Public Policy Archives - Page 5 of 8 - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Rate of Children in Foster Care Increased in 39 States in 2017
January 3, 2019 | Emily Taylor
A new Child Trends post on the 2017 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data shows that in 2017 the number of children and youth in foster care in the U.S. rose for the 5th consecutive year, to 443,000, with 39 states experiencing an increase in the rate of children in foster care.
When low-income families can meet their basic needs, children are healthier
December 12, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Children’s HealthWatch published reports based on survey data of 18,000 low-income families with children under four years old, in five cities (Baltimore, Boston, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Little Rock). They found that “young children and their parents are healthier when they are able to afford basic needs, such as food, shelter, utilities, medical care, prescription medicines and childcare”. This study, however, examined the differences between children living in hardship-free families versus those in families with any or multiple hardships. The report authors support policies to better support low-income families.
Three Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families
November 20, 2018 | Emily Taylor
This resource from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child outlines three core principles that can be used as guides for policy and practice when looking at how to best design and provide social supports.The principles: 1) Support Responsive Relationships, 2) Strengthen Core Life Skills and 3) Reduce Sources of Stress are detailed and examples of policies and practices that support each principle are provided.
Research: How Early Head Start Prevents Child Maltreatment
November 1, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Child Trends has published a research-to-practice brief on a study on the role of programs that serve families with infants and toddlers like Early Head Start (EHS) in reducing child abuse and neglect. The study found that participating families had positive short-term outcomes that led to lower risk of child welfare involvement in the future. The brief also includes recommendations for early childhood programs.
Brief: Homelessness Among Families with Children
October 10, 2018 | Emily Taylor
In September, as part of its Homelessness in America series the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness published a brief on families with children experiencing homelessness. The brief summarizes data and research to help inform the work to end homelessness. According to the brief, “families with children experiencing homelessness represent one-third of all people experiencing homelessness …and 59% of people experiencing homelessness in families are children under the age of 18”. The brief also highlights a correlation between residential mobility during childhood and increased risk for reporting negative health outcomes including depression, smoking, attempted suicide, alcoholism, and teenage pregnancy.
American Pediatrics Association Statement on Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents
September 19, 2018 | Emily Taylor
This month the American Association of Pediatrics issued a policy guideline with broad recommendations for the field on the Gender Affirmative Care Model (GACM) in which pediatric providers will “offer developmentally appropriate care that is oriented toward understanding and appreciating the youth’s gender experience.” The recommendations for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth and adolescents also point out that “GACM is best facilitated through the integration of medical, mental health, and social services, including specific resources and supports for parents and families.”
Child Trends: Poverty rate rising among America’s youngest children, particularly infants of color
September 18, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Child Trends recently posted on the latest US Census results which show that one in five infants and toddlers (19.9 percent of children through age two) were living in poverty in 2017. The poverty rate is higher among infants and toddlers of color for the same time period, with nearly one in three (32.7 percent) of black infants and toddlers living in poverty, and more than one in four (27.3 percent) of Hispanic infants and toddlers living in poverty. The authors urge for policy and practice solutions to address this issue.
RWJF Issue Brief: Applying an Equity Lens to Social, Emotional, and Academic Development
July 20, 2018 | Emily Taylor
A new issue brief from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, “Applying an Equity Lens to Social, Emotional, and Academic Development,” addresses the need for grounding Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in a larger context of equity and justice efforts within public education. The brief outlines the barriers that may prevent students of color and other and other marginalized youth from developing social and emotional competencies, and several initiatives that can help. The authors also include recommendations for research, policy and practice.
Research: Impact of Parental Incarceration
July 19, 2018 | Emily Taylor
Results of a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics showed that young adults whose parents had been incarcerated are less likely to use health care and more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors compared to peers whose parents had not been incarcerated. Researchers looked at data of 13,000 young adults aged 24-32 and found that 10 percent had a parent incarcerated during their childhood. According to the researchers, more than 5 million American children have had an incarcerated parent, making this an important area for further research.
Read more about the study on the impact of parental incarceration»
Casey Foundation’s 2018 Kids Count Data Book
July 9, 2018 | Emily Taylor
The Casey Foundation has published its 2018 Kids Count Data Book, with the latest data national and state data measuring key indicators of children’s well-being: economic well-being, education, health, and family / community. Nationally, the results from 2016 were improved compared to the results from 2010 in the areas of economic and education well-being, while the results were more mixed in the health and family/community areas.
Learn more about the results and order your free copy of the 2018 Kids Count Data Book»