This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

New Arlington ISD Learning Center Tailored To Help Dropouts
CBS 11, Arlington, VA – April 29, 2013
Students drop out of high school for a lot of reasons: financial issues, pregnancy or just being negatively influenced by the wrong people. Now the Arlington Independent School District and City of Arlington have teamed up to tell dropouts “its never too late to learn.”

Academic center strives to help struggling teens graduate
News Tribune, Jefferson City, MO – May 5, 2013
Robert Taylor-Bey was 13 years old the first time he met Deanne Fischer, principal of the Jefferson City Academic Center.  Unfortunately, it was because he was in Jefferson City Public School District’s Suspended Student Classroom, better known as “SSC.”  “I always got suspended,” he remembers. “I had a lot of anger issues.”

We're determined to increase rate of college eligibility
MyDesert.com, Palm Springs, CA – April 4, 2013
In the Palm Springs Unified School District, our high school graduation rate continues to increase, while our dropout rate is decreasing. This year, in collaboration with the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership (CVEP), through its Workforce Excellence Oversight Committee, a regional plan for College and Career Readiness has been developed, and a multiyear implementation is under way among the valley’s three public school districts and colleges.

Juvenile Justice

Gov. Deal signs juvenile justice reforms
Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia – May 2, 2013
Gov. Nathan Deal traveled to a youth detention center in Dalton, Ga., Thursday to sign an overhaul of Georgia’s juvenile justice system aimed at improving outcomes for young offenders and saving money.

Nebraska Juvenile Justice Reform Amendments Pass Committee Vote
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, Nebraska – April 26, 2013
The Nebraska Legislature has pushed forward a proposed piece of juvenile justice reform legislation, following a judiciary committee re-write, the Omaha World-Herald reports.  Legislators approved amendments Tuesday to Legislative Bill 561.

Foster Care

Bill extending foster care to age 21 goes to Gov. Rick Scott for signature
The Miami Herald, Tallahassee, FL – May 1, 2013
The Florida House passed a bill Wednesday giving young adults in state custody the option of remaining until age 21 – three years longer than in current law – to reduce their chances of ending up homeless, jobless or in jail.  The measure (SB 1036) passed the House 116-1 after the Senate unanimously passed it last week. The Senate named the bill the "Nancy C. Detert Common Sense and Compassion Independent Living Act," after its Senate sponsor.

Presidential Proclamation - National Foster Care Month, 2013
Newsroom America – April 30, 2013
As a Nation, we have no task more important than ensuring our children grow up healthy and safe. It is a promise we owe to the hundreds of thousands of youth in foster care -- boys and girls who too often go without the love, protection, and stability of a permanent family.

Leaving the foster home behind
Herald and News, Klamath County, OR – May 4, 2013
A Klamath County resident for 20 of the past 23 years of his life, Allen has been a foster child since he can remember. At 21, he “aged out” of the system, leaving the Oregon foster care system behind.  Allen is now offering his time locally to turn the tide against what he sees as a system failure. Working with Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, he’ll be speaking about his experiences with a group of Klamath County foster children preparing to live on their own.

Teen Pregnancy

Governor Bryant declares May Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
WDAM 7, Mississippi – May 1, 2013
Governor Phil Bryant attended a Community Town Hall Meeting Wednesday to promote his Teen Pregnancy Prevention initiative.  When Governor Bryant took office reducing teen pregnancies in the state became one of his top priorities. In 2010 the state by far had one of the highest rates in the nation averaging 55 pregnancies for every 1000 teenage girls age 15 to 19.

Boys and Girls club teaches teens to make smarter choices
WALB 10, Albany, GA – May 4, 2013
Some Southwest Georgia teens got a lesson about teen pregnancy.  In recognition of National Teen Pregnancy Prevention month, the James Wilson Boys and Girls club in Albany had a teen maze about life choices. The maze had different stations showing teens the consequences of making good and bad choices in life. 

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Day Efforts Taking Place in Mid-Michigan
Fox 47, Michigan – May 1, 2013
Thousands of teens in mid-Michigan will be taking an online quiz, and it's not for math class. Organizations around the state will encourage teens ages 12 to 19 to visit Stayteen.org for the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.  "That quiz is going to challenge them to think about what they'd do in the moment. through a bunch of interactive scenarios," said Amber Arb, a Planned Parenthood Community Outreach Educator.