Monday, September 30, 2013

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

'American Graduate Day' Addresses Dropout Issue
ABC News, Los Angeles, CA – September 28, 2013
The nation's school dropout problem is the subject of a day of public TV programming.  Actors including Patrick Stewart and Brian Stokes Mitchell, Olympic medalist Shannon Miller and other celebrities and journalists will take part in "American Graduate Day 2013."

Harrisburg one of four Pa. school districts in dropout prevention pilot
Penn Live, Harrisburg, PA – September 26, 2013
The capital city’s public school district is one of four in Pennsylvania picked to test a data-driven dropout prevention program, state officials announced Wednesday. Harrisburg stands to benefit greatly, given the cash-strapped district graduates just about half of its students.

Childhood health linked to high school completion
Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO – Septemebr 25, 2013
Each year in the St. Louis region, thousands of African American students drop out of high school. According to a newly released policy brief — “How does health influence school dropout?”— health and education are closely related, and there are patterns related to health that increase the risk of high school dropout.

Juvenile Justice

Hall aims to help repeat offenders with juvenile justice reforms
Gainesville Times, Hall County, GA – September 29, 2013
As the first deadline rapidly approaches, Hall County is gearing up for sweeping juvenile justice reforms that take effect Jan. 1.  Hall County Juvenile Judge Cliff Jolliff wrote a grant proposal for a counseling program that, after getting funding in July, and months of preparation, will start taking referrals on Tuesday.

Commonwealth Looking at Juvenile Justice Reform
WTVQ, Commonwealth, KY – September 25, 2013
State lawmakers say they want to lower the number of juveniles that the State locks up every year.  State Senator Whitney Westerfield says many of the state's juvenile inmates are in for committing offenses that are not even crimes for adults, offenses like skipping school or running away from home.

Bar Association sees hope in reform of juvenile justice system
McCook Daily, McCook, NE – September 26, 2013
Nebraska State Bar Association officials said they support changest to the state's juvenile justice system created by LB 561, passed in May. "The legislation changes the focus of our juvenile system, away from punishment and towards diversion programs," said Marsha Fangmeyer, president of the NSBA executive council, during a visit to McCook on Tuesday.

Foster Care

Fixing WA foster care, one bill at a time
Crosscut, Washington – September 30, 2013
Six foster care-related bills went into the Washington State Legislature's hopper last session. Three passed. Two were set aside because they were duplicative. The sixth stalled, but has a chance at passing in 2014. "We're making progress,” says Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Seattle, a longtime advocate for at-risk kids. “But we still have a long way to go."

Pritzker Family Foundation supports foster youth at UCLA with $3 million gift
UCLA Newsroom, Los Angeles, CA – September 26, 2013
The charitable foundation of Los Angeles philanthropists Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker has donated $3 million to UCLA to establish an endowment to support students who are or were in foster care.

Teen Pregnancy

State Health Department Spends $1.2 Million on Abstinence-Only Project
Observer, Texas – September 25, 2013
In September the Texas Department of State Health Services launched a new website, www.ourtown4teens.org, that will cost $1.2 million over the next year. The agency blitzed the radio and TV with ads for the site, claiming that it will help local communities reduce teen pregnancies. Although the site offers reminders why adolescent pregnancy is to be avoided—girls don’t finish school, babies have worse health outcomes, taxpayers foot the bill—it seems primarily to be a home for buzzwords like “community mobilization,” “strategic action” and “conceptual framework.”

Monday, September 23, 2013

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Magic Johnson launches movement to combat high school dropout rate
Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, IL – September 18, 2013
Listening to 18-year-old Haman Cross speak, you’d never know he was a dropout.  “I enrolled at MJBA because I needed the bridge to cross the gap between traditional schooling and a diploma,” the North Lawndale teen told an audience held rapt, drawn to the West Side by the star power of Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

PUSD Campaign Focuses on High School Dropout Prevention
Altadena Patch, Pasadena, CA – September 17, 2013
Pasadena Unified School District students who haven't been to class yet for the 2013-14 school year will get a visit from city and district volunteers tomorrow in an effort to discourage dropping out.  The student-recovery effort is part of the district's "I'm In!" campaign to encourage school attendance, targeting students who have been "chronically absent" since August or have not been to class at all.

Windham High School Recognized for Being Dropout Free
Windham Patch, Windham, NH – September 21, 2013
Windham High School hasn't had a student drop out in the last two years.  Now, WHS has been recognized by the New Hampshire Department of Education for the rare and commendable achievement.

Juvenile Justice

New Mass. Law Puts 17-Year-Olds In Juvenile Court
WBUR 90.9, Boston, MA – September 18, 2013
Gov. Deval Patrick on Wednesday signed into law a bill placing 17-year-olds accused of crimes under the jurisdiction of the state’s juvenile courts.  Currently in Massachusetts, 17-year-olds are treated as adults, regardless of the circumstances or severity of the offense.

Georgia Funds At-Home Juvenile Treatment Program in Rural County
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, Georgia – September 19, 2013
Georgia’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) recently awarded the Rockdale County Juvenile Court $150,000 to fund a Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program, a form of evidence-based, at-home treatment for juvenile offenders.

Foster Care

New law aims to help kids aging out of foster care
WDDE 91.1, Delaware – September 18, 2013
Delaware is extending care for foster kids as they transition to adulthood. Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware) signed a bill Wednesday that enhances existing independent living services for young adults up to age 21.

'Short Term 12' movingly explores plight of teens in foster care
Detroit Free Press – September 20, 2013
Don’t be put off by its forgettable title. “Short Term 12” is a deeply memorable film.  This modest, low-budget feature, which is set in a foster care facility, is well-written, terrifically acted and compelling. It deftly avoids sentimentality and offers a window into the lives of believable, multidimensional characters.

Teen Pregnancy

Federal grant for teen pregnancy resources focuses on Grant County
KXLY, Washington – September 18, 2013
Washington state has received a $6 million federal grant that will help connect expectant and parenting teens, women, fathers, and their families with health, education, and social services. The grant money will primarily be spent on programs in the state’s four-county region of Yakima, Franklin, Grant and Adams.

Monday, September 16, 2013

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

New bill would change school drop out age to 18
Bay News 9, Florida – September 12, 2013
Every year in Florida, thousands of kids drop out of school.  Under a newly proposed bill the age to legally drop out of school would go up from 16 to 18 years old.  The goal is to take away an easy way out, which many high school students say has become way too popular.

Study bolsters argument linking graduation rates to cutting crime
Las Vegas Sun, Nevada – September 12, 2013
Nevada could save $215 million annually in crime-fighting costs if it could raise its male high school graduation rate by 5 percentage points, according to a new report released today.  The Alliance for Excellent Education, a Washington, D.C., education policy group, analyzed crime rates and graduation rates in 50 states and Washington, D.C., for its report, “Saving Futures, Saving Dollars: The Impact of Education on Crime Reduction and Earnings.”

On-time graduation up, dropouts down
Suffolk News-Herald, Suffolk, VA – September 13, 2013
Improvements almost across the board in on-time graduation and other measures this year are “good news,” the district’s chief of operations told a School Board meeting Thursday.  “They have shown marked improvement in on-time graduation … completion … and the dropout rate,” Kevin Alston said.

Juvenile Justice

Reforming the Juvenile Justice System
YNN, New York, NY – September 13, 2013
Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to reform New York's juvenile justice system. As part of that effort, he's established eight regional youth justice teams across the state. The teams bring together key partners working to improve outcomes and reduce the number of youths in the system.

Visual analytics help Florida tell the story of juvenile justice reform
GCN, Florida – September 13, 2013
The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is using visual analytics to present a clearer picture of children in the justice system and the effectiveness of the state’s innovative reform efforts.

Foster Care

A Clever Campaign to Help Aged-Out Foster Youth
The Chronicle of Social Change – September 9, 2013
The Camellia Network, a multi-state organization that seeks and identifies resources for youths aging out of foster care, kicked off it first annual “Great Fall Rally” this week to push for donors willing to support former foster youth early in the academic calendar.

'Short Term 12' has long-term depth, meaning
USA Today – September 12, 2013
Don't be put off by its forgettable title. Short Term 12 is a deeply memorable film.  This modest, low-budget feature (* * * ½ out of four; rated R; expands Friday to select cities) set in a foster care facility is well-written, terrifically acted and compelling.

Teen Pregnancy

Getting past ideological differences to reduce teen pregnancy
The Baltimore Sun – September 13, 2013
Hal and Chuck Donofrio deserve the praise they received for their innovative  media program to reduce unwanted teen pregnancy ("Abstinence with an attitude," Sept. 9).  Their efforts began with an ideologically bipartisan effort of state legislators.  Two pro-life lawmakers, state Sen. Frank Kelly and Del. Timothy Maloney, joined two pro-choice members, Sen, Catherine Riley and myself, to advocate for increased funding for family planning and counseling services, expanded adoption efforts and a television ad campaign  that tells teens "it's OK to say no."

Teen pregnancy rates at historic lows
Delaware Online – September 10, 2013
Not since 1940 when the Tom and Jerry cartoon debuted to the delight of the nation’s children has the teenage pregnancy rate in the United States been as low as it is currently tabulated. The rates are down in all 50 states, and among all racial and ethnic groups.

Monday, September 09, 2013

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Study Up For ‘Think’: Recovery For High School Dropouts
Kera News, Texas – September 4, 2013
Dropout prevention programs focus on keeping students in school, but what about the ones who have already left?  That’s where dropout recovery programs come in.

Among recent high school grads, Hispanic college enrollment rate surpasses that of whites
Pew Research Center – September 4, 2013
A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows that after several years of gains, college enrollments in the U.S. fell between 2011 and 2012. But for one group—Hispanics—college enrollments were up, reflecting Hispanic population growth along with a growing share of young Latinos prepared for college. The new Census Bureau data also shows Hispanic students reached other milestones in 2012, continuing recent upward trends in educational attainment and college attendance.

Vicki Phillips' Plan To Keep High School Students From Dropping Out
Forbes, September 3, 2013
Vicki Phillips was born on a small farm in rural Kentucky. She was the first in her family to go to college and, today, she’s working to ensure thousands of other students have that same opportunity.  As Director of Education (College Ready) for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Vicki helps U.S. high school students graduate ready to succeed.

Juvenile Justice

Proposal would return 17-year-olds to juvenile justice system
Star Tribune, Madison, WI – September 5, 2013
Non-violent 17-year-old offenders in Wisconsin would no longer be treated as adults in the justice system under a bipartisan proposal introduced Thursday in the Legislature.

Courts Split Over Ruling on Juvenile Life Sentences
The Wall Street Journal – September 4, 2013
Jeffrey Ragland, sentenced to life without parole in 1986 for his involvement in the killing of a fellow teen with a tire-iron blow to the head, could soon be a free man.  That outcome is the result of a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court last month that found the sentence handed down to Mr. Ragland, now 44 years old, unconstitutional.

Juveniles are now being locked up less
The Kansas City Star – September 7, 2013
Juvenile justice authorities across the country are learning a lesson that took hold in Jackson County years ago. Most troubled kids don’t get better the more time they spend locked up. They usually get worse. And that’s why authorities are locking up fewer kids.

Foster Care

DCF Talks Logistics Of Expanding Foster Care
WFSU, Florida– September 3, 2013
Department of Children and Families officials Tuesday held the first of what may become a series of rule-making workshops concerning a new law that allows young adults to stay in foster homes until they’re 21. But, many officials had the same question –what happens to kids who CAN’T stay in those homes?

At-risk youth providers rally at first-ever fest
Star Tribune – September 3, 2013
Youth intervention workers say their work is as critical as early childhood services and their programs should receive the same respect from lawmakers.  The success stories of early childhood education are often touted, and lawmakers are loath to trim its budget. Paul Meunier, director of services for the nonprofit Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA), is out to change that.

Teen Pregnancy

Teen pregnancy program awarded federal grant
GreenvilleOnline.com, Columbia, SC – September 5, 2013
The Children’s Trust of South Carolina has been awarded a multi-million-dollar grant to develop programs and services for pregnant and parenting teens in South Carolina.

Teen births hit historic low, half of 1991
USA Today – September 6, 2013
Teen births have continued to drop, reaching a historic low in 2012 and hitting half of what they were in 1991, says a government report out Friday.

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

This Week's News: Youth in Transition

Education

Proposed tax levy may combat high school dropout rates
Herald and News, Klamath Falls, OR – August 28, 2013
Part of the tax levy that Klamath Community College is seeking will go toward solving a problem that President Roberto Gutierrez views as a major issue in the community — students dropping out of high school.

Charter school for homeless, dropout and at-risk youth hosting open house in renovated building
MLive.com, Grand Rapids, MI – August 29, 2013
The new year-round charter high school working with homeless, dropout and at-risk youth is hosting an open house on Sept. 19 for more than 300 community and business leaders, supporters, and students.

Hudson schools look to increase graduation rates
Register-Star, Hudson, NY – September 2, 2013
With the 2013-14 school year starting next week, the Hudson City School District is looking to reverse a drop in graduation rates seen in recent years.  At Monday’s board of education meeting at the high school library, Hudson City School District Superintendent of Schools Maria Suttmeier laid out the plan to help students achieve to school board members. That plan is being called “Destination Graduation.”

Juvenile Justice

Consensus Building to Reform WV Juvenile Justice System
Public News Service, Charleston, WV – August 28, 2013
West Virginia is moving toward comprehensive juvenile justice reform that lawmakers and citizen groups say is badly needed. A judge this summer ordered the state to take young offenders out of West Virginia's only high-security juvenile facility because of serious problems there. Since then, momentum has been building around the idea of intensive monitoring and treatment at home for some young offenders instead of locking them up.

A court to give juveniles a chance
Tampa Bay Times, Hillsborough County, FL – August 30, 2013
“Boutique courts" we called them, back when it seemed all the rage to set up a specialized court under one judge to deal exclusively with sex offenders, or domestic violence or drugs.  When a new one would come up, some at the courthouse would roll their eyes. What next? A special animal court to handle dog bites and barking dogs and such?  Well, yes. And turns out it's not a bad idea.

Foster Care

Professor’s book shines light on plight of children in foster care
Columbia Daily Spectator, Columbia, NY - September 3, 2013
Foster care doesn’t always have a happy ending. At least, not according to Cris Beam, a foster parent and professor of creative writing at Columbia. In her new book, “To the End of June: The Intimate Life of American Foster Care,” Beam offers an honest, personal perspective on a troubled system by following a handful of foster families. Spectator’s Rachel Dunphy caught up with Beam about the project.

Teen Pregnancy

TPS proposes teen pregnancy prevention program
Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK – September 3, 2013
Sex education could soon be expanding in Tulsa Public Schools.  On Tuesday, the school board will be asked to approve a comprehensive pregnancy prevention curriculum for students in grades seven, nine and 11 that would be provided beginning this fall by Youth Services of Tulsa, the Tulsa Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and the Tulsa City-County Health Department.