Tuesday, October 09, 2012

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

CPS announces low one-year dropouts and high freshmen “on-track-to-graduate” rate
Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL – October 5, 2012
Chicago Public Schools officials early Friday hailed more positive signs for the system: a record low one-year dropout rate and a record high freshmen “on-track-to-graduate” rate.  Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard said in an embargoed statement that the 2011-2012 numbers were “another encouraging sign of progress.’’

In Fight Against Dropouts, ‘The Meat Of The Sandwich Is Middle School’
KERA News, Texas – October 4, 2012
In the battle to keep students in school, experts often target the ends of the educational spectrum: early childhood, when kids pick up basic skills, and high school, when most dropouts happen. But some are starting to look in a different direction – the middle.

Beyer High program in Modesto gains national honor
The Modesto Bee, Modesto, CA – October 1, 2012
Beyer High's AdvancePath Academy will be honored this month by the National Dropout Prevention Network for its success in keeping kids in school.  The program was announced Monday as one of two nationwide to earn the network's Crystal Star Award. Terri Salaiz, head teacher in the Beyer program, will travel to Orlando, Fla., for the Oct. 16 ceremony.

Juvenile Justice

Georgia considers juvenile justice reforms
The Augusta Chronicle, Atlanta, GA – October 8, 2012
After overhauling its adult criminal justice system to provide alternative sentences for nonviolent offenders and reduce skyrocketing prison costs, the state of Georgia is turning its attention to the juvenile justice system.

Mayor Highlights "Close To Home" Juvenile Justice Program
NY1, New York – October 4, 2012
Juvenile offenders are now living within the five boroughs and attending schools here after years of serving time upstate. The Close to Home initiative transfers the majority of young offenders to the city's control from the state. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was in Brooklyn Thursday to highlight the program. NY1's Zack Fink filed the following report.

Juvenile Justice wins Harvard award
The Advocate, Louisiana – October 5, 2012
The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice has been recognized by Harvard University for its innovative programming, an OJJ spokeswoman said Thursday.  OJJ’s Service Coordination Model was recognized through the “Bright Ideas” program, an initiative of the broader Innovations in American Government Awards program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Jerel M. Giarrusso, OJJ’s spokeswoman, said in a news release.

Foster Care

Local Program Teaches Independence to Foster Kids
WSET ABC13, Lynchburg, VA – October 8, 2012
Kids in foster care have a tough transition when they leave the system and go out on their own. But one area organization is bridging that gap and seeing a lot of success. Lynchburg's Impact Living Services opened its doors in July.

Footsteps to the Future offers mentoring for girls aging out of foster care
Naples News, Naples, FL – October 4, 2012
Turning 18 can be an exciting milestone for teens, but for those in foster care it's a number they dread.  But a Fort Myers-based nonprofit is trying to offer young women in foster care a chance at success.  Footsteps to the Future, which helps young women transition out of foster care, has developed a new mentoring program that pairs at-risk teens with mentors who will push them to graduate, while also guiding them into adulthood.

Foster kids can overcome extra financial obstacles
Chicago Tribune, Illinois – October 2, 2012
Eddye Vanderkwaak's life story is really two tales.  There's the girl who grew up in a dysfunctional home in Iowa until she was 14, living primarily with her father. It was a week-to-week existence, with her father borrowing from friends and family members to cover the bills.  It's been a dramatic transformation -- one that Vanderkwaak admits might not have happened if not for Opportunity Passport, a financial education program developed by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.

Teen Pregnancy

Alternative schools focus on pregnancy
Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK – October 8, 2012
Some kids hold hands in the hallway, work on school work during lunch break or chat about their upcoming weekend plans.  Pregnant and parenting teens have the option of staying in their schools, but many choose to attend alternative schools.

Fewer abortions, teen pregnancies with free birth control
Chicago Sun-Times, Washington, DC – October 5, 2012
Free birth control led to dramatically lower rates of abortions and teen births, a large study concluded Thursday, offering strong evidence for how a bitterly contested Obama administration policy could benefit women’s health.

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