Human Services News

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Posted by Michael at 12:20 AM

Smoking makes the campus scene (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Students have been flocking to bars, nightclubs and campus parties for a new kind of social event: tobacco-industry-sponsored parties, complete with complimentary cigarettes. A new study suggests these parties are a powerful marketing tool that encourages some to start smoking. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:19 AM

Nation's Leading Food and Nutrition Science Organizations Urge Americans to Lighten-Up

The Food and Nutrition Science Alliance (FANSA), a coalition of seven nutrition and food science societies, encourages Americans to lose weight, but not through crash diets or drastic changes in diet that are hard to follow for more than a few weeks or months. ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:19 AM

New Law Enables Children To Carry And Self-Administer Asthma Medication At Schools; New Statewide School Guidelines Will Help To Reduce Asthma Impact

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Posted by Michael at 12:10 AM

Arkansas Foster Child Law Stricken

From washingtonpost.com - Nation:

An Arkansas judge Wednesday declared unconstitutional a state ban on placing foster children in any household with a gay member. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:09 AM

December 29, 2004

Attention College-Bound Students: This Year, Apply Early For Financial Aid, Says College Loan Corporation

January is the time for college-bound seniors and their families to start applying for federal financial aid. In 2005, with college enrollment and tuition costs rising, students and parents should apply soon after January 1 by completing the Free Application ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:49 AM

Americans Urged to Leave the Guns Locked Up on New Year's Eve, Says Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

In dozens of American communities this New Year's Eve, overexcited and under- intelligent individuals will welcome 2005 with an act of stupidity. They may kill an innocent in the bargain, too. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:37 AM

December 28, 2004

Adoptions Stall, More Legal Orphans Created by Failed Federal Law, National Child Advocacy Group Says

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Posted by Michael at 10:35 AM

Children's Gift Idea for G.I.'s Eases Cost of Calling Home

Two children from the Boston suburbs founded an organization that has provided $250,000 worth of prepaid calling cards to American soldiers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:34 AM

December 27, 2004

Update on ADAP Waiting Lists for HIV Medications

The Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) released new information this week on waiting lists and other cost containment measures used by states. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:45 AM

Retirement Saving Incentives and Personal Saving

To encourage saving for retirement, private pensions such as employer sponsored 401(k) plans or IRAs receive favorable tax treatment by the federal government. A major goal of such tax provisions is to increase personal saving. A measure of the value of these tax benefits is provided by the Treasury Department, and the National Income and Product Accounts contains a measure of personal saving. With the sudden drop in personal savings in 1999 and its steady decline in more recent recession years, government tax expenditures on pension benefits began to approach the personal savings level by the end of the 1990s. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:36 AM

Pell Grant Changes Will Mean More Borrowing by Students Nationwide, Says Duke University's Financial Aid Director

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Posted by Michael at 8:57 AM

Tests Are History at This High School (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - PROVIDENCE, R.I. — When she wanted to be a detective, Carleen Mylers studied criminal justice and took a job as an investigator. When she thought she might become a lawyer, she worked in family court. Now that she has an internship in a local middle school, people are asking if she plans to go into teaching. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:56 AM

American Public Health Association Applauds HHS Plan to Extend Benefits to Help America's Seniors Stop Smoking

Statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, executive director, American Public Health Association, applauding the HHS plan to extend benefits to help America's seniors stop smoking: Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:51 AM

Governors Unite in Fight Against Medicaid Cuts

From NYT > Health:

The nation's governors are mounting a bipartisan lobbying effort to stave off new federal limits on Medicaid. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:48 AM

Comment: Pell Grant Cuts Hurt Middle and Low Income Students

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Posted by Michael at 8:47 AM

December 23, 2004

NCPA: HHS Importation Report Focuses on Costs, Ignores Savings; NCPA Expert Says Shopping for Drugs Makes Importation Unnecessary

A report issued by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Department concludes that consumers could save little if any money by importing drugs from Canada, but does not address how much more consumers can save just by becoming smarter shoppers, according to ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:56 PM

Fastest growth found in 'red' states (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Robust population growth continues to sweep the nation's Southern and Western states, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Census Bureau. If the trend continues, states that have been population powerhouses since the 19th century will lose their dominance to Sun Belt states by 2010. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:52 PM

Students to Bear More of the Cost of College

At least 1.3 million students will receive smaller Pell Grants, the nation's primary scholarship for those of low income. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:50 PM

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline Fields 500,000 Crisis Calls In 2004

The Girls and Boys Town National Hotline fielded its 500,000th call of the year at 12:07 p.m. CST today, a milestone that has not been achieved in more than a decade. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:50 PM

Leave No City Behind: England/United States Dialogue on Urban Education Reform

Both the United States and England initiated ambitious standards-based education reform to eliminate large gaps between their highest and lowest achievers. England appears to be ahead, having started in 1988 with a national curriculum, tests, and performance tables. The United States' No Child Left Behind Act began rewriting state rules in 2002 with more incentives and punitive measures aimed at school performance. Viewing the contrasts as opportunity, educators and policymakers from each side of the Atlantic gathered in Philadelphia in mid-October for the second half of a dialogue on urban education. This policy brief offers highlights from their discussions. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:29 AM

Private accounts: The 'spicy sauce' to sell deep benefit cuts

From Economic Policy Institute:

Proponents of deep cuts in Social Security benefits are trying to sell these cuts by disguising them with private accounts. As the December 22 Snapshot shows, the primary proposal of President Bush's commission on Social Security would slash the guaranteed portion of Social Security by 62% for those who retire in 2075 and had opted for private accounts. With the likely income from private accounts added to those benefits, these workers would still receive 42% less in benefits than anticipated under the current law. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:10 AM

National Forum Calls on Policy Makers to Focus on Providing More Supports to Middle Grades Given Modest Performance on Global Math Tests; International Results Show U.S. Middle-Grades Students Need Improvement in Math

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Posted by Michael at 12:01 AM

December 22, 2004

Kettering University's Pre-College Program for Minority Students Recognized as 'Outstanding' by Michigan Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers

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Posted by Michael at 8:27 PM

Race may be factor in doctor-patient communication style

Doctors are less likely to actively engage their black patients in conversation when compared to the conversations they had with their white patients, according to a new study of primary care visits conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine. Commonwealth Fund; Bayer Institute for Health Care Communications; NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; Agency for Health Care Research and Quality; National Institute of Graduate Medical Sciences Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:25 PM

Detoxification in nation's jails falls short

Very few jails in the United States continue methadone treatments for opiate-dependent inmates, and half fail to follow standard methadone detoxification protocols, according to a national survey by the University of Rochester Medical Center. New York State Academy of Family Practice Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:24 PM

Need a solution? In your dreams

The advice to 'sleep on it' for a while isn't a bad idea, according to a new study. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Fonds de la recherche en sante du Quebec Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:24 PM

New AHRQ Diabetes Care Resource Guide Offers Help to States

HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in partnership with the Council of State Governments, today released Diabetes Care Quality Improvement: A Resource Guide for State Action and its companion workbook, both of which are designed to help states ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:22 PM

Reimportation Report Stiffs Seniors, Says Alliance for Retired Americans; HHS Says 'Bah Humbug!' to Affordable Prescription Drugs

The following statement is a reaction to the HHS report on prescription drug importation, by Edward F. Coyle, executive director, Alliance for Retired Americans: Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:21 PM

APHA Dismayed by HHS Task Force Report on Drug Importation; Statement fromGeorges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, Executive Director

The following is a statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, Executive Director, on findings released today by the Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Drug Importation: Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:21 PM

Exercise Program Specially Fit to Needs of Mentally Ill People (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - KEENE, N.H. — Until her first breakdown, Pat was trim and active, even playing on the volleyball team in college. But deep scars on her forearms attest to a lifetime of self-abuse. Pat, 53, grew sedentary, obese and reclusive. She said she has been hospitalized 25 times. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:20 PM

Open States of West and South Lead in Growth of Population

New Mexico, Idaho, Utah and other states with open spaces are growing steadily as Americans look for ways to spread out, the Census Bureau is reporting. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:17 PM

December 21, 2004

Hunger, Crowding, and Other Hardships Are Widespread Among Families in Poverty

From Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Arloc Sherman Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:40 PM

Uninsured and Underserved: The Health Care Experiences of Latinos in the Nation's Capital

A summary of Latino experiences and opinions regarding access to health care in the District of Columbia. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:34 PM

The Cost of Protecting Vulnerable Children IV: How Child Welfare Funding Fared during the Recession

This report marks the fourth time the Urban Institute has collected data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia regarding child welfare spending. Our findings highlight the differences in states' spending patterns and the interaction between federal, state, and local dollars in financing child welfare activities--issues that should be considered during policy and budget debates at the state and national levels. States spent at least $22 billion on child welfare activities in state fiscal year (SFY) 2002, with increases between SFY 2000 and SFY 2002 coming from all levels of government. A rise in TANF and Medicaid spending accounted for nearly all the federal growth. [View the corresponding Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:25 AM

December 20, 2004

Impact of Pharmaceutical Promotion on the Use of Antidepressant Medication

Two articles evaluate the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on the use of antidepressants. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:36 PM

Medicare's Troubles May Be Sleeping Giant (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON — As restructuring Social Security moves to the top of his agenda, President Bush is sidestepping a troublesome problem: Medicare, which provides health insurance for 41 million elderly and disabled people, is fast going broke. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:12 AM

Beltline Could Be Atlanta's 'Emerald Necklace'; Plan by Renowned Yale Professor Shows Potential for New Parks, Development, Connections

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Posted by Michael at 10:09 AM

Administration Looks to Curb Growth of Medicaid Spending

Auditors will be sent to investigate techniques used by states to shift hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid costs to the U.S. government. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:07 AM

Access to Benefits Coalition Makes it Easier to Enroll in Medicare Cards

With less than two weeks remaining to receive $1,200 in savings from the government, the national Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) and many local non-profit and government agencies are urging people with Medicare who have low incomes to enroll in a Medicare-approved ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:05 AM

Demands for equal treatment between divorced parents may not be fair for the children

As thousands of divorced and separated parents decide where their children will spend this Christmas, an ESRC-funded study into post divorce family life shows that fairness and equality between fathers and mothers may end up being unfair on the youngsters. Economic and Social Research Council Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:05 AM

Early learning leaves lasting changes in brain, Stanford owl study shows

Educational Christmas toys can leave a mark on more than just your checkbook - they can also leave a permanent imprint on a child's brain. That's according to a Stanford University School of Medicine study in owls showing that early learning experiences forever change the brain's structure. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:04 AM

U.S. Spends More to Protect Vulnerable Children Despite Sluggish Economy

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Posted by Michael at 10:03 AM

Can Americans trust their medicine? (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Many Americans can't help but wonder whether the doors to their medicine cabinets should carry "proceed with caution" signs. The Food and Drug Administration has been under attack for its handling of drugs such as Vioxx and suppressing evidence that antidepressants might increase suicidal thoughts in children. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:02 AM

December 17, 2004

Kaiser/San Jose Mercury News Survey of Asians In The Bay Area

In a three-day front-page series, Kaiser and the San Jose Mercury News released the results of their groundbreaking survey of Asians in the San Francisco Bay Area. The series profiled individual families while reporting demographic trends and survey results on topics such as community, politics and government, the workplace and education. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:12 AM

New UCLA study develops links between socioeconomic status and poor health

Findings suggest that individuals with high overall cardiovascular risk in midlife can be identified by relatively higher risk factors when they are younger. They found also that young people from families with a lower SES experienced greater increases in those risk factors than people higher on the scale. Also, the researchers found that the effect of SES on risk accumulation is stronger in women than in men, and stronger in blacks than in whites. National Institutes of Health, MacArthur Foundation Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:57 AM

States' Pocketbooks Are Fuller, but Health Costs Stall Recovery

The fiscal condition of the states improved this year, but soaring health costs have made it difficult for them to recover from the worst fiscal crisis in six decades. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:49 AM

Officials Reconsider Flu Vaccine Restrictions

From NYT > Health:

More than half of all elderly or chronically ill adults have not even tried to get flu shots, and health officials are now worried that doses of the vaccine could go to waste. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:48 AM

National Press Conference on Poverty in America to Be Held for the First Time in Los Angeles, January 11

January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month and each year the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) holds a national press conference focusing on poverty in America and successful grassroots solutions. For the first time, the CCHD ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:47 AM

Black Baby Boomers' Income Gap Cited

From washingtonpost.com - Nation:

Black Americans born between 1946 and 1964 "are no better off relative to whites than their parents and grandparents" were in terms of income, according to a new Duke University study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:45 AM

Report on health insurance coverage of Iowa children shows gaps

A new report on health insurance coverage of Iowa children indicates that nearly 90,000 children in the state are uninsured at some point in the year. Some programs, however, are available to help families, and more could be done to expand, as well as educate people about, options. Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:44 AM

December 16, 2004

A Flood of Troubled Soldiers Is in the Offing, Experts Predict

From NYT > Health:

The health care system for veterans is facing a potential deluge of soldiers returning from Iraq with serious mental health problems. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:52 AM

The Talent Development Middle School Model

From MDRC:

During the first three years of implementation in six urban schools, The Talent Development Middle School model-an ongoing, whole-school reform initiative-had a positive impact on math achievement for eighth-graders but appeared to produce no systematic improvement in outcomes for seventh-graders. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:05 AM

December 15, 2004

FTCR: Bush's Economic Summit In Sync with Donors, Out of Sync with Reality; Pharmaceutical, Insurance Reforms Could Save Billions

Insurance companies do not reduce physicians' premiums when restrictions on medical malpractice lawsuits are enacted, according to formal regulatory filings; (see note 1 below) Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:49 PM

America's Health Insurance Plans Launches New HSA Website, Cosponsors Online Learning Center with SBA

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will launch a one-stop online clearing house for consumer information on Health Savings Accounts (HSA's). The Web site will feature an online learning center cosponsored with the U.S. Small Business Administration ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:49 PM

Study: Unsafe gun, poison chemical storage in homes can turn holiday visits deadly

Many US residents who have younger children at home are negligent in storing guns and poisonous materials, but those whose homes children only visit are significantly worse, according to a new study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:41 PM

Infants, Children Prefer Sounds Over Pictures and Only Slowly Become Visually Oriented, Studies Find

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Posted by Michael at 11:40 PM

Money for Vaccinating Children Is Diverted, Officials Say

The federal government is using money that was intended for vaccinating children to pay for experimental flu vaccines for adults, health officials said. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:39 PM

A Second Report Shows Charter School Students Not Performing as Well as Other Students

A federal Education Department analysis of test scores from 2003 shows that children in charter schools did not perform as well on exams as those in regular public schools. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:39 PM

Summary of the New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

This document summarizes the proposed rule to implement the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. The rule was published in August 2004 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:35 AM

Kaiser/Hewitt Retiree Health Benefits Study

A new survey of large employers finds businesses and retirees experienced double-digit increase in retiree health costs, with further increases expected in 2005. The survey also includes an early look at employers' responses to the new Medicare drug law. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:34 AM

University of Illinois at Chicago Follows Nationwide Movement Toward Character Education

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Posted by Michael at 12:18 AM

CHADD Responds to Alarmist Media Reports on AD/HD; Media Reports of AD/HD Medication Abuse Create Confusion About Seriousness of Disorder

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Posted by Michael at 12:13 AM

Major Health Plans and Organizations Join AHRQ to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care

HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) today announced a new public-private partnership, the National Health Plan Learning Collaborative to Reduce Disparities and Improve Quality, which is designed to help reduce disparities in health care ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:13 AM

NCQA Names Nation's Top 10 Medicare, Medicaid Health Plans; More Than 100 Medicaid Plans Now Make Data Available

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today identified the nation's highest quality Medicare and Medicaid health plans on two "Top 10" lists (see below) designed to recognize industry leaders and draw consumer attention to the issue ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:11 AM

Retirees Are Paying More for Health Benefits, Study Says

From NYT > Health:

Retirees who receive health benefits from their former employers saw premiums shoot up an average of 25 percent this year, a new study says. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:08 AM

Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Awards $3.78 Million to Place More than 1,600 Veterans in Jobs Under the Workforce Investment Act

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced that more than 1,600 veterans in 17 communities in 15 states will be placed in new jobs thanks to $3.78 million in Department of Labor (DOL) grants awarded today. In addition, DOL expects another 600 veterans to ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:06 AM

New model of rare childhood blindness holds promise for testing preventive therapies

The development of a laboratory model for a rare, inherited form of blindness holds promise that scientists might one day be able to test new treatments to prevent or cure this devastating disease of the retina. This finding, from investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Columbia University, will be published in the Dec. 20 issue of Molecular Brain Research (MBR). Research to Prevent Blindness, NIH/National Eye Institute, NIH/National Cancer Institute, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Karl Kirchgessner Foundation, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:04 AM

Gov. Barbour's Proposal to Cut Funding for Mississippi's Tobacco Prevention Program Would Sacrifice Health of Mississippi's Children to Protect Big Tobacco; Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Statement

Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:04 AM

'Oh wow! It's a ... stock certificate?'

From Christian Science Monitor | Work/Money:

Financial assets can be a great Christmas gift for children - and a learning opportunity as well. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:03 AM

In a Changing Harlem, Two Groups Cry Foul

From washingtonpost.com - Nation:

The NBA Players Association and a celebrated youth group are embroiled in a legal battle that is unfolding before a backdrop of a changing Harlem, the unofficial capital of African American political and cultural life. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:02 AM

December 14, 2004

Beyond Bilingual Education: Immigrant Students and the No Child Left Behind Act

[First Tuesday's Transcript] This Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:47 AM

Tough Choices, Opportunity, or Both?

For the last several years, Congress has been on a spending spree unlike any in the nation's history - a turnaround of about 7 percent of gross domestic product in going from surplus to deficit. In addition to size, what made this spree unique was that tax cuts, defense increases, large automatic growth in entitlement spending, new health entitlements, and discretionary spending increases all were pursued at the same time, even while revenue projections were dropping after the collapse of a late-1990s bubble stock market. In the mid-1970s, The Wall Street Journal editorial page started pushing for what it called a "two Santa Claus'' policy. The complaint was that the Democrats got to be Santa Claus with expenditures, then the Republicans reluctantly had to increase taxes. Better it argued, would be for the Republicans to be Santa Claus, too, on the tax side of the ledger - creating, it argued, a better economy and a viable political position for the Republicans. But no one then predicted the world to which we have evolved - two-Santa-Clauses-at-thesame- time. When both show up together - when taxes are cut while expenditures are increased - it's especially hard to hold onto any belief that somehow the budget will remain balanced in the long run. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:41 AM

Exempting Dividends, Interest, and Capital Gains From Taxation

This article uses the TPC tax model to examine the direct effect of exempting all dividends, interest, and capital gains from income taxation. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:37 AM

Free Spam-Blocking Software Available to Nonprofits on Dec. 15; Donation Concludes Weeks of 'Stop Spam Today' Educational Campaign

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Posted by Michael at 12:26 AM

Families inform roadmap to improve care for dying in nursing homes

End-of-life care in nursing homes often results in unnecessary suffering due mainly to a lack of staff time, training and communication, according to a new AARP study conducted at Brown Medical School. The report lists 15 recommendations to improve care, including more staffing, increased physician presence, additional training and better reimbursement rates. American Association Retired Persons Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:24 AM

AP: U.S. Officials Knew of AIDS Drug Risks (AP)

AP - The government's research on using an AIDS drug to protect African babies was so flawed that health officials had to use blood tests after the fact to confirm patients got the medicine. Ultimately, they had to acknowledge the study broke federal patient protection rules. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:19 AM

Leavitt to Lead HHS, Could Cut Programs (AP)

AP - Michael Leavitt, President Bush's choice to be secretary of Health and Human Services, may have to cut billions of dollars from the government's mammoth health programs for the elderly, poor and disabled to pare the budget deficit. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:18 AM

The Hidden Price Tag for Health Care

From NYT > Health:

What should really keep executives awake at night is the upward trajectory of health care spending. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:17 AM

Drug to treat ADHD has similar effect on children with reading disorders

Housing Assistance Council: Information and Publications - Press Room

The drug methylphenidate (brand name Ritalin) increased activity in brains of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as those with a reading disorder, researchers at Yale report in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:13 AM

December 13, 2004

Race, Place, and Housing are Interconnected

Counties with consistently high concentrations of racial or ethnic minorities are the last bastions of poor quality housing in this nation, according to a Housing Assistance Council report released today. The geographic isolation and relative segregation of rural minorities living in counties with high minority populations combine with history and economics to increase abusive credit practices, increase substandard housing, and lower home values, HAC found.

Posted by Michael at 1:29 PM

Diabetes: A link between oral and overall health?

Diabetes affects 18.2 million people in the United States and is expected to double by the year 2010. Additionally, diabetics who do not have good control over their blood sugar levels are more susceptible to oral health problems than non-diabetics, according to a study that appears in the November/December 2004 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:22 AM

Cumulative trauma in adulthood can worsen health in later years

Cumulative trauma during a person's lifetime can have an overall effect on health in one's later years, according to a study that examines the consequences of traumatic events on older adults' physical health. Also, traumas experienced in adulthood compared to traumas experienced in childhood appear to cause more damage to an older person's (65 and older) health, say researchers of a new study reported on in the December issue of Psychology and Aging published by the American Psychological Association (APA). Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:14 AM

December 12, 2004

Jobs for the Future Receives Grant to Expand Early College Network Nationwide

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded Boston-based JOBS FOR THE FUTURE (JFF) an additional $7 million grant, bringing the total to $15 million to lead implementation efforts and provide technical assistance to a growing network of high schools ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:22 AM

USC Annenberg Announces Fellowship Program for Multicultural Health Journalism; Deadlines to Apply Are Approaching

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:16 AM

National Medical Association Launches the W. Montague Cobb /NMA Health Policy Institute to Address Health Disparities; Institute to Serve as a Platform for Solution Oriented Research

The National Medical Association (NMA) announced today that it will launch the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Policy Institute (Cobb Institute). The institute will serve as a new resource to strengthen the focus on health problems of ethnic and racial groups ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:16 AM

NCHS Report Offers Evidence Abstinence Education Works

Amidst cries for scientific proof and medical accuracy, the CDC, National Center for Health Statistics released two reports today which offer even more evidence that abstinence education works. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:15 AM

Test Finds Inaccuracies in Help Line for Medicare

From NYT > Health:

Medicare's telephone line gives accurate answers less than two-thirds of the time, Congressional investigators say. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:13 AM

New study shows early ritalin may cause long-term effects on the brain

A new study conducted in rats by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School suggests that the misdiagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) combined with prescription drug use in children may lead to a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in adulthood. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:10 AM

New Program Offers $20 Million in Loans for Child Care Facilities Improvements; Alliance Paves Way for Child Care Investments in Low-Income Communities

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:09 AM

Brookings Institution to Hold Briefing on the Policies for Children in Immigrant Families

WHAT: A Brookings-Princeton "Future of Children" Briefing: Policies for Children in Immigrant Families Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:08 AM

December 10, 2004

High School Graduation, Completion, and Dropout (GCD) Indicators: A Primer and Catalog

This report explores the measurement of high school graduation, completion, and dropout (GCD) rates. First we outline a basic framework for conceptualizing high school completion processes and identifying challenges associated with empirically measuring GCD rates. We then use this framework to construct a catalog of over 70 distinct GCD indicators used by federal and state agencies. The methodological topics addressed here have traditionally been examined by researchers. However, educational accountability systems are now attaching higher stakes to high school graduation rates. This report aims to provide a broader set of stakeholders-policymakers, educators, the public at large-with a technically-assessable introduction to this important issue. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:56 AM

December 9, 2004

US Conference of Mayors/Sodexho USA Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2004; Press Conference to Announce Survey Results Dec. 14

The U.S. Conference of Mayors and Sodexho USA will release results of the 2004 Hunger and Homelessness Survey at a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. For the past 18 years, The U.S. Conference of Mayors has reported on the shortage ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:04 PM

Heinz Endowments Awards $30.5 Million for Cultural, Educational, Health Initiatives Across Region; Major Funding for African-American Cultural Center, Additional Aid For Fred Rogers Center; Support For A(plus)Schools

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Posted by Michael at 10:59 PM

New Legislators' Guide Promotes Affordable Health Insurance; CAHI and ALEC Release Guide to Help Answer Legislators' Questions

Today the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) jointly released the "2005 State Legislators' Guide to Health Insurance Solutions." This guide will help state legislators answer the trillion ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:58 PM

Mayors, Business Leaders Hold Economic Summit to Plot Strategies to Spur Growth in U.S. Metro Areas

Today, The United States Conference of Mayors convened their second Economic Summit in Washington, D.C. with mayors and business leaders to discuss how to promote investment and spur the growth of the nation's 318 metro areas -- made up of cities and suburbs. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:55 PM

The Pew Charitable Trusts Launches Initiative to Promote Retirement Savings; $4 Million Investment Will Seek Achievable Solutions to Help Build Personal Retirement Savings, With Special Emphasis on Moderate-Income Americans

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Posted by Michael at 10:54 PM

'Your Child's Health @ PAMF' Web Site Launched by Palo Alto Medical Foundation; New Web Site a Resource for Parents With Children of All Ages

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Posted by Michael at 10:52 PM

December 8, 2004

Chicago Prisoners' Experiences Returning Home

This research brief presents findings from the Returning Home study in Chicago Illinois. The first phase of the Urban Institute's Illinois study analyzed where former Illinois prisoners settle after release and found that many returned to a handful of hard-pressed Chicago neighborhoods. The second phase focused on prisoners' expectations for life after prison and found that most were confident they would succeed. The third phase--"Chicago Prisoners' Experiences Returning Home"--followed 205 men who returned to Chicago, examining factors that may help or hinder successful reintegration, including employment, substance use, attitudes and beliefs, health status, criminal histories, and family and community contexts. [View the corresponding Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:15 AM

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease varies by ethnicity

A new study has found hepatic steatosis - fatty liver disease - in nearly one third of American adults in a large urban population sample. The prevalence of the disease varied significantly among ethnic groups. Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, National Institutes of Health Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:17 AM

The James Irvine Foundation Announces Communities Advancing the Arts, $3.5 Million Partnership With Eight Community Foundations

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Posted by Michael at 8:11 AM

State Drug Program for Elderly Saves Big Under Medicare Rx; AARP Says New York Has Opportunity to Strengthen and Expand State Pharmacy Program

Today, AARP New York called upon state leaders to strengthen the state's pharmaceutical insurance program (EPIC) for the low and middle income elderly by effectively coordinating it with the new Medicare Drug law. AARP supports coordinating the two drug ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:08 AM

Census Bureau Releases Analysis of Idaho's Older Workers

In 2002, about 32 percent of working Idahoans were age 45 and over, an increase from 25 percent in 1992, the U.S. Census Bureau said today. The analysis of Idaho's older work force is based on the Local Employment Dynamics (LED) program http://lehd.dsd.census.gov. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:08 AM

Landmark survey reveals asthma in children remains significantly out of control in the United States

The survey results released today underscore the severity of asthma in children in the US and the significant impact the disease has on children and their families. GlaxoSmithKline Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:07 AM

Helping Kids Get Mental Health Services: Boston Bar Teams Up With Children's Hospital to Publish Guide

NCJJ State Juvenile Justice Profiles

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Posted by Michael at 8:07 AM

December 7, 2004

State Juvenile Justice Profiles

The State Juvenile Justice Profiles web site features rich, descriptive information and analysis regarding each state's juvenile justice system, illustrating the uniqueness of the 51 separate juvenile justice systems in this country.

Developed in collaboration with state and local juvenile justice practitioners, the State Profiles offer an evolving array of information about each state's laws, policies, and practices, with links to individuals and agencies in the field.

The National Overviews summarize information about state laws.

Posted by Michael at 10:22 AM

Reinventing Workforce Development: Lessons from Boston's Community

SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce is addressing the needs of employers for more skilled workers and of workers for more and better access to jobs that pay a family-supporting wage. This five-year, public/private partnership is an ambitious effort on the part of philanthropy, government, community organizations, unions, and employers to change how workforce development is done in Boston.

In REINVENTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, Jerry Rubin and Geri Scott of JFF describe the start-up of this unprecedented initiative, focusing on its implications for workforce development throughout the nation. JFF helped design SkillWorks and now oversees its implementation as a consultant to the Funders Group, comprised of eight foundations, the City of Boston, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Reinventing Workforce Development: Lessons from Boston's Community Approach

Posted by Michael at 10:17 AM

Graduation Rates: Real Kids, Real Numbers

Controversies over graduation rates and No Child Left Behind have raged in research, media and political circles for almost a year. All too often, though, when complex issues of social and economic importance collide with policy and politics, heat is generated but little light. As a result, it may be difficult for local educators to parse the rhetoric from the reality and to figure out what this all means for their schools and students. This article attempts to provide some practical insight into NCLB and its implications for graduation rates and to highlight some issues of particular relevance to school administrators. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:36 AM

November's job growth weaker than expected

From Economic Policy Institute:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that payrolls expanded by 112,000 in November, far below the job growth that was expected this month. This level of growth is insufficient to erase the jobs deficit and existing labor slack that remain a feature of the labor market. For a complete report on November's employment numbers, read EPI's Jobs Picture and visit jobwatch.org. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:22 AM

U.S. Students Fare Badly in International Survey of Math Skills

The U.S. finished in the bottom half of 40 surveyed countries in a new international comparison of mathematical skills. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:47 AM

U.S. Settles on Regions for Dispensing Medicare Drug Benefits

The Bush administration announced it would carve the nation into 34 regions to administer the new Medicare program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:46 AM

Petition Urges Ohio Lawmakers to Fix School Funding

The Ohio Fair Schools Campaign is in the middle of a petition drive to demand that Ohio lawmakers fix school funding. According to the constitution, Ohio is required to provide a system of common schools for all children in the state. The Ohio Supreme Court ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:41 AM

Before investing a nest egg for a child, consider the time frame

From Christian Science Monitor | Work/Money:

Our personal-finance expert tracks down the answers you need. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:40 AM

December 6, 2004

Grab 'n' go breakfast better serves middle school children

Crunched for time, many parents are sending their children off to school without breakfast, but a trial program instituted in a Pennsylvania school may not only feed those in a rush, but better provide for those entitled to free and reduced price meals, according to Penn State researchers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:14 AM

Two-thirds of school-age children have an imaginary companion by age 7

Imagination is alive and thriving in the mnds of America's school-age children. It is so prevalent that 65 percent of children in a new study report that, by age 7, they have had an imaginary companion at some point in their lives, according to University of Washington and University of Oregon psychologists. University of Oregon Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:12 AM

What's in a Racial Identity? American Latinos All Over the Map, Study Finds (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times - WASHINGTON — Latinos who view themselves as white are more likely to be better-educated, earn more, register to vote and vote Republican, according to a national study to be released today on how Latinos identify racially. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:11 AM

Diabetics with mental disorders at increased risk for diabetic complications

Diabetics with mental disorders do not have as good blood sugar control as diabetics without mental illness and are more likely to suffer diabetes complications than diabetics without mental illness. NIH/National Institute of Mental Health Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:10 AM

Medicare Law Said to Trouble Nursing Homes

From NYT > Health:

Many experts are concerned that the new Medicare law will be unworkable for most Americans who live in nursing homes. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:04 AM

The Disparate Consensus on Health Care for All

From NYT > Health:

Among health care experts there is a surprising consensus that the U.S. must inevitably adopt some kind of universal coverage. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:03 AM

Woman-Led Businesses in Massachusetts Exceed National Growth Rate; Study Names Top Woman-Run Companies, Identifies Key Traits Driving Their Growth

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Posted by Michael at 11:02 AM

Las Vegas World Affairs Council to Host Community Forum on Immigration: An Urgent Issue Facing Western America

2010: Nevada & Latin America is Part of National PBS by the People Initiative; Media Roundtable on December 8th Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:01 AM

CCHR: President Bush Approves Landmark Legislation Prohibiting Forced Psychiatric Drugging of Schoolchildren; Celebrities, Parents, Legislators, Civil Rights Groups Win Victory for Children's Rights

Celebrities Lisa Marie Presley, Kelly Preston, Kirstie Alley, Jenna Elfman and Juliette Lewis joined the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a mental health watchdog established by the Church of Scientology, in applauding Congress for passing precedent ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:57 AM

December 3, 2004

University of Iowa Gets Grant to Print More Copies of Popular 'Nation Deceived' Report: How Schools Hold Back America's Brightest Students

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Posted by Michael at 12:38 AM

New research tool aids study of national well-being

A new research method that quantifies people's quality of life -- beyond how much money they make -- could lead to a national index of well-being, similar to key measures of economic health. NIH/National Institutes on Aging Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:35 AM

Doctoral Program to Address Need for Education Leaders in California Schools, Community Colleges

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Posted by Michael at 12:30 AM

Obesity gets you where you live, UH study finds

National Institute of Justice - Publications and Products

Low-income, ethnic minority populations may be more vulnerable to obesity because of inadequate access to healthy foods, according to a study from the University of Houston College of Education. Rebecca Lee, assistant professor of health education and lead researcher, examined healthful food availability in urban low-income and urban high-income neighborhoods. She was awarded a two-year, $110,000 grant from the American Heart Association Heartland Affiliate to study the issue. American Heart Association Heartland Affiliate Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:29 AM

December 2, 2004

Toward Safe and Orderly Schools

What are schools doing to prevent delinquency and promote school safety? This NIJ Research in Brief (NCJ 205005) presents findings from a national survey of elementary, middle, and secondary schools. Problem behavior is widespread and most common in urban areas and middle schools. Schools have adopted a large and diverse array of activities, curricular programs, and security measures, but many of these are unproven or poorly implemented. Key characteristics of successful programs and how schools can improve program quality and implementation are identified.

Posted by Michael at 3:37 PM

Applying Social Science Research to Education Problems: National Forum on Dec. 14

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Posted by Michael at 12:59 AM

Report: Californians Complacent As State Higher Education Struggles

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Posted by Michael at 12:58 AM

New Report Finds Abstinence-Only Sex Education Contains False, Misleading Information; Planned Parenthood Applauds Waxman Study

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) applauds the efforts of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) who released a report today showing that government-funded abstinence-only sex education programs are deceitful and dangerous. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:57 AM

Ford's HBCU Business Classic Business Plan Scholarship Competition Open to Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Ford Motor Company continues its pioneering efforts to increase the success of African American entrepreneurs with the HBCU Business Classic, a business competition for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which kicked off in September ... Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:57 AM

No Cure Seen for Growth in Employers' Health Costs

From NYT > Health:

The growth in health care spending by private employers slowed in recent years, creating some optimism that the employers had turned the corner in their struggle with rising costs. But any relief appears to have been short lived, according to a study to be released today. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:50 AM

Slowdown in Healthcare Growth Levels Off (AP)

AP - The slowdown in the growth of health care spending leveled off earlier this year after two years of declines, a new study found, with the cost of treating a privately insured American rising 7.5 percent in the first half of 2004 — virtually the same as the 7.6 increase in 2003. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:46 AM

Census: 5.4 million mothers are choosing to stay at home (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The number of U.S. mothers who put work on hold and stayed home with children grew to 5.4 million in 2003, says the U.S. Census Bureau, which issued Tuesday its first analysis of "stay-at-home" parents. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:45 AM

Kaiser Health Poll Report - HIV/AIDS Epidemic

The California Center for Research on Women and Families

This month's current feature looks at public opinion on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:22 AM

December 1, 2004

California Working Families Policy Summit

The Children's Network of Solano County is honored to co-sponsor the California Working Families Policy Summit, scheduled Friday, January 7, 2005 at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Register now as seating is limited. This will provide us all with a comprehensive overview to key policy issues impacting working families, and help us to prepare for the state budget battles ahead.

The Summit is co-sponsored by California Legislative Women’s Caucus, the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, the California Legislative Black Caucus, the Latino Legislative Caucus, the California Commission of the Status of Women, and over 50 non-profit organizations. Funders include the California Endowment, the Stuart Foundation, and the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families, and the summit is available to us free of charge.

Hosted by the California Center for Research on Women and Families (CCRWF), the California Working Families Policy Summit 2005 will be held on Friday, January 7, at the Sacramento Convention Center. Co-sponsored by four legislative caucuses, the California Commission on the Status of Women, and more than 50 non-profit organizations, the half-day Summit helps launch the
legislative session with a preview of policy proposals on a host of issues affecting California's working families, including health and welfare, nutrition and physical activity, and child care. Many of
the state's leading advocates will share their priorities for the upcoming year. Funders of the Summit include The
California Endowment, The Stuart Foundation, and The California
Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families.

Posted by Michael at 1:36 AM

Green Mountain College Offers Full Ride to Students 'Making A Difference'

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Posted by Michael at 12:23 AM

Employment reduces chronic drug use, UH professors find

It's said that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." University of Houston professors studying employment and drug use now provide support for that proverb. Led by Isaac Montoya, clinical professor at UH's College of Pharmacy, this National Institutes of Health study found that employment reduces chronic drug use in female welfare recipients. Next steps are to design drug prevention efforts for drug using welfare recipients relying upon this "work therapy" model as a key component. NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:16 AM

U.S. Department of Labor Announces Grant of Nearly $500,000 to Encourage Careers in Advanced Manufacturing; Grant Is Part of $24.2 Million Advanced Manufacturing Training Initiative