Education
Kan. House to discuss high school dropout proposal
El Dorado Times, Topeka, KS – February 22, 2012
Kansas House members are preparing to take up a bill designed to inform high school dropouts about other means of continuing their education once they leave school.
‘Stars Over Appalachia’ program seeks
to reduce high school dropout rate in region
KyForward, Kentucky – February 24, 2012
Eastern Kentucky University is working with the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame to enlist entertainment celebrities in an effort to reduce the high school dropout rate in the university’s service region.
Rockford schools may hire help to head off dropouts
Rockford Register Star, Rockford, IL – February 23, 2012
Rockford School District is exploring whether a private firm could help boost its graduation rate by targeting middle and high school students who are at risk of dropping out.
Juvenile Justice
Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice Conducts Comprehensive Needs Assessment
SurfKY News Group, Frankfort, KY – February 23, 2012
The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice recently completed an 18-month study of its training academy, thought to be the country’s first comprehensive job task analysis and needs assessment of a juvenile justice training program.
Juvenile inmates bond with dog through program
Houston Chronicle, Texas, February 26, 2012
For inmates at the Victoria Regional Juvenile Justice Center, their time spent incarcerated is less than hospitable. Cold concrete walls surround them. Their uniforms serve as scarlet letters of the crimes they have committed. Cameras and guards are positioned to monitor every move. Against this setting, the last things many people would expect the inmates to learn are love and compassion. But that is exactly what is happening, thanks to the help of a new rehabilitation program and a rambunctious brown, black and tan 2-year-old dachshund/terrier mix named Alice.
Task Force addresses minority overrepresenation in juvenile justice system
The Daily Times, Blount County, TN – February 20, 2012
Some 60 kids walk into the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Alcoa every day of the week for after-school enrichment tutoring sessions. Sissy Ferguson, the center’s director, said she’s somehow found a way to accommodate them all, even without much — if any — extra space.
Foster Care
Bronx facility helps those aged out of foster care
WABC ABC7, New York, NY – February 23, 2012
There's a new facility in the Bronx that provides temporary housing to young men and women who have aged out of the foster care system.
Taylor House offers direction for emancipated foster youth
Roseville Press Tribune, California – February 22, 2012
On the surface, Tarshianna Clark appears to live the life of just about any other 19-year-old college student. A look below the surface, however, reveals a very different story. Clark and her four brothers became part of the foster care system when she was 5 years old after their mother, who was addicted to drugs, was deemed an unfit parent.
Teen Pregnancy
Local teen pregnancy rates decrease, follow statewide trend
The Times and Democrat, South Carolina – February 21, 2012
Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties have seen a teen birth rate decline over the past decade along with the state, but officials caution that much work remains.
Local Initiative Puts Focus on Teens’ Reproductive Health
Norwood News, Bronx, NY – February 22, 2012
As federal lawmakers in Congress continue to debate over whether health insurers should be required to cover the costs of birth control, a recent city initiative is looking to curb teen pregnancy rates in the Bronx, where it is higher than in any other borough.
Project for Teens gives younger students the real facts about sex
The Free Press, Mankato, MN – February 24, 2012
The discussion got real frank, real quick. After being introduced to the Anti-Violence Committee, members of Project for Teens began their demonstration of the work they do at area elementary and middle schools.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
This Week's News: Youth in Transition
Education
High school dropouts get a second chance at diploma
ABC WXYZ.com, Detroit, MI – February 13, 2012
Darrell Smith used to be a student with failing grades. Now the senior high school student’s report card is full of A’s and B’s. He believes it’s because of the teaching style at Fusion Academy.
Starting Early To Prevent High School Dropouts
KJCT8.com, Grand Junction, CO – February 15, 2012
Some of Mesa County's biggest organizations are teaming up and getting kids excited about staying in school. After nearly a year in the works, The Family Solutions Partnership kicked off its new program at Nisley Elementary.
Graduation Rate in Boston Public Schools Rises to All-Time High
West Roxbury Path, Boston, MA – February 16, 2012
Data released on Wednesday by Boston Public Schools (BPS) show the district’s four-year graduation rate continues to climb to a record high.
Juvenile Justice
High-Needs Kids and Juvenile Justice Reforms
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange – February 13, 2012
As California and the nation continue to struggle with budget crises, creative and cost-effective approaches in the provision of services for high-needs youthful offender populations are becoming increasingly necessary.
Task force aims to reduce high number of minority juveniles in jail
NBC WBIR.com, Blount County, TN – February 18, 2012
A task force in Blount County is working to beat the statistics that put a disproportionate number of minority children in the Tennessee justice system.
Foster Care
OUT on the street
Dallas Voice, Dallas, TX – February 16, 2012
Every weekend a hunt takes place on the streets of Dallas for some of society’s most vulnerable members, and their fate often depends upon who finds them first, according to social workers who note that LGBT youth are homeless at twice the rate of the general youth population. mie McNamara, interim director at Youth First Texas in Dallas, said her organization provides a safe place for all LGBT youths to meet and receive counseling and reliable support from peers.
Teen Pregnancy
DOH Launches New Campaign Against Teen Pregnancy
Bronx NY1, Bronx, NY – February 16, 2012
The Department of Health is hoping a new initiative will help curb teen pregnancy in the South Bronx. Elected officials were among those who attended the kickoff event for the "Bronx Teens Connection" at the Bronx Museum Thursday.
Miami Gardens teen rally advocates abstinence
The Miami Herald, Florida – February 16, 2012
Former NBA player Tim Hardaway joined hundreds of kids during a rally at a Miami Gardens church to teach teens about the benefits of practicing safe sex. Peacemakers, a non-profit that provides social services for local disadvantaged residents, hosted its second annual PlanBe rally on Feb. 11.
Brainerd High's "Teen Moms" club tackles dropout rate
NBC WRCBtv.com, Chattanooga, TN – February 14, 2012
"Teen Moms" is one of the most popular shows on MTV, but some say it glamorizes teen pregnancy, bestowing fame on teenage mothers. Brainerd High School is handling teen pregnancy in a different way. The school is offering support and encouragement to its current teen moms, while spreading the message to others that this is not a club you should aspire to join.
High school dropouts get a second chance at diploma
ABC WXYZ.com, Detroit, MI – February 13, 2012
Darrell Smith used to be a student with failing grades. Now the senior high school student’s report card is full of A’s and B’s. He believes it’s because of the teaching style at Fusion Academy.
Starting Early To Prevent High School Dropouts
KJCT8.com, Grand Junction, CO – February 15, 2012
Some of Mesa County's biggest organizations are teaming up and getting kids excited about staying in school. After nearly a year in the works, The Family Solutions Partnership kicked off its new program at Nisley Elementary.
Graduation Rate in Boston Public Schools Rises to All-Time High
West Roxbury Path, Boston, MA – February 16, 2012
Data released on Wednesday by Boston Public Schools (BPS) show the district’s four-year graduation rate continues to climb to a record high.
Juvenile Justice
High-Needs Kids and Juvenile Justice Reforms
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange – February 13, 2012
As California and the nation continue to struggle with budget crises, creative and cost-effective approaches in the provision of services for high-needs youthful offender populations are becoming increasingly necessary.
Task force aims to reduce high number of minority juveniles in jail
NBC WBIR.com, Blount County, TN – February 18, 2012
A task force in Blount County is working to beat the statistics that put a disproportionate number of minority children in the Tennessee justice system.
Foster Care
OUT on the street
Dallas Voice, Dallas, TX – February 16, 2012
Every weekend a hunt takes place on the streets of Dallas for some of society’s most vulnerable members, and their fate often depends upon who finds them first, according to social workers who note that LGBT youth are homeless at twice the rate of the general youth population. mie McNamara, interim director at Youth First Texas in Dallas, said her organization provides a safe place for all LGBT youths to meet and receive counseling and reliable support from peers.
Teen Pregnancy
DOH Launches New Campaign Against Teen Pregnancy
Bronx NY1, Bronx, NY – February 16, 2012
The Department of Health is hoping a new initiative will help curb teen pregnancy in the South Bronx. Elected officials were among those who attended the kickoff event for the "Bronx Teens Connection" at the Bronx Museum Thursday.
Miami Gardens teen rally advocates abstinence
The Miami Herald, Florida – February 16, 2012
Former NBA player Tim Hardaway joined hundreds of kids during a rally at a Miami Gardens church to teach teens about the benefits of practicing safe sex. Peacemakers, a non-profit that provides social services for local disadvantaged residents, hosted its second annual PlanBe rally on Feb. 11.
Brainerd High's "Teen Moms" club tackles dropout rate
NBC WRCBtv.com, Chattanooga, TN – February 14, 2012
"Teen Moms" is one of the most popular shows on MTV, but some say it glamorizes teen pregnancy, bestowing fame on teenage mothers. Brainerd High School is handling teen pregnancy in a different way. The school is offering support and encouragement to its current teen moms, while spreading the message to others that this is not a club you should aspire to join.
Monday, February 13, 2012
This Week's News: Youth in Transition
Education
New Program Offers High School Dropouts A Second Chance
CBS Chicago, Chicago, IL – February 9, 2012
Traditional classrooms didn’t work for them, but hundreds of high school dropouts are now getting their diplomas a new way – on their terms.
New pathway for at-risk city high school students
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY – February 11, 2012
Too many of our high school students are not engaged in school. We see it in our graduation rates, our state test scores, our SAT and our GPA results. For example, we have 900 students in our phase-out high schools that are scheduled to close who are so-called “over-age and under-credited.” If we do not take immediate action they will more than likely drop out of school.
Dropout rates fall across the state
The MetroWest Daily News, Massachusetts – February 11, 2012
A report released by the state yesterday revealed good news about school dropouts, with rates in Massachusetts the lowest they’ve been in two decades.
Juvenile Justice
Legislature Considers Raising Juvenile Justice Age
WBUR 90.0, Boston, MA – February 8, 2012
Massachusetts is one of 13 states where criminal cases involving 17-year-olds are handled in the adult justice system rather than juvenile justice system. But youth advocates are pressing state lawmakers to change that and keep offenders in the juvenile system until they’re 18.
House approves task force to overhaul juvenile code, decrease jailing for 'status offenses'
The Republic, Frankfort, KY – February 11, 2012
Kentucky lawmakers in the House on Friday approved a measure to create a task force to rewrite the state's juvenile code. Sponsor Rep. John Tilley told The Courier-Journal the goal is to update the law in ways that improve juvenile justice.
Foster Care
Hollywood facility helps those who have aged out of foster care
Sun Sentinel, Hollywood, FL – February 10, 2012
They are often homeless or couch surfers — young men who sleep on one friend's sofa one night and another on the next. These are young men who have aged out of the foster care system and often have nowhere else to turn. But one place to call home is Wilson Gardens, which recently received $30,000 in funding from the Jim Moran Foundation.
Foster care gap: State will tap federal funds to aid youths ages 18-21
Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI – February 8, 2012
Lamar Waller of Detroit has his GED certificate, a part-time job and plans for the future. But the young man, who aged out of the foster care system in January, also has a growing pile of debt no matter how much he works and saves. Soon, Michigan will tap into federal funds that will extend support to young adults such as Waller until their 21st birthdays.
Bill would give alternative to foster care
Statesman Journal, Oregon – February 11, 2012
Jim Seymour believes that children should be raised by a community, not government. But currently, the latter is the case for a small group of children in the foster care system. Seymour, executive director of Catholic Community Services, estimates about 3 to 5 percent of Oregon's foster youths are raised by the state.
Teen Pregnancy
Teen pregnancy rates reach 'dramatic' 40-year low in U.S.
Fox News – February 8, 2012
Teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. have dropped to a 40-year low, according to a study released Wednesday. The Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit sexual health research group that favors abortion rights, found the rate of pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-olds has declined 42 percent from its peak 22 years ago.
Billboards boast Not Right Now, Put Pregnancy on Pause
NBC WMBF News, Myrtle Beach, SC – February 8, 2012
Recently, South Carolina received good news related to teen pregnancy prevention. Data shows that teen birth rates in SC have dropped 13% from 2009 to 2010. This decline should be celebrated by young people and the adults who care about them and proves that we are winning the battle in South Carolina. However, an in-depth look at the numbers is a stark reminder of the work that remains.
New Program Offers High School Dropouts A Second Chance
CBS Chicago, Chicago, IL – February 9, 2012
Traditional classrooms didn’t work for them, but hundreds of high school dropouts are now getting their diplomas a new way – on their terms.
New pathway for at-risk city high school students
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY – February 11, 2012
Too many of our high school students are not engaged in school. We see it in our graduation rates, our state test scores, our SAT and our GPA results. For example, we have 900 students in our phase-out high schools that are scheduled to close who are so-called “over-age and under-credited.” If we do not take immediate action they will more than likely drop out of school.
Dropout rates fall across the state
The MetroWest Daily News, Massachusetts – February 11, 2012
A report released by the state yesterday revealed good news about school dropouts, with rates in Massachusetts the lowest they’ve been in two decades.
Juvenile Justice
Legislature Considers Raising Juvenile Justice Age
WBUR 90.0, Boston, MA – February 8, 2012
Massachusetts is one of 13 states where criminal cases involving 17-year-olds are handled in the adult justice system rather than juvenile justice system. But youth advocates are pressing state lawmakers to change that and keep offenders in the juvenile system until they’re 18.
House approves task force to overhaul juvenile code, decrease jailing for 'status offenses'
The Republic, Frankfort, KY – February 11, 2012
Kentucky lawmakers in the House on Friday approved a measure to create a task force to rewrite the state's juvenile code. Sponsor Rep. John Tilley told The Courier-Journal the goal is to update the law in ways that improve juvenile justice.
Foster Care
Hollywood facility helps those who have aged out of foster care
Sun Sentinel, Hollywood, FL – February 10, 2012
They are often homeless or couch surfers — young men who sleep on one friend's sofa one night and another on the next. These are young men who have aged out of the foster care system and often have nowhere else to turn. But one place to call home is Wilson Gardens, which recently received $30,000 in funding from the Jim Moran Foundation.
Foster care gap: State will tap federal funds to aid youths ages 18-21
Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI – February 8, 2012
Lamar Waller of Detroit has his GED certificate, a part-time job and plans for the future. But the young man, who aged out of the foster care system in January, also has a growing pile of debt no matter how much he works and saves. Soon, Michigan will tap into federal funds that will extend support to young adults such as Waller until their 21st birthdays.
Bill would give alternative to foster care
Statesman Journal, Oregon – February 11, 2012
Jim Seymour believes that children should be raised by a community, not government. But currently, the latter is the case for a small group of children in the foster care system. Seymour, executive director of Catholic Community Services, estimates about 3 to 5 percent of Oregon's foster youths are raised by the state.
Teen Pregnancy
Teen pregnancy rates reach 'dramatic' 40-year low in U.S.
Fox News – February 8, 2012
Teen pregnancy rates in the U.S. have dropped to a 40-year low, according to a study released Wednesday. The Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit sexual health research group that favors abortion rights, found the rate of pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-olds has declined 42 percent from its peak 22 years ago.
Billboards boast Not Right Now, Put Pregnancy on Pause
NBC WMBF News, Myrtle Beach, SC – February 8, 2012
Recently, South Carolina received good news related to teen pregnancy prevention. Data shows that teen birth rates in SC have dropped 13% from 2009 to 2010. This decline should be celebrated by young people and the adults who care about them and proves that we are winning the battle in South Carolina. However, an in-depth look at the numbers is a stark reminder of the work that remains.
Monday, February 06, 2012
This Week's News: Youth in Transition
Education
Bill would raise high-school dropout age to 18
Tucson Citizen, Arizona – February 6, 2012
State Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, has introduced a bill that would increase the age at which high-school students could legally drop out from 16 to 18.
State pols mull raising high school dropout age
Boston Herald, Massachusetts – January 30, 2012
A call by President Obama during his State of the Union address to raise the minimum dropout age to 18 may have breathed new life into the issue on Beacon Hill, where proposals to keep the state’s thousands of yearly dropouts in the classroom have stalled in recent years.
Educators say funding key to reducing dropouts
Chicago Tribune, Illinois – February 1, 2012
Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing state lawmakers to raise the age students can legally drop out of school from 17 to 18, a move aimed at improving graduation rates but one that local educators say won't accomplish much unless the state also provides the money to keep at-risk students in school.
Juvenile Justice
California's youth prisons nearing an end
San Francisco Chronicle, California – February 1, 2012
In January 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his plan to shut down all state youth prisons by 2014. If backed by the Legislature, the governor's proposal would have counties share $10 million to develop prudent local alternatives to state custodial facilities.
Gov wants incarcerated juveniles 'close to home'
Legislative Gazette, New York – January 30, 2012
Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to build on reforms to the state's juvenile justice system by proposing the "Close to Home" initiative which would allow New York City's youth to be treated in facilities near their homes.
MacArthur Foundation, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Announce Private-Public Partnership
Philanthropy News Digest – January 30, 2012
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) have announced a private-public partnership that includes a $2 million commitment to support innovative reforms in treatment and services for youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
Foster Care
Neb. bill would expand foster care benefits for young adults who age out with little support
The Republic, Lincoln, NB – February 5, 2012
Teenagers who age out of Nebraska's foster care system could qualify for medical benefits, college financial aid and other help adjusting to adulthood until they turn 21, under a bill in the Legislature.
Group helps youths in foster care to move into adulthood
News-Press, Florida – January 29, 2012
Helping foster children transition to real life when they get too old for the care system was the goal Sunday of a fundraiser by Supporting Independent Young Adults. Jane Bell, co-founder of the nonprofit SIYA, said the event at the Paseo Village Center was designed to help the organization eventually build a model transitional living center that would help foster children handle their entry into adulthood.
Teen Pregnancy
SC Teen Pregnancy Numbers Drop but Experts Say More Education Needed
CBS 7, South Carolina – February 5, 2012
Teen pregnancies are at their lowest rate ever according to the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. But despite this great news, South Carolina is still 12th in the nation for teens who become pregnant. Non profit organizations in the Upstate like REACH Upstate said teens need more education to keep them aware of the risks and consequences of beign sexually active at a young age.
TCS working harder to help reduce the state’s teen pregnancy rate
The-Dispatch, Thomasville, NC – January 30, 2012
Thomasville High School senior Capri Billie is learning about important issues teens face on a regular basis by being part of the Teen PEP program. But she’s going a step further and sharing that knowledge with younger students to help them make better decisions about sex and health.
Bill would raise high-school dropout age to 18
Tucson Citizen, Arizona – February 6, 2012
State Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, has introduced a bill that would increase the age at which high-school students could legally drop out from 16 to 18.
State pols mull raising high school dropout age
Boston Herald, Massachusetts – January 30, 2012
A call by President Obama during his State of the Union address to raise the minimum dropout age to 18 may have breathed new life into the issue on Beacon Hill, where proposals to keep the state’s thousands of yearly dropouts in the classroom have stalled in recent years.
Educators say funding key to reducing dropouts
Chicago Tribune, Illinois – February 1, 2012
Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing state lawmakers to raise the age students can legally drop out of school from 17 to 18, a move aimed at improving graduation rates but one that local educators say won't accomplish much unless the state also provides the money to keep at-risk students in school.
Juvenile Justice
California's youth prisons nearing an end
San Francisco Chronicle, California – February 1, 2012
In January 2011, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his plan to shut down all state youth prisons by 2014. If backed by the Legislature, the governor's proposal would have counties share $10 million to develop prudent local alternatives to state custodial facilities.
Gov wants incarcerated juveniles 'close to home'
Legislative Gazette, New York – January 30, 2012
Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to build on reforms to the state's juvenile justice system by proposing the "Close to Home" initiative which would allow New York City's youth to be treated in facilities near their homes.
MacArthur Foundation, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Announce Private-Public Partnership
Philanthropy News Digest – January 30, 2012
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) have announced a private-public partnership that includes a $2 million commitment to support innovative reforms in treatment and services for youth involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
Foster Care
Neb. bill would expand foster care benefits for young adults who age out with little support
The Republic, Lincoln, NB – February 5, 2012
Teenagers who age out of Nebraska's foster care system could qualify for medical benefits, college financial aid and other help adjusting to adulthood until they turn 21, under a bill in the Legislature.
Group helps youths in foster care to move into adulthood
News-Press, Florida – January 29, 2012
Helping foster children transition to real life when they get too old for the care system was the goal Sunday of a fundraiser by Supporting Independent Young Adults. Jane Bell, co-founder of the nonprofit SIYA, said the event at the Paseo Village Center was designed to help the organization eventually build a model transitional living center that would help foster children handle their entry into adulthood.
Teen Pregnancy
SC Teen Pregnancy Numbers Drop but Experts Say More Education Needed
CBS 7, South Carolina – February 5, 2012
Teen pregnancies are at their lowest rate ever according to the SC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. But despite this great news, South Carolina is still 12th in the nation for teens who become pregnant. Non profit organizations in the Upstate like REACH Upstate said teens need more education to keep them aware of the risks and consequences of beign sexually active at a young age.
TCS working harder to help reduce the state’s teen pregnancy rate
The-Dispatch, Thomasville, NC – January 30, 2012
Thomasville High School senior Capri Billie is learning about important issues teens face on a regular basis by being part of the Teen PEP program. But she’s going a step further and sharing that knowledge with younger students to help them make better decisions about sex and health.
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