Tuesday, September 04, 2012

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Walk to target dropouts
Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX – August 28, 2012
Some faculty members and volunteers from Lee High School are among those gearing up for the Houston school district's ninth annual "Grads Within Reach" program in which they walk to visit high school dropouts to encourage them to get back in school and graduate.

Program reaches out to those who haven't graduated
WCF Courier, Waterloo, IA – September 2, 2012
The three volunteers knocked on the door, not knowing if anyone would be home.  When a woman in a bathrobe finally answered the door, they apologized for their early interruption around 9 a.m. on a Saturday.

New school gives dropouts a second chance at graduation
WRAL, Durham, NC – August 27, 2012
For students at the Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academy, the traditional trek back to school Monday was anything but routine.

Juvenile Justice

Following a New Roadmap to Juvenile Justice
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, August 31, 2012
These days are exciting ones for youth justice in the United States. Several factors have come together to influence the evolution of the field, including the economic downturn, a recognition that traditional models have failed, and a wide variety of new alternatives.

Juveniles entitled to hearing before being moved to state prison, N.J. court panel rules
NJ.com, Trenton, NJ – August 28, 2012
Unruly juveniles housed at any of the state's facilities for young offenders are entitled to a hearing before they're transferred to a state prison, a state appeals court panel ruled today.

Foster Care

Labor Department Announces $75 Million in Education Grants for ‘Out of School’ ‘Youth’ Ages 16-24
CNSNews.com – August 31, 2012
Labor Secretary of Hilda Solis announced on Wednesday that $75.7 million in grants are being distributed to organizations that help “out of school youth” earn a high school diploma and learn occupational skills.

$1.1M BCC grant builds job skills of at-risk youth
Florida Today, Florida – August 30, 2012
A Brevard Community College program that helps at-risk youth earn a high school diploma or GED, as well as develop job skills, will continue thanks to a $1.1 million grant announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor.  Across the nation, many participants have been in the juvenile justice system, are aging out of foster care or have dropped out of high school.

Teen Pregnancy

Teens Say Parents Most Influence Their Decisions About Sex
The Sacramento Bee, Washington, DC – August 28, 2012
Teens say that parents (38%) most influence their decisions about sex—more than peers (22%), the media (9%), teachers and educators (4%), and others, according to a new survey commissioned by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.  Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) young people surveyed also say that it would be much easier for teens to delay sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about these topics with their parents.

Advocacy group gives teen moms support
The Journal, Martinsburg, WV – August 29, 2012
Jill Bevins and Shayla Plowden-Smallwood might not look they would have a common bond at first sight. Bevins is in her 30s and a mother of three. Shayla is 20 and also a mother. Both became pregnant with their first child when they were teenagers.  YoungLives, a faith-based, non-denominational ministry to teen mothers in the Eastern Panhandle, works to provide young mothers with resources and support.

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