This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Program working to keep Native American kids in school
KTVQ, Browning, MT – May 12, 2013
The 2013 Building a Grad Nation annual update shows that more than one-third of Native American high school students drop out of school.  Twenty-six communities across Montana have joined in on the Graduation Matters initiative, in an effort to combat such problems.

Fighting Back: Decreasing the Dropout Rate
NBC15, Mobile, AL – May 10, 2013
A recent study looked at areas where over the years there have been spikes in crime. What criminologists and sociologist found was in areas where there were higher levels of unemployed and uneducated youth, there was a huge increase in theft and violence.  In our Fighting Back series, we show you how the Mobile area education foundation has developed a program to decrease the high school dropout rate and put these teens to work at the same time.

New Branson H.S. 9th grade center could help improve graduation rates
KY3, Branson, MO – May 9, 2013
The new Ninth Grade Center at Branson High School is more than a new wing.  Educators say it's a new model for learning.  They think it's a $6 million investment that will keep freshman on the right track.

Juvenile Justice

Fewer Memphis juveniles are being transferred to adult court
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN – May 11, 2013
More juveniles charged with crimes are being given a chance to turn their lives around, dodging transfer to adult court where prison is a common outcome, according to court statistics.  During the past decade, the number of transfers peaked in 2008, when 225 youths were sent to the Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar to face trial on felony charges, according to a study of Shelby County Juvenile Court statistics.

Program provides option for Weinland Park youths in trouble with law
The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH – May 13, 2013
Seated in a car parked beneath mounted surveillance cameras, two special-duty police officers waited outside D&J Carryout on the corner of N. 4th Street and E. 8th Avenue.  Their goal on Friday was simple — talk to young people about a new program that aims to steer them away from drugs, gangs, vandalism and other problems that have plagued the Weinland Park neighborhood for years.

Foster Care

Gov. Markell helps launch national initiative for kids aging out of foster care
WDDE 911.FM, Delaware – May 6, 2013
Governor Jack Markell is pushing to extend care for foster kids after age 18 as part of a nationwide campaign to help them transition to adulthood.  Markell helped launch the campaign – “Success Beyond 18” – in Washington DC Monday at a meeting of the National Governor’s Association.

Advocates Look to Increase Foster Care Age from 18 to 21
Your Public Media – May 9, 2013
May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and as WNPR's Ray Hardman reports, advocates are pushing to extend foster care from 18 to 21 years old.  According to a report released today by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, 18-year-olds that age out of the foster care system are more likely than their peers to drop out of school, experience homelessness, and end up in jail.

Teen Pregnancy

New anti-teen pregnancy app from city health department helps youth get advice, find clinics for birth control
Daily News, New York, NY – May 8, 2013
It's sex ed for the 21st century.
The city's health department on Wednesday unveiled a first-of-its-kind sex education app geared towards teens to help lower pregnancy rates.  The colorful app — called Teens in NYC Protection+ — was designed with input from youngsters and includes details on where to get free birth control, STD screening and other health services.

Bill to lower barriers to pregnant teens' education
UPI.com, Washington, DC - May 11, 2013
A U.S. Senate bill would help states and local school districts support pregnant and parenting youth who face challenges staying in school, legislators say.  In a nationwide survey, 33 percent of female dropouts and almost 20 percent of male dropouts reported that becoming a parent was a major factor in their decision to leave school.