages 12 to 15, was partially aimed at confirming a phenomenon seen in earlier research -- that teenagers' views of their own general health are often out of sync with their parents' views.

But the study also found that families' views differed according to income. Among higher-income families, children's and parents' health ratings depended on physical health factors -- such as how often the child had been sick in the past month, or the number of missed school days in the past year.

For low-income families, physical health mattered, but so did mental health. In general, teenagers who had seen a mental health professional in the past year gave better ratings to their overall health than other low-income teens did.

Hunger in the U.S.A.

Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:36:45 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.thehungersite.com

Hunger in the U.S.

Families in Crisis

It is a tragic reality that the United States, one of the richest nations in the world, is also plagued with a poverty-driven hunger crisis. The statistics tell the troubling story. In 2005:

Every day, millions of children in America go to bed hungry.

12.9 million (17.8%) children under the age of 18 were in poverty

20.5 million (11.3%) of people aged 18-64 were in poverty

Poverty is forcing millions of Americans into a hunger crisis. Their hunger emergency is defined by food insecurity, which is the lack of access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs for an active and healthy life.² Families find themselves buying cheaper and less nutritious food, or cutting entire meals out of their diet, just to make ends meet. Increasing over time, this pattern leads to chronic malnutrition, affecting children and families in profoundly destructive ways.

The Hidden Poor

Working Poor

Children

Rural Poor

Solving Hunger

Contract WITH the Poor

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:46:19 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern
clipper's remarks: Interesting idea. If you could actually see a partnership develop where, for example,
Supported Employment was offered to people with serious mental illness, it would help everyone. For more on SE, google and check out Massachusett's SEE programs.

Clip Source: icwales.icnetwork.co.uk

Brown seeking ‘contract’ with the worst-off families

GORDON BROWN will travel to Wales this afternoon to set out the “moral imperative” behind his bid to lift thousands of families out of poverty.

The Prime Minister wants new contracts between the State and the worst-off families, where both sides “play by the rules” to ensure more move from benefit to work.

The State will also fulfil its duty to provide the best services for children in the poorest families, he said.

Bolstering child care so more mothers can go back to work is also part of the Government’s plans, with ministers travelling to Scandinavia to see if their model of heavy State investment in children’s services can be replicated here.

Figures released this week suggest a modest rise in the numbers from poorer backgrounds applying for degree courses, but the National Union of Students and opposition politicians say the data is misleading.

Poverty and Hardship

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:49:44 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.cbpp.org

POVERTY AND HARDSHIP AFFECT TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

15.4 million Americans live in extreme poverty. In other words, their family’s cash income is less than half of the poverty line, or less than about $10,000 a year for a family of four.

Food: Some 12.6 million households, containing 35.5 million people, lacked access to adequate food at some point during the year because they didn’t have enough money for groceries.

Shelter: 16 million low-income households either paid more for rent and utilities than the federal government says is affordable or lived in overcrowded or substandard housing.

Nearly 9 million children are uninsured, and the number of uninsured children has risen for two straight years.

Assistance Programs Reduce Poverty and Hardship, But Serious Gaps Remain

Many households do not qualify.

Some people are eligible for programs but do not participate.

Some programs provide inadequate benefits.

Programs that can improve employment and earnings receive inadequate funding.

The Five Factors Used to Predict Psychosis

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:24:28 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: healthday.com

5 Factors Help Predict Psychosis in Children
Family history of schizophrenia, social withdrawal among symptoms, study finds

The study found five factors that were often present prior to the diagnosis of a psychotic disorder in children who were already at high risk of such disorders. When three or more of these factors were present, the study found an 80 percent likelihood of developing psychosis within two and a half years.

The researchers identified five factors that could help predict the eventual development of psychosis. These included a family history of schizophrenia with recent deterioration in functioning; higher levels of unusual thoughts; higher levels of suspicion or paranoia; greater social impairment; and a history of substance abuse.

When two or three of these factors were present, the odds of psychotic illness jumped. Two factors increased the likelihood of psychotic illness to 68 percent, and three factors combined raised the risk to 80 percent.

Tags: children, youth, psychosis

Bipolar Disorder in Children-Interesting Research

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:38:39 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.eurekalert.org

Facial expressions have greater impact on kids with bipolar disorder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. � Children with bipolar disorder respond differently to facial expressions than children without psychiatric disorders, according to a new study led by a Bradley Hospital researcher.

This study suggests a neural basis for mania in children, which typically involves unusually irritable or excessively happy moods, and raises questions about whether treatments, therapy or medication could address these brain changes,� Dickstein said.

The authors say further research is required to determine the impact of mood state, medication and the presence of an additional illness, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, on these findings.

Tags: children, bipolar

The Republican Debate Misled on Healthcare

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:58:34 GMT

clipped by: dmegivern

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

Over 40 million in U.S. can't afford health care: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 40 million people in the United States say they cannot afford adequate heath care and go without drugs, eyeglasses or dental treatment, according to a federal report released on Monday.

"But this report shows that access to health care is still an issue where we need improvement."

The report, available on the Internet at www.cdc.gov/nchs/, has a special section on access to health care.

"In 2005, more than 40 million adults did not receive 'needed services' because they could not afford them," the report said.

"Nearly 15 million adults did not obtain eyeglasses, 25 million did not get dental care, 19 million did not get needed prescribed medicine, and 15 million did not get needed medical care due to cost."

The report found about one third of all children living below the poverty level had not visited a dentist in 2005, compared with fewer than one-fifth of children from wealthier families.

Tags: insurance, health