Monday, December 22, 2008

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Due to our holiday schedule, the newsfeed will resume on Monday, January 12, 2009

Education

Obama chooses Chicago schools chief Ed. Secretary
Associated Press – December 16, 2008
President-elect Barack Obama announced Arne Duncan, the head of the Chicago school system, as education secretary Tuesday and declared that failing to improve classroom instruction is "morally unacceptable for our children." "When it comes to school reform, Arne is the most hands-on of hands-on practitioners," Obama said, making the announcement at a school that he said has made remarkable progress under Duncan's leadership.

Lancaster school offers a second chance
The Evening Sun – December 20, 2008
With tears in her eyes, and a corsage from a proud aunt on her wrist, the 28-year-old woman received her high school diploma with 13 other graduates of Lancaster County Academy, an alternative school operated by 12 county school districts and Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13.

State report aims to lower dropout rates
The News Journal – December 19, 2008
Every at-risk student paired with a mentor. More high school students interning at Delaware businesses. State officials developing a tool to identify students at risk for dropping out based on attendance, behavior and academic performance. Those are some of the state's recommendations to lower Delaware's rising dropout rate.

Juvenile Justice

Why restorative justice programs are thriving in Mo.
Corrections News – December 21, 2008
Supporters of expanding restorative justice programs in Missouri say it's a great concept that makes victims feel more involved and helps youngsters turn their lives around. Advocates range from juvenile officers and law professors to prosecutors and police. A St. Louis teenager is among those they hope to help. The young man appeared recently before a Neighborhood Accountability Board, his third meeting before the panel that decides what he must do to make things right.

Group home considered for Atchison
Kansas City Star – December 19, 2008
The Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority hopes to convert the closed Atchison Juvenile Correctional Facility into a group home for youths. Authority Commissioner J. Russell Jennings said the state is working toward making the facility a 56-bed group home operated by a private company. About 420 youths are in group home placements, he said, and about 40 are generally on the waiting list. “This would get them out of detention centers quicker and into group homes,” Jennings said.

Foster Care

Helping hand for homeless youth in Oakland
Oakland Tribune – December 20, 2008
The Lend A Hand Foundation toy drive is special for Jeanette Lewis and her 12 children every year. It's a time when their hearts are touched by the warmth of others through holiday giving. The sixth annual event held Saturday in East Oakland provided gifts to 200 youths who reside in homeless shelters, foster care and to others needing support with toys, educational items, clothing and food.

New county program offers nursing visits
The Reporter – December 21, 2008
Visits by nurses are the cornerstone of a new program coming to Solano County that helps first-time moms, including current and former foster youth, to be successful parents. "With this program, first-time moms, including our former foster youth, will have a positive resource to guide them as they learn how to be good parents," said Linda Orrante, Child Welfare Services director. The U.S. Department of Health Services Administration on Children Youth and Families awarded grants to 17 organizations throughout the nation.

Treehouse, Big Brothers Big Sisters provide high-risk children with "options in life"
The Seattle Times – December 21, 2008
There are a half-dozen sanctuaries at Seattle Public Schools funded by the nonprofit organization Treehouse, which aims to give foster kids "a childhood and a future." It's a private place away from the classroom where he and other students from troubled families can eat snacks, play games and benefit from one-on-one tutoring. Both Treehouse and another agency that stresses the importance of mentoring children — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound — benefit from The Seattle Times Fund For The Needy.

Monday, December 15, 2008

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Program aims to get high school students at risk off to a good start
Star Tribune – December 13, 2008
Ryan Gresafe wants to be a professional boxer, but he's staying in school to get an education "in case anything goes wrong, like I break my hand or something," says the 112-pound division fighter who's in ninth grade at North High School in North St. Paul. The school is fighting for Ryan to get a good education, too, by enrolling him into what it calls "Freshman Academy" -- North High School's new, first and, perhaps, last-ditch effort to keep kids on track to graduate.

Students get the Big Picture, find success
Houston Chronicle – December 13, 2008
It sounds like a student's dream school — no teachers, no homework, no weekly tests, no grades. At the Lafayette Big Picture High School, students get to design their own learning plan, set their own goals and spend two days a week away from school — bending the ear of a mentor.

'Upper houses' for Danville High School students taking shape
The News-Gazette – December 12, 2008
Danville High School freshman Tatiana Atcher said she's been able to make the leap from middle to high school without much problem, and she credits that to being part of a small learning community. A cornerstone of Danville High's state-lauded restructuring plan, the program creates an environment stressing rigor, relevance and relationships to improve things like student engagement, achievement and graduation rates and decrease things like discipline problems and drop-out rates.

Juvenile Justice

Prison system in need of correction
Star-Ledger – December 14, 2008
Faced with spending up to eight years at Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale on drug and robbery charges, William Blaine -- for the first time in his 21 years -- had a moment of forced stillness to reflect on his future. Reinstating educational programming inside New Jersey's prisons is just one of the recommendations that has come out of "Counting The Costs," a series of public hearings seeking to elicit public input on how to improve the state's criminal justice system and the process of reintegrating ex-offenders into society upon their release.

Lawmakers, judge making strides in juvenile justice
Press-Register – December 14, 2008
When it comes to overall child welfare, Alabama historically has ranked at or near the bottom of nationwide studies, because in no small part of the state's high juvenile incarceration rate. But with new strategies being put in place in Mobile County and other metropolitan areas of the state, Alabama appears to be turning that around, according to one juvenile justice expert.

Channahon may get peer jury program
Chicago Tribune – December 9, 2008
Channahon teenagers may soon find themselves sitting on a jury judging one of their peers. With a new high school in town, Police Chief Joe Pena wants Channahon to become the next Will County community to use peer juries to help get first-time offenders back on track and give teens a look inside the justice system.

Foster Care

Aging out of foster care
The Daily Reflector – December 14, 2008
"Our sole mission is to help young people leave foster care and go on to post-secondary schooling,” said Eileen McCaffrey, executive director of the Orphan Foundation of America. And she's reaching that goal a little easier these days by spearheading a modern statewide program called NC Reach.

Maryland Based Group Helps Get Housing Vouchers for Foster Care Kids
Southern Maryland – December 13, 2008
When Temple Hills resident Crystal Skinner turned 21 in 2006 and was too old to stay in foster care, she was not sure where she would live. After switching between living with her biological mother and her aunt, Skinner received a voucher from the Prince George's County Housing Authority that paid rent and allowed her to find a job nearby.

Youth ranch gets $1 million grant
The Oklahoman – December 13, 2008
Little more than a year ago, 19-year-old Bre'Ann Hansen's prospects looked bleak -- at least in her own eyes. The statistics were stacked against her, and she worried that she'd end up like many of her peers who, after leaving foster care, found themselves alone, without help and in dangerous situations. But on Thursday morning, she beamed with excitement. She's now employed as a teacher's aide at the Hill Country Youth Ranch, where she was a resident and student for six years prior to graduating in 2007. Plus, she is planning to begin college in January, all furthered by a $1 million grant the youth ranch received on Tuesday.

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S.
The New York Times – December 3, 2008
The rising cost of college — even before the recession — threatens to put higher education out of reach for most Americans, according to the biennial report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

Educators at conference plan ways to cut dropout rate
Union-Tribune – December 5, 2008
Take any five ninth-graders at a high school in the county, and one of them is likely to drop out sometime over the next four years. Michael Wotorson was joined by Jack O'Connell, California's state superintendent of public instruction, and other educators to discuss the dropout crisis and prescriptions for reform.

Juvenile Justice

Report: State’s juvenile laws need rewriting
Gainesville Times – December 7, 2008
Georgia’s laws governing juvenile courts are outdated, overly complicated, sometimes inconsistent and in dire need of a complete overhaul, a new report from a public interest law center suggests. "I’m very hopeful there will be a revision of the code in existence," said Ari Mathe, an attorney with the Northeastern Circuit Public Defender’s office. Mathe co-chaired a state bar committee that worked on the project for two years, interviewing hundreds of juvenile court stakeholders. "Obviously the people of Georgia are ready for it, and I hope the legislators will hear that and understand a change needs to be made."

Florida's 'cooling off' option soothes troubled families
Herald Tribune – December 7, 2008
Sarah Cooksey she felt bewildered and desperate when deteriorating relations with their adopted daughter, Amanda, culminated in a vicious physical fight, with the 17-year-old girl stomping out of the house. The police, who picked up Amanda, suggested an emergency shelter for a two-week cooling-off period, a place where troubled teenagers receive anger-management lessons, social-skills classes and counseling for themselves and their parents -- and later bedtimes if they follow the rules.

Foster Care

Reflections for Youth helping steer troubled teens in right direction
Reporter Herald – December 8, 2008
Although they might have made poor decisions in the past, teenagers should never be given up on. And Loveland’s Reflections for Youth, a residential treatment center, is there to make sure they’re not. With therapy groups, live-in homes, nonpublic schools and opportunities to volunteer in the community, the nonprofit is giving often troubled teens the skills to make it in life, and the power to make positive choices.

Helping youth from foster care to college, if they apply
Press of Atlantic City – December 8, 2008
One day, Courtney Godenich would like to help businesses develop programs to reduce stress in the workplace. But for now, the Richard Stockton College sophomore is focused on getting her degree in psychology and business studies, a degree that might not have been possible without a state program that helps pay for college.

Youth 'aged out' of foster care get a helping hand at Sunnyvale transitional home
The Mercury News – December 3, 2008
The instability of Marina Galan's youth began with her shuttling between her mother and father's home. It was replaced when she entered foster care at age 3 by the repeated shocks and insecurity of shuttling between foster homes. Galan, now 18, has lived for two months in an otherwise unremarkable house on a quiet southern Sunnyvale cul-de-sac, a group home operated by the faith-based nonprofit Jeremiah's Promise.

Monday, December 08, 2008

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

College May Become Unaffordable for Most in U.S.
The New York Times – December 3, 2008
The rising cost of college — even before the recession — threatens to put higher education out of reach for most Americans, according to the biennial report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.

Educators at conference plan ways to cut dropout rate
Union-Tribune – December 5, 2008
Take any five ninth-graders at a high school in the county, and one of them is likely to drop out sometime over the next four years. Michael Wotorson was joined by Jack O'Connell, California's state superintendent of public instruction, and other educators to discuss the dropout crisis and prescriptions for reform.

Juvenile Justice

Report: State’s juvenile laws need rewriting
Gainesville Times – December 7, 2008
Georgia’s laws governing juvenile courts are outdated, overly complicated, sometimes inconsistent and in dire need of a complete overhaul, a new report from a public interest law center suggests. "I’m very hopeful there will be a revision of the code in existence," said Ari Mathe, an attorney with the Northeastern Circuit Public Defender’s office. Mathe co-chaired a state bar committee that worked on the project for two years, interviewing hundreds of juvenile court stakeholders. "Obviously the people of Georgia are ready for it, and I hope the legislators will hear that and understand a change needs to be made."

Florida's 'cooling off' option soothes troubled families
Herald Tribune – December 7, 2008
Sarah Cooksey she felt bewildered and desperate when deteriorating relations with their adopted daughter, Amanda, culminated in a vicious physical fight, with the 17-year-old girl stomping out of the house. The police, who picked up Amanda, suggested an emergency shelter for a two-week cooling-off period, a place where troubled teenagers receive anger-management lessons, social-skills classes and counseling for themselves and their parents -- and later bedtimes if they follow the rules.

Foster Care

Reflections for Youth helping steer troubled teens in right direction
Reporter Herald – December 8, 2008
Although they might have made poor decisions in the past, teenagers should never be given up on. And Loveland’s Reflections for Youth, a residential treatment center, is there to make sure they’re not. With therapy groups, live-in homes, nonpublic schools and opportunities to volunteer in the community, the nonprofit is giving often troubled teens the skills to make it in life, and the power to make positive choices.

Helping youth from foster care to college, if they apply
Press of Atlantic City – December 8, 2008
One day, Courtney Godenich would like to help businesses develop programs to reduce stress in the workplace. But for now, the Richard Stockton College sophomore is focused on getting her degree in psychology and business studies, a degree that might not have been possible without a state program that helps pay for college.

Youth 'aged out' of foster care get a helping hand at Sunnyvale transitional home
The Mercury News – December 3, 2008
The instability of Marina Galan's youth began with her shuttling between her mother and father's home. It was replaced when she entered foster care at age 3 by the repeated shocks and insecurity of shuttling between foster homes. Galan, now 18, has lived for two months in an otherwise unremarkable house on a quiet southern Sunnyvale cul-de-sac, a group home operated by the faith-based nonprofit Jeremiah's Promise.

Monday, December 01, 2008

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Community to tackle dropouts
The Herald – November 29, 2008
Rock Hill city and school officials hope a planned community-wide gathering will entice others to partner in stemming the flow of students who quit school. "Dropout Prevention Summit," scheduled for Thursday, boasts a list of 275 invitees. It includes parents, educators and leaders from area nonprofits, businesses, churches and community groups.

Districts seek to stop drop outs
Muskogee Phoenix – November 29, 2008
Muskogee High School’s teacher advocate program is one tool area schools use to improve student performance and reduce the drop out rate. Muskogee Public Schools offer several ways to stem the failure and drop-out rate. Superintendent Mike Garde said the district follows a Pyramid of Intervention, steps to change behavior of students who are at risk academically, behaviorally or socially. MPS Public Information Director Melony Carey said the pyramid involves student school staff and parents to make sure the at risk student is supported.

Program aims to cut drop-out rate
Opelika-Auburn News – November 25, 2008
A $400,000 gift from AT&T to Auburn University aims to keep high school students from becoming dropouts. The funds will support an initiative to reduce the drop-out rate in Alabama high schools which, according to the Southern Education Foundation, is about 40 percent.

Juvenile Justice

Law set to prosecute youth cut
Las Vegas Review Journal – November 27, 2008
The Nevada Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out a state law used to prosecute juveniles charged with serious crimes in adult court, saying the statute violated their constitutional right against self-incrimination. Under the presumptive certification law, juveniles 14 or older charged with gun crimes and violent sex crimes were automatically sent to adult court unless they could show that substance abuse, or emotional or behavioral problems led to the crimes. But in making that connection the juveniles admitted to the crimes, which could be used against them in future court hearings.

Juvenile justice topic of first regional conference of judges and prosecutors in South East Europe
UNICEF – November 28, 2008
UNICEF, Representative, Mr. Sheldon Yett and Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahimi opened today a conference to discuss issues related to juvenile justice and making judicial reform work for children. Judges and other professionals from Albania, Croatia, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro have come to Skopje for the conference “The aim of juvenile justice systems should be the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of those children in conflict with the law, not their punishment,” said UNICEF Country Representative Mr. Sheldon Yett. “The police, the courts and other pillars of justice must be sensitive to the needs of children.”

Foster Care

Sterling foundation supports former foster youth
Loudoun Times-Mirror – November 24, 2008
The foster-care system is not always a fair shake, according to Doug Sprei of the Sterling-based Orphan Foundation of America. And when those children age out of the system, usually at 18, it gets worse. Enter the Orphan Foundation of America, known as OFA, founded in 1981 by Father Joseph Rivers. Its 30 employees and small army of volunteers across the country connect high school graduates with scholarships to colleges and vocational schools; oversee the federal government's Education and Training Voucher money in nine states; offer virtual mentoring to keep those students on track for graduation and success; and connect students with internships in business, government and nonprofit agencies.

Changes in state law try to get foster kids out of limbo
Free Press – November 30, 2008
A settlement agreement between Michigan's child welfare system and a New York-based child advocacy group, as well as recent changes in state and federal law, should mean that Michigan's foster children will find homes more quickly.