Human Services News

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Posted by Michael at 12:07 PM

Committee: GOP Plan Would Shut Down Excess Subsidies, Use Funds to Help Teachers and Poor Schools

U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), the chairmen of the Senate and House education committees, announced today they will offer legislation that would cut off excess subsidies to student loan providers and use the money to expand incentives ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:07 PM

Weight Loss Surgery May Soon Be Paid by Medicare

From The New York Times > National:

In November, Medicare's advisers will assess the safety, efficacy and cost of a popular method of weight loss: surgery. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:02 PM

HHS Works With Grassroots to Help Millions of Medicare Beneficiaries See Savings With Drug Cards, Provides $3.95 Million to Local Groups

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today launched an unprecedented public-private outreach effort with hundreds of community organizations all across the nation to help millions of eligible seniors and people with ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:01 PM

Parental involvement can help prevent underage drinking

Parents play an important role in their children's underage drinking, according to a recent study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. The study, published this month in the Journal of Adolescent Health, shows that teens are more likely to binge drink if their parents or friends' parents provide alcohol at their home for a party. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:00 PM

Statement of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on the Release of Institute of Medicine's Childhood Obesity Report

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Posted by Michael at 11:59 AM

Kidnetic.com Answers IOM Call for Childhood Obesity Prevention

Thomas B. Fordham Institute - The Mad, Mad World of Textbook Adoption

In today's National Academies' Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, "Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance," the committee experts identified three settings in which physical activity and healthy eating can be promoted to children: community-based ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:59 AM

The Mad, Mad World of Textbook Adoption

Statewide textbook adoption, the process by which 21 states dictate the textbooks that schools and districts can use, is fundamentally flawed. Textbook adoption distorts the market, entices extremist groups to hijack the curriculum, enriches the textbook cartel, and papers the land with mediocre instructional materials that cannot fulfill their important education mission.

Posted by Michael at 9:18 AM

September 29, 2004

New study identifies trilogy necessary to increase student success in science and math

"Engagement, Capacity and Continuity: A Trilogy For Student Success," a new report suggesting ways to increase the number and diversity of those pursuing education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, analyzes why successful individual reform efforts have not led to broader increases in students achieving at high levels nor entering science and math oriented careers. The authors for this study are Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D.; Patricia B. Campbell, Ph.D.; and Lesley K. Perlman. This study was funded by the GE Foundation. General Electric Foundation Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:59 PM

Study Identifies Trilogy Necessary to Increase Student Success in Science, Math; Report Ties Rigorous Academic Preparation, Museum-Based Engagement, Continuum of Supports

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Posted by Michael at 11:58 PM

Health and Money Issues Arise Over Who Pays for Weight Loss

From The New York Times > National:

In November, Medicare's advisers will assess the safety, efficacy and cost of a popular method of weight loss: surgery. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:56 PM

Minorities Driving Growth in D.C. Area (washingtonpost.com)

From Yahoo! News - Top Stories:

washingtonpost.com - Asians, Latinos and other minorities accounted for two-thirds of the Washington region's recent population growth, according to new census figures that point to dramatic increases in counties well beyond the Capital Beltway. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:54 PM

Warning: Shaping America's Youth Is an Industry Front Group

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Posted by Michael at 11:53 PM

Children's Defense Fund Condemns Repeal of D.C. Gun Ban by the House of Representatives

The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) expressed outrage at the U.S. House of Representatives today for passing a bill that would repeal the gun safety laws of Washington, D.C., even as children continue dying from gunfire on the city's streets. Sponsors of the ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:53 PM

Unrecognized iron deficiency can impair immunity in older women

Iron deficiency, which can masquerade as routine old age symptoms, was found to impair measures of immunity from 28 to 50 percent in a group of seemingly healthy, well-nourished, homebound, older women, age 60 and above, in a Penn State study. US Department of Agriculture, National Cattlemen's Beef Association Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:39 AM

Center for College Health and Safety Awarded Multi-Year U.S. Department of Education Contract

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Posted by Michael at 10:37 AM

Big Health Care Providers, Religious and Social Investors Ask Disney to Go Smoke Free in Youth-Rated Movies; Studies Linking Smoking and Movies Have Shareholders Worried

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Posted by Michael at 10:32 AM

Reentry Mapping Network Expands with Six New Sites

The Urban Institute's Reentry Mapping Network, an innovative, three-year partnership that helps community leaders and residents address the challenges of ex-prisoners returning to society, is launching its second phase with six new partner sites: Denver, Colorado; Hartford, Connecticut; Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; San Diego, California; and Seattle, Washington. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:10 AM

Bush Administration Tax Policy: Distributional Effects

This paper evaluates the distributional effects of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, and is the second paper in a series on tax policy in the Bush Administration. We show that the tax cuts enacted to date increase the disparity in after-tax income; after-tax income rises by a larger percentage for high-income households than low-income households. Once the eventual financing of the tax cuts is taken into account, the distributional effects will likely be even more regressive. If the eventual policy adjustments needed to finance the tax cuts impose burdens that are proportional to income: about 80 percent of households, including a large majority of households in every income quintile, will end up worse off after the tax cuts plus financing than before; most families (i.e., with children) and most taxpayers with small business income will be worse off; and even if the tax cuts raise economic growth significantly, most households will end up worse off when the financing is included. We also address several criticisms of distributional analysis. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:05 AM

Congress Can Preserve $1.1 Billion In Expiring Children's Health Insurance Funds and Help Avert SCHIP Cutbacks

http://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=2010§ion=infocenter.

Edwin Park and Matt Broaddus Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:02 AM

September 28, 2004

Ensuring Fairness as Students Head Back to School

Another school year is underway and students, teachers, and coaches at schools across the country are busy with classes and extracurricular activities. But what happens if a student or employee feels that he or she is treated unfairly on the basis of sex in any of these programs or activities?

A federal law enacted in 1972, called Title IX, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs, including sports. This law applies to most elementary and secondary schools and colleges, as well as other federally funded education activities, such as internship programs.

This entry comes compliments of the National Women's Law Center.

Posted by Michael at 5:48 PM

Minority Links: Quick and easy links to the latest data on racial and ethnic populations in the United States

This website provides pathways to data about Latinos, African Americans, Asians, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islanders, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives in the US.

The site covers Census 2000/Census 1990/American Community Survey data; Social Characteristics (age, children, disability, education, families, fertility, foreign born, health insurance, languages, local profiles, marital status, mobility, population, women); Economic Characteristics (businesses, occupations, income, employment and poverty); Profiles; News Releases and Multimedia; and Other Resources.

This link comes compliments of the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty.

http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/hotlinks.html

Posted by Michael at 4:43 PM

September 27, 2004

Health Issues and the 2004 Elections:

The Kaiser Family Foundation has issued new informational materials on some of the health policy issues that are of concern to the American public during the 2004 election season, including Medicare, the uninsured and the problem of rising health care costs. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:08 PM

New Reports Analyze Latest Trends in Uninsured Population and Health Coverage

New Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured reports show that between 2000 and 2003 the number of uninsured rose 5.1 million, with the number of uninsured children dropping due to Medicaid and SCHIP coverage and the number of uninsured adults rising due to a decline in employer coverage. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:58 PM

Mental health problems in assisted living residents higher than expected

The first large scale comparative study of the mental health of assisted living residents has found a higher rate than expected of a range of mental health problems in this rapidly growing population. Their rate of mental health problems is as high as the rate of mental health problems in nursing home patients. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:51 PM

Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) Press Conference; CAHI/Zogby Poll Reveals that Americans Want Health Insurance Choice

What: Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) Press Conference; CAHI / Zogby Poll Reveals that Americans Want Health Insurance Choice Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:48 PM

Health Care Costs Are a Killer, but Maybe That's a Plus

From The New York Times > Health:

The technological marvels of medicine mean that the insured majority are being treated for ailments that went untreated or undetected years ago. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:47 PM

Pricey home, dicey mortgage

From Christian Science Monitor | Work/Money:

As housing prices rise on the coasts, lenders are offering creative - and risky - solutions. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:45 PM

Free Asthma Education Faire for Children, Adults

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Posted by Michael at 5:45 PM

Child Advocates to Address Perils of 'Runaway Technology'

http://weeklydigest.c.topica.com/maacGIkabahAFaaaaaabafpKjv/

New Report Highlights High-Tech Childhood and the Crisis in Technology Literacy Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:44 PM

September 25, 2004

UPDATE: COALITION CIRCULATING SIGN-ON LETTER IN SUPPORT OF CLEAN

From: Legal Momentum

Currently, the TANF program is operating under a three-month extension that began in June and expires on September 30th. Many groups around the country are opposed to continuing to provide short-term extensions to TANF. The concerns with continued short-term extensions are that states have trouble planning their programs and level of support for families in need, if the federal commitment to TANF is re-evaluated every three or six months. Therefore, Legal Momentum and a coalition of organizations have drafter a sign-on letter to House and Senate member in support of a longer clean extension.

Posted by Michael at 10:53 PM

ACTION NEEDED: URGE YOUR SENATORS TO OPPOSE TANF EXTENSIONS WITH POLICY

From: Center for Community Change

Oppose any short-term TANF extension that includes policy changes. If the Senate wants to debate policy changes in the TANF program, then the extension of TANF must be longer than only six months. States need stability, both of funding, and program policies, to maintain quality services.

http://weeklydigest.c.topica.com/maacGIkabahAEaaaaaabafpKjv/

Posted by Michael at 10:42 PM

Medicare Drug Discount Cards: A Work In Progress

This new report examines the early experience with the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card Program, prices offered by card sponsors, and potential savings for enrollees. The pricing analysis shows that discount cards can deliver savings off of full retail drug prices, but also that savings for individual beneficiaries can vary significantly across card programs. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:05 PM

Kaiser/Harvard Survey: What People on Medicare Think About the New Drug Law

Nearly twice as many people on Medicare have an unfavorable view of the new Medicare law than have a favorable view, according to a national Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health survey of people on Medicare. The survey of 1,223 people on Medicare finds that two out of three say that lawmakers in Washington should work to fix problems in the law, while much smaller numbers favor repealing the law or leaving the law alone. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:05 PM

Key Resources on Health Coverage and the Uninsured

With the U.S. Census Bureau's release of its annual update on health insurance coverage and the number of uninsured Americans on August 26, the Foundation has compiled several information resources that analyze America’s health insurance coverage, as well as policy issues and public opinion regarding the uninsured. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:05 PM

July/August Kaiser Health Poll Report -- The Public, Managed Care and Consumer Protections

The July/August Kaiser Health Poll Report featured topic examines the public's attitudes towards and experiences with their health plans, with a specific focus on managed care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:04 PM

Trends and Indicators in the Changing Health Care Marketplace, 2004 Update

Current information on key health care marketplace trends including health care spending and costs; health insurance enrollment, premiums, and benefits; the structure of the health care marketplace; and consumers and the safety net. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:04 PM

Issue Papers on New Medicare Law and Proposed Regulations

The Kaiser Family Foundation has commissioned a series of papers analyzing key issues for people with Medicare arising from the new Medicare prescription drug law. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:04 PM

Upcoming Live Interactive Webcasts Interviews with Health Policy Experts and Leaders

Kaisernetwork invites you to participate in three interactive live webcast programs giving you direct access to health policy experts and leaders. Submit questions in advance by email. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:04 PM

New Materials on Health Issues and the 2004 Elections:

The Kaiser Family Foundation is issuing informational materials on some of the health policy issues that are of concern to the American public during the 2004 election season. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:03 PM

Federal Program Leads to Better Homes and Neighborhoods for Public Housing Residents

The federal HOPE VI housing program is improving living conditions for former residents of the nation's most distressed public housing, new research from the nonpartisan Urban Institute shows. Those who leave the troubled housing developments as part of HOPE VI revitalization efforts are moving to accommodations with fewer problems and to neighborhoods with less poverty, significantly less crime, and slightly more racial diversity. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:03 PM

An Improved Living Environment? Housing Quality Outcomes for HOPE VI Relocatees

The HOPE VI program strives to improve the living environment for residents of the most severally distressed public housing. This brief examines whether residents in a five-site panel study experienced improvements in their physical housing quality two years after the relocation process began. We find that housing quality improved greatly for those who moved from the original developments, particularly for those using housing choice vouchers. However, the improvements in housing quality still lag behind poor renters nationwide. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:02 PM

An Improved Living Environment? Relocation Outcomes for HOPE VI Relocatees

This brief examines housing assistance outcomes, two years after the start of relocation at five HOPE VI panel study sites. Overall, 61 percent of the 736 respondents had relocated by the time of the follow-up survey. We find that vouchers are the primary relocation tool, and, not surprisingly, residents who are dissatisfied with public housing were more likely to relocate with vouchers. If handled properly, relocation could significantly improve residents' lives by helping them move to quality housing in safe neighborhoods. However, a number of challenges with relocation remain, including tight rental markets and limited relocation services. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:02 PM

Hasty Changes To HUD's "Fair Market Rents" Would Disrupt Housing Assistance

Will Fischer and Barbara Sard Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:00 PM

Social Security COLA Reductions Would Weaken Financial Security for the Oldest and Poorest Retirees

Cutting cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) is often proposed as a way to limit Social Security costs, which will soar as the nation ages. This brief shows, however, that even modest COLA reductions would lead to substantial cuts in family income for the oldest and poorest retirees. Trimming COLAs to one-half of a percentage point below the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, for example, would reduce median Social Security benefits in 2040 by 13 percent for adults ages 85 and older, and would push an additional 2 million older adults onto the bottom rungs of the income distribution. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:59 PM

A Health-Conscious Safety Net? Health Problems and Program Use among Low-Income Adults with Disabilities

Many low-income adults have a health problem or impairment that limits their ability to participate in work. This brief examines the employment and program participation patterns of low-income adults with disabilities, and how well the current safety net meets their needs. Using data from the third round of the National Survey of America's families, the findings question current benefits and services, as many will likely lead to a lifetime of support rather than to a job. The employment rates of those with disabilities are much lower than among other low-income adults. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:59 PM

A Profile of Families Cycling on and off Welfare

From MDRC:

In MDRC's study of over 160,000 single-parent welfare recipients, families who repeatedly return to welfare assistance-"cyclers"-were less disadvantaged in the labor market than long-term welfare recipients. At the same time, they were less able than short-term recipients to attain stable employment and to work without welfare. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:58 PM

Marriage Promotion and the Living Arrangements of Black, Hispanic, and White Children

This brief uses data from the 1997 and 2002 National Survey of America's Families to analyze racial and ethnic differences in children's living arrangements and the implications for federal and state marriage promotion policies. Black children are more likely than Hispanic or white children to live with a single parent and most black single parents have never been married. Most single parents of white children are divorced. Hispanic children are more likely than black or white children to live with unmarried cohabiting parents. Between 1997 and 2002, the share of children living with unmarried cohabiting parents rose among blacks, Hispanics, and whites, but the decline in the share of children living with single parents was significant among Hispanics only. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:56 PM

Men, Women More Different Than Thought (AP)

From Yahoo! News - Top Stories:

AP - Beyond the tired cliches and sperm-and-egg basics taught in grade school science class, researchers are discovering that men and women are even more different than anyone realized. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:40 PM

Medicare Rules Set Off a Battle on Drug Choices

From The New York Times > Washington:

A new law has touched off a battle between insurance and drug companies that could determine how many medicines will be available to Medicare beneficiaries. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:37 PM

Low-Income Nonapplicants to Get Medicare Drug Cards

From The New York Times > Health:

The Bush administration said that it would simply send the cards to 1.8 million people with low incomes who are eligible but have not applied for Medicare. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:36 PM

September 24, 2004

Health Policy Institute Established at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

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Posted by Michael at 5:38 PM

HHS Launches Hispanic Health Initiative

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will kick off the second annual Hispanic health tour, this Sunday September 26, 2004 at the Junta Hispana Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York. The ten city health tour, titled "Celebra ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:38 PM

Local Leaders Each Win $10,000 - $20,000; The San Francisco Foundation 2004 Community Leadership Awards Winners Announced: Ester Hernandez, Dr. Barbara Staggers, Chris Bischof, Puente de la Costa Sur

() Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:38 PM

Hispanic National Bar Association Applauds House for Vote to Continue Allowing Financial Institutions to Use Mexican ID Cards

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the national voice of the Hispanic legal community and the largest bipartisan Hispanic professional legal association, wants Congress to know that the decision to permit financial institutions to continue recognizing ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:37 PM

Congress Votes to Extend Tax Cuts (washingtonpost.com)

From Yahoo! News - Top Stories:

washingtonpost.com - The House and the Senate overwhelmingly voted last night to extend three tax cuts aimed at the middle class, along with an array of business tax breaks, sending President Bush a $146 billion tax cut that would be his fourth in four years. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:36 PM

Imagery reduces children's post-operative pain, study finds

A study aimed at giving health care providers a better understanding of the multidimensional nature and effects of school-age children's post-operative pain concludes that using imagery with analgesics reduced tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy pain and anxiety following surgery. NIH/National Institute of Nursing Research Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:35 PM

September 23, 2004

Evaluation of California's Immigrant Education Offers Vital Lessons for National Policy

Without a coherent education policy for immigrants based on the complex range of their experiences, federal and state governments imperil the economic and social progress of millions of children, says education reform expert Alec Ian Gershberg, co-author of a new book from the Urban Institute Press. Current policies affecting immigrants are directed almost exclusively toward the narrow goal of teaching them English. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:40 AM

September 17, 2004

Current Government Receipts

The National Income and Product Accounts (NIPAs) provide comprehensive data on government receipts at all levels. Since 1970, current government receipts have averaged 29.0 percent of gross domestic product. Of that total, federal receipts accounted for 18.6 percent and current state and local government receipts, excluding transfers from the federal government (which are netted out in the total government figures), were 10.4 percent of GDP. Research shows that state and local current receipts tend to be more stable as a share of GDP than federal current receipts. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:55 PM

An Improved Living Environment? Neighborhood Outcomes for HOPE VI Relocatees

The HOPE VI program strives to improve neighborhood living conditions in some of the nation's most distressed public housing developments by revitalizing the site and by helping residents move to less distressed neighborhoods. This brief examines HOPE IV's progress, two years after the start of relocation at the five HOPE VI panel study sites, in "improving the living environment for residents of severely distressed public housing" and "providing housing that will avoid or decrease the concentration of very low-income families." We find that neighborhood conditions have greatly improved for relocatees, particularly those who now live in private housing. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:55 PM

Comments to the Employment and Training Administration on the EMILE System

These comments, submitted to the Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor, discuss the proposed new method of data collection under the Workforce Investment Act-the EMILE system. While CLASP believes the EMILE system will both provide richer data about program participation across 12 employment and training programs, CLASP is also concerned that not enough attention has been given to defining the various data elements and that the proposal does not provide any new funding to develop and implement the new reporting system. (Publication No. 04-44) Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:52 PM

Digital Divide…Where To Go From Here

This issue brief, “Children, The Digital Divide, and Federal Policy,” includes new research findings and reviews the latest information on wiring the nation’s schools and libraries, including points of access, the speed of connection, and what children are doing online. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:50 PM

Establishment of Paternity and Enforcement of Support Orders When a Member of the Military Is Involved

The Department of Defense employs approximately 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.4 million reservists, 2 million retirees, and 800 thousand civilian employees. Many of these employees and retirees are non-custodial parents. This memo to child support advocates details how to deal with the military in establishing and enforcing support orders. (Publication No. 04-43). Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:49 PM

September 10, 2004

Online Resource Provides Detailed Look at Health Care in California

This chartbook provides California and national data and trend analysis on a broad range of health system and financing indicators, including demographics and health status data, insurance coverage and the uninsured, employer health insurance premiums and offer rates, Medicaid and Medicare enrollment and spending, and health care industry trends. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:30 PM

Employer Health Benefits 2004 Annual Survey

This annual survey of employers provides detailed insights into trends in employer-based health coverage, including changes in premiums, employee contributions, cost-sharing policies and other relevant information. The 2004 survey included 3,017 randomly selected public and private firms with three or more employees and was conducted jointly by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:30 PM

The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity

A new report reviews more than 40 studies on the role of media in the nation's dramatically increasing rates of childhood obesity and concludes children who spend the most time with media are more likely to be overweight. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:28 PM

New Survey Reports Children’s Enrollment in SCHIP Dropped for the First Time in the Six-Year History of the Program

Two new Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured reports show State Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment declined in the second half of 2003 and examine what led to Texas' enrollment decline. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:28 PM

Excessive TV, lack of safe play space, raise obesity risk for young black girls

Too much television and too few recreational opportunities mean not enough physical activity and a higher risk of obesity for young black girls, a new study says. NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health; US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women's Health Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:28 AM

August/September CLASP Update

Article topics include: potential funding for transitional jobs through child support; improper TANF and child care payments; the budget situation in the states; and the value of marriage as an antipoverty strategy. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:03 AM

September 9, 2004

Access to Children's Mental Health Services under Medicaid and SCHIP

At least 10 percent of low-income American children have emotional and behavioral problems. States have adopted widely different ways of financing and delivering children's mental health services. This brief provides new information on SCHIP coverage of mental health services, and on the prevalence of mental health problems among children by income and health insurance coverage. Since Medicaid and SCHIP cover most low-income children and provide relatively generous coverage of mental health compared with private insurance, they provide important access to child mental health services. Medicaid and SCHIP agencies could better assess and coordinate mental health services for low-income children. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:48 AM

In Cities, Suburbs and the Sticks: Gary Gates Uncovers the U.S. Communities that Same-Sex Couples Call Home

[ Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:46 AM

September 6, 2004

Food Stamp Participation Rates Increase for Recent Welfare Leavers

This fast fact depicts how food stamp participation among families with children who have recent welfare experience compares with those who have no welfare experience. This suggests that the new food stamp program rules are only making a difference for families with experience in the cash welfare system. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:57 AM

Distributional Effects of Defined Contribution Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts

This paper incorporates retirement saving incentives into the Tax Policy Center microsimulation model and analyzes the distributional effects of current tax preferences for saving. As a share of income, tax-preferred saving incentives provide the largest benefits to households with income between $75,000 and $500,000, roughly the 80th to 99th percentile of the income distribution. In 2004, the top 20 percent of tax filing units by income will receive 70 percent of the tax benefits from new contributions to defined contribution plans and almost 60 percent of IRA tax benefits. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:57 AM

Best Teachers Need More Than Apples

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:57 AM

Too Many Youths Facing Adult Justice

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:57 AM

The Real Truth about Low Graduation Rates, An Evidence-Based Commentary

A growing body of research has consistently pointed towards the uncomfortable fact the nation is facing a crisis in high school completion. This paper builds on a series of recent Urban Institute reports and analyses that have examined high graduation rates in the United States and the new accountability required over graduation by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. In this commentary, the author attempts to clarify these issues and offer a foundation upon which to ground on-going policy debates, future research into the graduation and dropout phenomena, and the shape of the next generation of educational accountability systems. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:57 AM

The Individual Alternative Minimum Tax: A Data Update

The individual alternative minimum tax (AMT) was intended to guarantee that high income people paid at least some tax, but it is poorly designed. The Tax Policy Center has written extensively about the AMT. This data update presents new data for the tables in our July 2003 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:56 AM

An Update to State Policy Initiatives to Reduce Teen and Adult Nonmarital Childbearing

A 50-state survey of state policies and programs to discourage teen and nonmarital childbearing conducted by Child Trends in 2001 analyzes changes since the 1999 and 1997 surveys. State efforts to prevent teen pregnancy and early childbearing changed little between 1999 and 2001 with one exception. More states reported school-based abstinence education in 2001 than in 1999. Although states focused less effort on nonmarital pregnancy prevention than on teen pregnancy prevention, states are emphasizing welfare caps, improved access to contraceptive service, programs encouraging unmarried pregnant couples to marry, and youth development or young adult education programs. The online version of the brief includes tables that identify the teen and nonmarital childbearing programs in place in each state. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:56 AM

Public and Private Agencies Need to Manage for Results, Not Just Measure Them

Harry Hatry, a national expert on performance measurement, provides examples of nonprofit and government agencies that have installed and used systematic processes to regularly monitor and improve the quality of their services to the public. Service improvement, not merely measurement, is the central theme. The author also introduces a recently released series of six guides on how nonprofits and government agencies can develop key outcome measures and manage for results. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:56 AM

Election 2004: Marriage and Family

Marriage is a topic that has both united and divided Americans in 2004. While the Healthy Marriage proposal ("to encourage the formation and maintenance of healthy two parent married families and responsible fatherhood") languishes in the Senate as part of welfare reform's reauthorization, civil unions and same-sex marriage are debated everywhere voters turn. This fact sheet presents data and estimates behind two aspects of the marriage debate--healthy marriage education and same-sex marriage--using Urban Institute research on the well-being of children living with cohabiting, married, and same-sex couples. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 2:56 AM

Service Delivery and Institutional Linkages

From MDRC:

Describing the initial experiences of 15 Employment Retention and Advancement programs in 8 states, this report emphasizes implementation issues and focuses on connections among the agencies and institutions that deliver retention and advancement services to low-income workers and hard-to-employ populations. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Participating in a Place-Based Employment Initiative

From MDRC:

From the Jobs-Plus Initiative, this report describes efforts to build participation among public housing residents in a program that offers services and financial incentives designed to promote work. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Scaling Up First Things First

From MDRC:

Based on survey data and findings from interviews and observations, this report describes the First Things First reform initiative and its first year of implementation at seven secondary schools, with a focus on three key components: small learning communities, a family advocacy system, and instructional improvement strategies. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

The Effects of Marriage and Divorce on Families and Children

From MDRC:

Listed: May 13, 2004 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Housing Assistance and the Effects of Welfare Reform

From MDRC:

Using data from two random assignment welfare reform experiments, this report contributes insights to efforts to foster economic self-sufficiency in both the assisted housing and the welfare policy arenas. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Building Bridges to Self-Sufficiency

From MDRC:

A collaboration of MDRC and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, this report explores how best to improve job stability and career advancement of low-wage earners and increase their household income. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Welfare Reform in Miami

From MDRC:

Welfare caseloads fell, employment increased, and social conditions generally improved in Miami-Dade County after the 1996 federal welfare reform law was passed, but the county's welfare-to-work work program was poorly implemented and unusually harsh. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

The Talent Development High School Model

From MDRC:

An examination of the implementation and early impacts of Talent Development, a whole-school reform initiative, found that the model produced substantial gains in ninth-grade students' course completion and promotion rates. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

Conducting Classroom Observations in First Things First Schools

From MDRC:

Relying on 427 classroom observations conducted over a three-year period, this study traces changes in teachers' instructional practices in the First Things First schools. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:10 AM

High School Reform Conference Series

From MDRC:

How can evidence-based research help improve low-performing high schools? This report summarizes the first in a series of conferences designed to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to address that question. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:09 AM

Married and Poor

From MDRC:

Using recent surveys and published reports, this working paper assembles a portrait of the attitudes and behaviors of disadvantaged married couples. It gathers and assesses descriptive statistics on the formation and stability, characteristics, and quality of marriages in the low-income population in the U.S. We welcome discussion and comments on this working paper. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:09 AM

Implementing Financial Work Incentives in Public Housing

From MDRC:

In a study of rent-based incentives plans designed to help make work pay for public housing residents, the use of incentives was substantial and boosted household income, but it varied widely across sites, reflecting differences in implementation efforts. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:09 AM

Mobilizing Resident Networks in Public Housing

From MDRC:

The "community support for work" component of Jobs-Plus relies on outreach workers from public housing developments to help extend Jobs-Plus's reach in public housing communities. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:09 AM

September 5, 2004

Number of Americans Without Insurance Reaches Highest Level on Record

Revised 8/27/04 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:56 PM

Census Data Show Poverty Increased, Income Stagnated, and the Number of Uninsured Rose to a Record Level In 2003

Revised 8/27/04 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:56 PM

Will Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Coverage Improve Significantly in 2004?

Isaac Shapiro, Robert Greenstein, and Leighton Ku Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

An Uneven Recovery: New Government Data Show Corporate Profits Enjoying Unusually Large Gains, While Workers' Incomes Lag Behind

David Kamin and Isaac Shapiro Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

Side-by-Side Comparisons of Child Support Provisions in Recent TANF Reauthorization Proposals

This chart summarizes child support provisions in current Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) law and recent TANF reauthorization bills in the House and Senate. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

CLASP Audio Conference Transcript: Disconnected Youth: Educational Pathways to Reconnection (July 9, 2004).

CLASP Senior Policy Analyst Linda Harris moderates a discussion about innovative ideas for reconnecting at-risk youth to education with Rob Ivry, Senior Vice President at MDRC; Laurel Dukehart, Manager of the Gateway to College Replication Project at Portland Community College; and Jack Wuest, Director of the Chicago Alternative Schools Network. (Publication No. 04-38). Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

State-by-State WIA Program Participation Data--Program Year 2002

States were required to begin implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) by July 2000 and have been continuously developing their programs since that time. Under the Act and associated regulations, states are required to collect a series of demographic and performance outcome information on each WIA participant who accesses intensive or both intensive and training services. At the completion of the program year (July-June), states are required to submit data on those participants that exited the WIA program during the year. Individual participant data are collected and reported annually to the Department of Labor through the WIASRD system. The complete WIASRD data for PY 2002 have recently become available. These tables provide state-by-state data on program participation for PY 2002. (Publication No. 04-40). Click here for the Excel file of these tables. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

High-Wire Act: Balancing Families and Jobs at Precarious Points

This report, prepared by Levin-Epstein during an Ian Axford Fellowship in New Zealand, examines two work-leave policies: parental leave and sick days' leave. It considers the implications of these policies, particularly for low-income families and for small businesses, in New Zealand and the United States. (Publication No. 04-39). Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

I Can't Give You Anything But Love: Would Poor Couples With Children Be Better Off Economically If They Married?

Policymakers and researchers alike are debating whether marriage might be an anti-poverty strategy for families with children. Some believe that if more parents married, there would be a substantial decrease in poverty. Others suggest that increasing the marriage rate among poor and near-poor parents, while not dramatically reducing poverty, would make a significant dent in the poverty rate for families with children. Still others are highly skeptical of these claims. This issue brief summarizes recent research bearing on the validity of these viewpoints. (Publication No. 04-41). Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:55 PM

Where the Funds Are: Potential Use of Child Support Funds for Transitional Jobs Programs