Human Services News

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings made the following observations regarding the release of two reports: The Nation's Report Card: 12th-Grade Reading and Mathematics 2005 and The Nation's Report Card: America's High School Graduates:

The two reports show that we have our work cut out for us in providing every child in this nation with a quality education.

If, in fact, our high school students are taking more challenging courses and earning higher grades, we should be seeing greater gains in test scores.

The No Child Left Behind Act is working to improve our nation's elementary and middle schools, and we must act now to increase rigor in our high schools and improve graduation rates.

President Bush recognizes that reform is critical.

In urging Congress to reauthorize No Child Left Behind this year, he proposed increasing academic rigor and accountability in our high schools.

Schools must prepare students to succeed in college and the 21st century workforce.

The consensus for strengthening our high schools has never been stronger.

It is unacceptable that only half of our African American and Hispanic students graduate from high school on time when nearly 90 percent of our nation's fastest-growing jobs require post-secondary education or training.

The President's new proposals include: a $1.2 billion increase in Title I funds for high schools; an additional $1 billion over five years for Academic Competitiveness Grants for low-income students who take on a rigorous high school course load; and $365 million for the American Competitiveness Initiative to strengthen math and science instruction.

Copies of The Nation's Report Card: 12th-Grade Reading and Mathematics 2005 and The Nation's Report Card: America's High School Graduates, and additional data from the 2005 12th-grade assessments, are available online at http://nationsreportcard.gov.

Posted by Michael at 9:04 PM

Statement by Education Secretary Regarding Report on States' Educational Effectiveness

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings made the following observations on the release of Leaders and Laggards: A State-by-State Report Card on Educational Effectiveness by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Center for American Progress:

With this report, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Center for American Progress add an important voice to the ongoing dialogue on strengthening our nation's education system---how to improve student achievement, get the best teachers into the most challenging classrooms, and improve the data quality to further customize instruction.

Bottom line: we need to pick up the pace.

We have a lot of work to do.

The report underscores what we already know---student achievement is not where it should be.

That's why President Bush has called for more rigorous state academic standards to close the achievement gap, particularly in our nation's high schools, and prepare students for college and the workplace.

Because of No Child Left Behind, we now have the data that make possible these conversations that couldn't take place just five years ago.

The time is now for states to adjust course and develop forward-looking approaches to strengthen and improve education.

We can't afford not to---our position as a world leader is at stake.

Critical to our efforts is the engagement of the business community to ensure our schools and students are equipped with tools for success.

They are instrumental in helping to reshape the education enterprise, and I applaud their contributions.

I've found that when business leaders take a stake in the education of our nation's future leaders, good things happen.

I welcome the continued input of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Center for American Progress and others as we work with Congress to reauthorize No Child Left Behind this year.

Posted by Michael at 9:00 PM

Working Together: Aligning State Systems and Policies for Individual and Regional Prosperity

The paper examines state policy and system improvements that would enhance the ability of workers to gain skills to advance to better jobs and the ability of employers to find skilled workers. These improvements include increasing access to postsecondary education and training; enabling current students to succeed and complete marketable credentials; increasing transitions between literacy, language, and postsecondary education and training programs; incorporating employer demand and state economic priorities in educational planning; expanding the capacity of postsecondary institutions; and measuring program results.

This report is the third in a series: the first report, "Career Pathways: Aligning Public Resources to Support Individual and Regional Economic Advancement in the Knowledge Economy," introduces the series with a definition of career pathways and the economic justification for the approach.

The second report, "The Career Pathways How-to Guide" seeks to provide step-by-step instructions for local practitioners working to develop career pathways.

The balance of this paper examines policy and system improvements that state policymakers can make to enhance outcomes for students in the educational pipeline, and thus increase the supply of knowledge workers.

Low income adult students receive less overall financial assistance and fewer grants than traditional-age students, although those who take out loans borrow more on average than traditional-age students. Yet the majority of state financial aid policies are also not well suited for adult workers: one report found that in the 1999--2000 academic year, only 19 percent of adult undergraduates received any state grant aid. This same study found that adults at community colleges were the least likely to apply for aid and when they did, received the smallest amount of any group of students.

Posted by Michael at 8:54 PM

NIDA Unveils Its First Consumer Publication to Explain the Science of Addiction

"Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction" was unveiled by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health.

The 30-page full-color booklet explains in layman's terms how science has revolutionized the understanding of drug addiction as a brain disease that affects behavior.

NIDA hopes this new publication will help reduce stigma against addictive disorders.

The new booklet points out that just as with other chronic diseases, relapses can happen.

The publication further explains that relapse is not a signal of treatment failure -- rather, it indicates that treatment should be reinstated or adjusted to help the addict fully recover.

The 90-minute program, produced in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), is aimed at helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, as well as spotlighting new medical advancements.

Posted by Michael at 8:19 PM

Parental Drinking Stunts Brain Growth in Alcoholic Kids

Alcohol-dependent individuals with a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking exhibited reduced brain growth compared to alcohol-dependent people with no family history of alcohol problems, according to new research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

They found that the average intracranial volume of adult alcoholic children of alcoholics was 4 percent lower than that of adult alcoholics with no family history of alcohol problems.

The study was published in the online edition of the journal Biological Psychiatry.

Posted by Michael at 7:58 PM

Minorities More Likely to Be Screened for Alcohol Use

Hispanics and African-Americans rarely get superior healthcare compared to white Americans, but a new report finds one exception: primary-care physicians may be more willing to query minorities about their alcohol use than to counsel white patients, Newswise reported Feb. 22.

A study of more than 15,000 people found that African-Americans were 1.83 times more likely to be counseled about alcohol use by their doctor than whites, while Hispanics were 2.17 times more likely to receive alcohol counseling.

Posted by Michael at 7:53 PM

Ohio Prison Growth Tied to Drugs

A national report projects a 20-percent increase in Ohio's prison population over the next five years, and the state's corrections director says that drug use is to blame, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Feb. 15.

"It doesn't surprise me," said Ohio corrections director Terry Collins of the projection from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Pew's Susan Urahn said that states "are beginning to question whether huge additional investments in prisons are the most effective and economical way of combating crime ...

The challenge for state policy makers is to ensure that taxpayers are getting a strong return on their investments in corrections."

Posted by Michael at 7:46 PM

Alcohol Abuse Reduction Program for Middle, Jr. and Sr. High Schools

From Funding News:

The U.S. Department of Education's Safe and Drug-Free Schools National Program will award up to 20 grants nationally to local educational agencies (LEAs) that develop programs designed to reduce alcohol use among secondary-school students.

The Alcohol Abuse Reduction Program is open to LEAs that do not currently receive funding from the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse program.

Funding is provided to help LEAs "develop and implement innovative and effective programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools."

Posted by Michael at 7:08 PM

Former College President Calls for Lowering Drinking Age

From Funding News:

The age-21 drinking law is "bad social policy and terrible law," forcing college students to take their alcohol use underground and promoting dishonesty among college officials about drinking culture on campus, according to former Middlebury College president John M. McCardell, Jr.

Inside Higher Education reported Feb. 16 that McCardell has created a nonprofit group, Choose Responsibility, dedicated to exploring alternatives to the age-21 law, including the option of issuing drinking licenses to 18- to 20-year-olds who complete an alcohol-education program.

McCardell said that college officials who think that they have campus drinking under control are "delusional," adding that most officials are politically restrained from being honest about student drinking.

College alcohol researcher Henry Wechsler of the Harvard School of Public Health said lowering the drinking age would be a "poor idea."

When they drink, they drink a lot," he said.

Posted by Michael at 7:01 PM

Governors Seek More Money for Children's Insurance

From washingtonpost.com :

Governors from both parties appealed for the Bush administration and Congress to provide more money for a health-care program that insures millions of children.

At stake is coverage for 6 million people, overwhelmingly children, as well as the hopes of many governors in tackling the challenge of uninsured working families.

State leaders met privately to discuss the State Children's Health Insurance Program at the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association.

Georgia and New Jersey are among 14 states expected to run out of money for the program before the next budget year begins in October, In Georgia, a shortfall could happen as soon as March.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said he met privately with the governors but offered little hope that the administration will accept their demands.

Posted by Michael at 6:58 PM

Building a Career Path Where There Was Just a Dead End

From washingtonpost.com :

Barely two years ago, Cristina Rodriguez and her three children were moored on the wrong side of the income gap.

Rodriguez attended a program called Per Scholas, which trains computer repair technicians in the nation's poorest congressional district, in the Bronx.

Like dozens of programs around the country built on a similar model, it evolved by working closely with employers in high-growth sectors of the local economy, tailoring its training to the precise entry-level skills that were most in demand.

In an ever-more-wired New York, Per Scholas places close to 80 percent of its graduates in jobs from Wall Street to tiny nonprofits.

"Sectoral training," as the approach is known, emerged from anti-poverty efforts in a number of communities upended by the loss of manufacturing jobs.

They prepare workers for jobs in industries as diverse as health care, diesel mechanics, information technology and food processing.

A study by the Aspen Institute of sectoral programs in the late 1990s found that median annual incomes of graduates rose from $8,580 before training to $17,732 after two years of employment.

Posted by Michael at 6:53 PM

The Promise of New Funding for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment to Promote Safety, Permanence, and Well-Being for Children

Questions & Answers About New Grants under the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006.

These questions and answers (Q&A) were prepared by an informal coalition of groups, including the American Public Human Services Association, Center for Law and Social Policy, Child Welfare League of America, Children's Defense Fund, Legal Action Center, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights.

Our group convened after passage of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 to develop materials about the new funding and the opportunity for those concerned about alcohol and drug addiction and its impact on children and families to use it to improve outcomes for children and families.

We hope that this Q&A will stimulate organizations and agencies to begin planning and forming regional partnerships so they will be ready to apply for grants under the Act once they are formally announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Spring of 2007.

Posted by Michael at 6:52 PM

February 27, 2007

Cost-Effective Investments in Children

Brookings Institution:

Based on a review of benefit-cost evidence, this paper identifies four areas of investment that merit expanded federal funding even in a time of fiscal austerity.

America's future economic well-being will benefit from targeted investments to ensure that children have the skills to become tomorrow's adult workers, caregivers, taxpayers, and citizens.

Target areas for a package of proposals totaling about $25 billion annually and $133 billion over a fiveyear period are the following:

- High-quality early childhood education programs for three- and four-year-old children ($94 billion over five years)

- Nurse home-visiting programs to promote sound prenatal care and the healthy development of infants and toddlers ($14 billion over five years)

- School reform with an emphasis on programs in high-poverty elementary schools that improve the acquisition of basic skills for all students ($17 billion over five years)

- Programs that reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy ($8 billion over five years)

Under the "productivity argument" of public investments in children, programs that help children acquire the skills needed for success in the adult workforce are viewed as sound investments because of their positive effects in terms of economic growth, global competitiveness, and reductions in levels of criminal activity and welfare use.

From this viewpoint, the prudence of investment in a particular program depends to a large extent on whether the program has been demonstrated to have positive outcomes that result in long-term economic benefits that are larger than the program's initial costs.

Posted by Michael at 1:45 PM

February 20, 2007

Updated Guidelines Advise Focusing on Women's Lifetime Heart Risk

Health care professionals should focus on women's lifetime heart disease risk, not just short-term risk, according to updated American Heart Association guidelines.

The 2007 Guidelines for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Women -- published today in a special women's health issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association -- also include new directions for using aspirin, hormone therapy and vitamin and mineral supplements in heart disease and stroke prevention in women.

"We took a long-term view of heart disease prevention because the lifetime risk of dying of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is nearly one in three for women.

The new guidelines include expanded recommendations on lifestyle factors such as physical activity, nutrition and smoking cessation, as well as more in-depth recommendations on drug treatments for blood pressure and cholesterol control.

"Some women are at significant risk of future heart attack or stroke because they already have CVD and/or multiple risk factors.

Statements and conclusions of study authors published in the American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position.

This 2007 update provides the most current clinical recommendations for preventing CVD in women 20 and older and are based on a systematic search of the highest quality science interpreted by experts in the fields of cardiology, epidemiology, family medicine, gynecology, internal medicine, neurology, nursing, public health, statistics and surgery.

Recommendations for managing vascular disease before or after cardiac procedures or post-hospital and valvular heart disease are covered in other American Heart Association guidelines.

Posted by Michael at 8:24 PM

Study Shows Teens Become Less Active as They Grow Older

As they grow older, teenagers are spending more time in front of the computer and television and less time participating in physical activities, according to researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Research published in the journal Pediatrics found that moderate to vigorous physical activity among teenage girls and boys dramatically decreased from early to late adolescence.

Participation in physical activity among girls dropped from 5.9 to 4.9 hours a week from early adolescence (ages 11-15) to midadolescence (ages 15-18).

Researchers conducted a longitudinal study of more than 2,000 adolescents to examine changes in eating patterns, weight, and physical activity over five years.

Subjects completed two surveys for Project EAT: Eating Among Teens - one in 1999 and one in 2004 - to determine if there were changes in physical activity patterns.

Posted by Michael at 8:15 PM

Doctors Test Effort that Helps People Understand Health Risk Information

In a study published in the Feb. 20 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers with Dartmouth Medical School and the Veterans Affairs Outcomes Group at the White River Junction (Vt.) VA Medical Center have tested whether a primer, which the researchers also wrote, helped people better understand information about health risks and interventions meant to reduce those risks.

"We wrote the primer because, while people are bombarded with messages about health risks and treatment benefits, little is done to prepare them to understand these messages," says Steven Woloshin, one of the authors on the paper and an associate professor of community and family medicine at Dartmouth Medical School.

Woloshin and his co-authors Lisa Schwartz and H. Gilbert Welch, all of whom are affiliated with Dartmouth's Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences and the Veterans Affairs Outcomes Group at the White River Junction (Vermont) VA Medical Center, tested more than 500 people with varying levels of education.

The authors tested two parallel, randomized groups of people, one involving about 200 patients with low socioeconomic status (50 percent had a high school degree or less formal education) and the other with about 300 patients with high socioeconomic status (80 percent had at least a college degree).

The researchers point out that, while good data interpretation skills are needed to make good decisions, they did not directly test the effect of the primer on actual decision making.

Posted by Michael at 8:14 PM

Study Looks at Mental and Physical Health of Caregivers

Having positive cultural beliefs about caring for elders and strong religious beliefs can ward off depression and other mental health difficulties for female caregivers of spouses and parents with dementia, but sustained elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, puts these women at risk for physical health problems, according to a study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychology.

"Caregiving for someone with dementia is stressful for almost everyone and can negatively influence mental and physical health," said T. J. McCallum, assistant professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University.

In a pilot study, the researchers studied 54 caregivers (30 African Americans and 24 European Americans) and compared their mental health and cortisol levels with 64 non caregivers (48 African Americans and 15 European Americans).

The participants were closely matched for their income levels, college education and length of time caring for their family members (less than five years).

The researchers were looking for factors associated with "stress-related growth," the concept that some people are more adept at finding meaning and experiencing psychological and emotional growth resulting from a stressful situation.

For example, when a family member or close friend dies, individuals who are higher in stress-related growth may be better able to find meaning in death and view the circumstances in a more positive light.

Yet, when the cortisol levels from the caregivers' saliva were examined, it was found that older European American women and African American women of all ages had little change in their cortisol levels over the day, which may be an indication of elevated stress levels, said McCallum.

Posted by Michael at 8:02 PM

Living in Densely Populated Areas Linked to Lower Body Mass

New York City dwellers who reside in densely populated, pedestrian-friendly areas have significantly lower body mass index levels compared to other New Yorkers, according to a new study by the Mailman School of Public Health.

"There are relatively strong associations between built environment and BMI, even in population-dense New York City," said Andrew Rundle, DrPH assistant professor of Epidemiology at the Mailman School and lead author.

The authors discovered that three characteristics of the city environment --- living in areas with mixed residential and commercial uses, living near bus and subway stops and living in population-dense areas --- were inversely associated with BMI levels.

For example, city dwellers living in areas evenly balanced between residences and commercial use had significantly lower BMIs compared to New Yorkers who lived in mostly residential or commercial areas.

The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees.

Posted by Michael at 8:00 PM

Education Secretary Leads Discussion with Business and Higher Education Leaders in NYC

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today met with business and higher education leaders in New York City to discuss America's higher education system and the business community's role in preparing our students to compete in the 21st Century global economy, as well the importance of reauthorizing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in order to better prepare students for college and the workforce.

Today, students across our country are lucky to have you looking out for them as Chair of the Business-Higher Education Forum.

I'd also like to thank Kathy Wylde of the Partnership for New York City and Cornell University President David Skorton for co-hosting us along with Herb.

Universities serve as incubators for the great ideas, inventions, and individuals that make our private sector thrive.

And as board members, professors, and alumni, business leaders can help schools fine-tune programs and maximize resources to better serve more students.

And so, as a policymaker and a parent, I appreciate the fact that you're using your combined strength to improve our entire K-16 system.

To help make the dream of college education a reality for many more students, last fall I released a plan to increase access, affordability, and accountability.

Thanks to your support, No Child Left Behind is already proving that high standards and accountability are the keys to improving the K-12 pipeline.

About a million students drop out, each forfeiting a million dollars in lifetime earnings compared to college graduates.

Going forward, the President and I want to build on this work by ensuring high school measurements are aligned with business and university needs.

Posted by Michael at 7:16 PM

Tips for Parents on Building Math, Science Skills for the Global Economy

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, in a live appearance, will spotlight what parents can do to help their children develop the strong math and science skills necessary for global competitiveness during the February edition of the U.S. Department of Education's TV show, "Education News Parents Can Use."

During the show, Secretary Spellings will also discuss how the administration's reauthorization proposal and President Bush's 2008 budget will build on the success of No Child Left Behind Act and improve and strengthen America's public schools.

Video features will follow the secretary's appearance highlighting keys to success at Main Elementary School in Rome, Ga., and Lincoln Elementary School in Mount Vernon, N.Y.---2006 NCLB Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

In the second half-hour, guests will describe promising practices, as well as the vital importance of building good math and science skills for the 21st Century.

Mike Buck, assistant superintendent of Rome City Schools in Rome, Ga.

Brenda Smith, superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District in Mount Vernon, N.Y., where all 11 elementary schools---despite low-income surroundings---have either met or exceeded state and federal guidelines under No Child Left Behind.

Larry Faulkner, chair of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel commissioned by President Bush.

Kathy Cloninger, chief executive for the Girl Scouts of the USA. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, first occupant of the Frederick P. Rose Directorship of the Hayden Planetarium in New York and an astrophysics teacher.

The "Education News Parents Can Use" TV series airs monthly during the school year.

The Broadcast is archived at: http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/.

Posted by Michael at 7:06 PM

Support For Individuals and Families Seeking Help to Recover from Addiction

From Ascribe Newsfeed:

HBO, A Safe Haven and the Illinois Association of Extended Care is hosting a "Living in Recovery" forum and special preview of the new
HBO documentary "Addiction."

Following the screening, a panel of community advocates, leaders and experts will explore the issues raised in the program, including the obstacles to long-term recovery, such as the barriers individuals face getting access to recovery support services (housing, employment initiatives and adequate insurance or voucher systems).

Community advocates, parents, political leaders and concerned individuals will then talk about solutions and how to implement them so that addiction and long-term recovery moves to the forefront in Chicago.

Millions of Americans are in long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, yet one in four Americans still has a family member who is struggling with addiction.

In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), HBO's ADDICTION project is an unprecedented multi-media campaign aimed at helping Americans understand addiction as a treatable brain disease, as well as highlighting effective new treatments.

Posted by Michael at 7:01 PM

Health Professionals Would Prioritize Spending on the Young over the Old

In prioritizing health care spending, health professionals rank childhood immunization highest and cancer treatment for smokers lowest, according to a new international survey published in PLoS Medicine.

The survey found that health professionals generally prioritize spending on the young over the old and on preventive care over curative care.

Yet this preference is at odds with the actual spending priorities in most countries throughout the world---most governments spend more on curative than on preventive health care services.

Glenn Salkeld (University of Sydney, Australia) and colleagues surveyed 253 health professionals from six countries, asking them to rank ten health interventions in order of priority for spending from most important (rank 1) to least important (rank 10).

"If health care professionals and policy makers believe that prevention and targeting the young is an important principle for health spending priorities, then health care funders should examine the cost effectiveness evidence for intervening early in life."

PLoS Medicine is an open access, freely available international medical journal.

It publishes original research that enhances our understanding of human health and disease, together with commentary and analysis of important global health issues.

The Public Library of Science (PLoS) is a non-profit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world's scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource.

Posted by Michael at 6:57 PM

Sexualization of Girls is Linked to Common Mental Health Problems in Girls and Women

A report of the American Psychological Association (APA) found evidence that the proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harmful to girls' self-image and healthy development.

To complete the report, the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls studied published research on the content and effects of virtually every form of media, including television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet.

Examples of the sexualization of girls in all forms of media including visual media and other forms of media such as music lyrics abound.

"We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualization has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development."

Sexual Development: Research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls' ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.

According to the task force report, parents can play a major role in contributing to the sexualization of their daughters or can play a protective and educative role.

Posted by Michael at 6:54 PM

The Quality of a Father-Child Relationship Effects Intimate Relationships in Adulthood

Recent research at the University of Haifa School of Social Work revealed a connection between father-child relationship and the ability to achieve interrelation intimacy in adulthood.

The research, conducted by Dr. Nurit Nahmani, examined the quality of father-child relationships among three groups: orphans, children of divorced parents and children of intact families.

The orphans surveyed in the study lost their fathers between the ages of 6 and 12 and the participants of divorced parents, experienced the absent of their father during the same period of childhood.

The findings noted barriers that limited the ability to develop intimate relationships with their partners among those whose thoughts of an absent father caused a marked rise in negative emotions and distancing.

The orphans tended to idolize their fathers, while children of divorced parents tended to feel frustration and anger towards their fathers," explained Dr. Nahmani.

The study also noted that a greater feeling of loss towards one's father meant a smaller chance of establishing an intimate relationship in adulthood.

Posted by Michael at 6:53 PM

NIAAA Grants for Alcohol Treatment, Services, Recovery Research

From Funding News:

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism will award grants for projects that 'propose to support research on behavioral and pharmacological treatment for alcohol use disorders; organizational, financial, and management factors that facilitate or inhibit the delivery of services for alcohol-use disorders; and phenomenon of recovery from alcohol use disorders.' Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:48 PM

Over $1 Million Awarded to Visionary Leaders in Criminal Justice

From Ascribe Newsfeed:

A lawyer working to unite children in foster care with their incarcerated parents and an investigative journalist exposing how justice is dispensed in Guantanamo Bay are among this year's Open Society Institute Soros Justice Fellows.

The 18 outstanding scholars, advocates, reporters and attorneys will receive a 12-18 month stipend to implement creative projects to assist communities that are marginalized by criminal justice policies.

Fellows' stipends range between $45,000 and $71,250, and tackle issues such as racial profiling, prison reform, immigrants' rights, and public safety.

"The Open Society Institute is proud to support these innovative leaders who are working to create a stronger, more equitable justice system," said Antonio Maciel, director of OSI's U.S. Justice Fund.

"The fellowship program not only complements and deepens OSI's justice reform work, but helps to challenge and expose pervasive inequalities in America."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Posted by Michael at 6:47 PM

February 15, 2007

The State Children's Health Insurance Program: Past, Present, and Future

The Commonwealth Fund:

The reauthorization for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is set to expire at the end of fiscal year (FY) 2007. SCHIP - broadly considered a success - has expanded health insurance for low - income children through federal - state and public - private partnerships.

This report reviews the program's history and design, describes its present challenges and successes, assesses issues Congress is likely to consider during reauthorization, and explores future policy options including potential changes in eligibility and financing.

For SCHIP, the process will take place at a time when the uninsured rate for children is once again on the rise, budget pressures are leading to constraints on publicly financed coverage, and general concerns about the health system are growing.

Past: History and Design of SCHIP SCHIP was created in 1997 to insure children in families with too much income to qualify for Medicaid and too little to afford private insurance.

Unlike Medicaid, however, these enhanced federal matching payments are limited by national and state-specific "allotments," or annual limits on federal funding.

Enrollment barriers and misunderstandings concerning eligibility are two of the major reasons for their lack of enrollment.

But these rules, which include minimums for benefits and the employer contribution, are considered onerous by states; consequently, few states have implemented premium-assistance programs.

There are also concerns over substandard benefits in SCHIP and out-of-pocket costs that limit access to care, particularly for special-needs children and other vulnerable populations.

Posted by Michael at 8:53 PM

Straight Talk About a Report on Achievement at Philadelphia Schools

RAND:

A Feb. 1 report by our organizations examined student achievement in privately managed and district-managed public schools in Philadelphia.

Proponents and opponents of the city's five-year-old experiment in the private management of public schools interpreted the report very differently.

Our report examined academic achievement measured by reading and math test scores among students attending Philadelphia public schools.

Some news accounts suggested --- inaccurately --- that our report indicated privately managed schools had fallen behind districtwide achievement trends.

In fact, students at schools managed by private operators kept pace with --- but did not exceed --- the gains of students in the rest of the district in the past four years, when achievement levels districtwide rose substantially.

Defenders of the private managers suggested --- inaccurately --- that our report was unduly negative about them because we had not accounted for the fact that the private managers were given many of the lowest-achieving schools in Philadelphia to operate.

Instead, it was designed to contribute to a public discussion on how Philadelphia can learn from the experience of having some schools operated by the school district and others run by private operators as a model of school reform.

Are the privately managed schools (or the other schools that received additional resources) producing benefits that are not measured by reading and math scores?

Posted by Michael at 8:32 PM

HUD Approves Louisiana Plan to Boost Funding to Small Business Recovery Program

HUD News Release:

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson today approved Louisiana"s request for an additional $105 million to further assist small businesses in the States" southern parishes to recover from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Last September, Jackson approved Louisiana"s initial $38 million Small Firm Loan and Grant Program.

With today"s approval, the program will expand to offer a total of $143 million in grants and loans to small business owners who employ up to 50 employees.

"By growing this program, Louisiana will be able to help more small businesses to recover and that means more jobs for families working to put their lives back together in the aftermath of these storms," said Jackson.

In amending its plan, the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) asked HUD to consider expanding eligibility to small businesses with up to 50 employees.

To fund this expansion of the Small Firm Loan and Grant Program, HUD approved Louisiana"s request to redirect up to $78 million from the State"s Bridge Loan Program and up to $27 million from Louisiana"s Long Term Recovery Loan Guarantee Program.

Louisiana"s Small Firm Recovery Loan and Grant Program will provide grants to small companies located in southern parishes that are deemed to have a chance to continue to operate, to contribute to the local economy and to maintain and create jobs.

Posted by Michael at 7:33 PM

Significant Differences in Heart Disease Prevalence among States and U.S. Territories

Significant Differences in Heart Disease Prevalence among States and U.S. Territories

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released a report that finds a wide range of variation in the prevalence of coronary heart disease (a narrowing of the arteries that feed the heart), heart attack and angina (chest pain that occurs when the heart does not get enough blood).

The report provides the first ever information on the percentage of people living with heart disease in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

The report found that some states and territories had double the prevalence of heart disease as others.

For heart attacks, rates ranged from 2.1 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 6.1 percent in West Virginia, while the prevalence of any condition -- heart attack, angina or coronary heart disease -- ranged from 3.5 percent in the U.S. Virgin Islands to 10.4 percent in West Virginia.

The study, Prevalence of Heart Disease -- United States, 2005 was published in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The study is based on an analysis of state-specific data collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System -- a random phone survey of U.S. adults age 18 and older conducted by state/territorial health departments.

Overall, about 6.5 percent of those surveyed reported that a doctor or health care professional had told them they had one or more of the following -- heart attack, angina or coronary heart disease -- with 4 percent indicating they had a heart attack and 4.4 percent reporting angina or coronary heart disease.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

"These findings show the importance of preventing and controlling known risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity," said Jonathan Neyer, the study's lead author and an epidemiologist in CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP).

"We hope this report will help states and U.S. territories better tailor their heart disease prevention efforts."

Residents of Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia had the highest prevalence of these heart diseases.

Many of these states are known to have a high proportion of residents with multiple heart disease risk factors and a disproportionately high number of heart disease deaths.

The same was found among residents living in Puerto Rico.

The places reporting the lowest level of heart disease prevalence were: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Wyoming, New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota, Utah, Hawaii, Colorado, District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The report also identified gender and racial/ethnic differences in heart disease prevalence.

Heart disease prevalence was nearly twice as high in individuals with fewer than 12 years of education (9.8 percent) compared to college graduates (5 percent).

CDC works with nearly 80 national organizations through the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention to achieve national goals for preventing heart disease and stroke.

Posted by Michael at 7:06 PM

Engaging Employers in Youth Workforce Development Activities

Chapin Hall:

Engaging employers in youth workforce preparation activities is widely supported as a good practice among youth program providers and educators.

Here, we explore possible disconnects between stakeholders and the effects these disconnects may have on expanding employer involvement.

We also explore strategies to enhance efforts to engage employers youth workforce preparation initiatives and to improve the quality of the experience for employers, program providers, and youth.

The findings were derived from interviews conducted in 2003 and late 2005 with youth program providers, educators, employers, and policy experts.

Disadvantaged youth attempting to engage with employers through youth program providers have a variety of needs, such as education about workplace expectations and personal relationships that will meet their needs throughout their experience with employers.

Posted by Michael at 6:07 PM

Changing Demographics of Children in Chicago

Chapin Hall:

This report draws on demographic data to examine and project trends in the size and composition of the child population in all seventy-seven Chicago communities up to the year 2010.

It describes population changes across Chicago communities and identifies the communities in which greater and lesser numbers of children are living in poverty.

The report also explores the implications of the changes, trends, and projections for social services, schools, and early childhood education and after-school programs.

Finally, it offers some conclusions to help government and program planners build capacity to respond to the one constant - ongoing change.

Population density within the city has changed since 1990 as areas near the Loop and the lakefront lost families with children and neighborhoods on the northwest, southwest, and southeast sides have gained them.

The change in the size of the Hispanic population in Chicago has been the primary driver of demographic change in many communities as Hispanic (and, to a lesser degree, Asian and other) immigrants have moved into the city and Hispanics have exhibited greater fertility than other groups.

Communities vary greatly in the number of available services for the target populations in them.

Posted by Michael at 5:57 PM

Beyond NCLB: Fulfilling the Promise to Our Nations' Children

The Aspen Institute:

We hear news stories about low reading scores, see high numbers of students dropping out of school and learn from business owners and college professors that graduates lack necessary skills and knowledge.

We have a responsibility as a nation to take bold steps to close the achievement gaps that plague our nation's schools and to ensure that all students are prepared for successful and productive lives after high school.

Virtually every aspect of schooling---from what is taught in elementary, middle and high school classes, to how teachers are hired, to how money is allocated---has been effected by the statute.

Ensuring that NCLB works for all students requires more than asking states to develop plans for assessment and accountability systems.

We cannot hope to ensure our teachers are qualified or effective or that students are getting the extra help to which they are entitled if states merely comply with these requirements on paper, yet fail to execute their responsibilities.

The implementation of NCLB has shown the need to do a better job in providing interventions, such as public school choice and supplemental educational services (SES or free tutoring), designed to help students in low-performing schools.

The requirement for assessments in each grade from 3 through 8 and once in high school has enhanced the quality and reliability of information about school performance.

Yet the requirement for assessments in only a single grade in high school has meant that student progress cannot be tracked through the end of high school.

In short, we simply don't have the data we need to identify and assist struggling high schools under the current NCLB assessment system.

Posted by Michael at 12:55 AM

February 14, 2007

See Scientists Run -- For School Board

National science literacy expert and Michigan State University professor Jon Miller is having a running clinic at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting.

The goal is to inspire, educate and arm scientists to run for school boards.

It's what we spend our time doing because we believe in it, and we have to realize public schools don't just come to be.

In August, he published a survey in Science magazine that showed that about 40 percent of the American population does not believe in evolution, a figure which is much higher than those found in similar surveys in European nations and Japan.

Miller is the Hannah Professor of integrative studies and director of the Longitudinal Study of American Youth at MSU.

Miller sees other special interest groups, often conservative or religiously fundamental, highly organized in training and supporting candidates.

"It doesn't do any good if they get in, and discover they don't have the time or commitment to do the job.

Miller estimates that a stint on a public school board demands 15 hours a week of work and being prepared to immerse in more than one issue.

No scientist can run on a pro-evolution platform and not expect to find themselves engaged in other issues.

But that, Miller says, is the point -- to lend expertise and knowledge to create a strong school district that channels good, well-prepared students to successful college careers.

Posted by Michael at 10:38 PM

Absence of Health Insurance Coverage Costs $1.47B in Maryland

Expenditures for the uninsured in Maryland totaled $1.47 billion in FY2002, according to an analysis conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The sum equates to $2,371 per individual without health insurance---paid for by state and federal funds, private insurance companies, physicians, charities and the uninsured themselves.

The results of the study are published in the February 2007 edition of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.

Our study provides detailed estimates of the magnitude of the costs of having an uninsured population,' said Hugh Waters, PhD, a health economist in the Bloomberg School's Department of International Health and lead author of the study.

According to the study, the health system---including public and private health care payers, philanthropy and private physicians---spent $1.08 billion on the uninsured.

Uncompensated hospital care accounted for $227 million, which the researchers said was a conservative estimate of the percentage of charity care that goes to uninsured patients rather than insured ones and bad debt reported by hospitals.

The state government paid the largest share of expenditures, spending $334 million on the uninsured in FY2002, of which $311 million went to public health programs that provided services for uninsured individuals.

Posted by Michael at 10:37 PM

Keeping the Internet Safe for Kids: Congress Is Acting; Educators Should, Too -- by Sam McQuade

From Ascribe Newsfeed:

Following is an opinion piece by Sam McQuade.

McQuade is a Rochester Institute of Technology professor and author of "Understanding and Managing Cybercrime."

Pieces of this bill, which is being called the Keeping the Internet Devoid of Sexual Predators (KIDS) Act of 2007, are definitely a step in the right direction.

For example, Senators McCain and Schumer should be applauded for introducing legislation that will finally force sex offenders to register their e-mail and instant message addresses with the Department of Justice's National Sex Offender Registry.

Now that such legislation is before Congress, educators must wake up and begin to work together to help take this issue a step further.

This country needs to undertake an education reform movement that implements cyber information, ethics and safety education into K-12 curricula.

Ironically, year after year, American schools promote the use of the Internet to enhance education, yet systematically do not incorporate Internet safety, information security and cyber ethics instruction into lesson plans and curricula.

Adolescents are increasingly learning from each other how to use interoperable and increasingly affordable and miniaturized gadgets such as handheld computers, cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and other devices in ways that can be harmful.

Rochester Institute of Technology is teaming with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Information Systems Security Association, Infra Gard, the Catholic Diocese or Rochester and more than 20 area school districts to conduct research designed to determine the nature and extent of cyber offending and victimization by and among primary and secondary school students.

Posted by Michael at 10:25 PM

Catalyst Magazine Targets Autonomy and Accountability in Chicago's Schools

From Ascribe Newsfeed:

While New York city's public school system undergoes radical restructuring designed to empower individual schools, the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) face major challenges in the coming months as it tackles pressing issues related to autonomy and accountability, according to the February edition of Catalyst magazine, an independent news magazine that documents, analyzes, and supports school-improvement efforts in Chicago's public schools.

The special edition of Catalyst focuses on how educators - and school districts - in Chicago are coming to terms with new ways to grant schools more independence and authority while also paying close attention to student achievement.

The issue is titled "Schools Set Free," and the front-page notes that "Beyond Charters, Chicago's version of school freedom pales in comparison to New York City's.

But CPS says it is moving in that direction."

For example, schools with more authority can benefit from extra funding and greater control over curriculum; meanwhile, they can also be graded, based on student performance.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, the district's Autonomous Management and Performance Schools initiative (AMPS) has not given schools "much more" freedom than regular schools - not yet, at least.

This fall, the district also wants to introduce per-pupil budgeting in AMPS schools, according to Pedro Martinez, Executive Finance Officer with CPS.

The district recruited The Big Picture Company, an education nonprofit based in Providence, RI, and opened schools Chicago's Bronzeville and Back of the Yards communities, based on the company's model.

Posted by Michael at 10:24 PM

Statement by Education Secretary on Aspen Institute Report on No Child Left Behind

Every child in America deserves a good education, regardless of race, income or zip code.

That is why lawmakers from both sides of the aisle came together to craft the No Child Left Behind Act five years ago, shining a spotlight on our achievement gap and creating accountability for the schools that serve our students.

The Aspen Institute's Commission on No Child Left Behind report "Beyond NCLB: Fulfilling the Promise to Our Nations' Children" released today illustrates the broad, bipartisan commitment to improving our nation's schools that was behind the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

The Commission's recommendations recognize the solid foundation built by NCLB and reaffirm the law's core principles including accountability, high standards and having all students reading and doing math at grade level by 2014.

The report supports many of the key proposals advanced in President Bush's "Building on Results: A Blueprint for Strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act" that was released last month.

I am encouraged that the Commission addressed embedding growth models in the law to measure student achievement over time, the pressing need for highly qualified teachers in every classroom, and more significant interventions and critical resources for schools that are chronically underperforming.

Roy Barnes have my gratitude for their dedication to reauthorizing and improving the law.

I welcome their help in moving the renewal process forward.

I also look forward to working with them and their colleagues in the coming weeks and months as we urge Congress to reauthorize the law.

Posted by Michael at 9:56 PM

Family and Medical Leave Act: Response to Request for Information

This letter responds to the Department of Labor's request for information regarding the administration and operation of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).

The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) fully supports the FMLA, which provides critical flexibility to millions of American workers and allows them to balance their workplace and family responsibilities.

The request for information raises concern that the Department of Labor may be considering changes to the regulations, changes that would roll back the FMLA's protections or scale back coverage for workers' health and family needs.

CLASP strongly opposes changes that would limit the scope of the FMLA and supports regulations that will ensure workers can take full advantage of their FMLA protections.

Similarly, parents who are unable to take leave are more likely to send their children to school or child care sick, spreading illness to other families.

It would cost society far more to provide such care through paid health care providers.

While there is no doubt that it is sometimes inconvenient for employers when key workers take family or medical leave, this would be the case without the FMLA as well.

Society can't protect everyone against the risk of a serious health condition, but it is appropriate to assure workers that they can take needed family and medical leave without jeopardizing their jobs.

Permitting workers to use their accrued paid leave as wage replacement during FMLA leave makes it possible for them to afford to take time off to address critical family and medical issues.

Posted by Michael at 9:48 PM

When Restaurant and Hotel Workers Don't Have Paid Sick Days, It Hurts Us All

When you work hard, you should be able to care for yourself and your family.

Yet about half of the private sector workers in the United States do not have paid sick days.

Paid sick days for restaurant and hospitality workers are particularly important.

Typically, they are low-paid workers, so their employers' refusal to provide paid sick days makes it financially untenable to take time off.

And it's a public health issue as well: restaurant and hospitality workers who come to work with a cold or other communicable illness---because they need a day's wages---may make their patrons sick.

A paid sick days law has already been enacted in San Francisco by voter referendum.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean hourly earnings of full-time waiters and waitresses are the lowest of 427 ranked occupations. Also among the 25 lowest-ranked occupations are food preparers, bartenders, and cooks.

While these wages do not include possible income from tips, full-time work at these wages leaves these workers below poverty for a family of four.

Posted by Michael at 9:45 PM

Living in Poor Neighborhoods Raises Risks for Heart Disease and Stroke

Sure you think about diet and exercise as key to heart disease prevention.

According to a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, the incidence of heart disease and associated fatalities are higher for people who live in poor neighborhoods vs. those who live in more affluent areas.

"This is one of the largest studies to date to show that neighborhoods exert a pretty powerful influence on your chance of having a heart attack or stroke," said Marilyn Winkleby, PhD, professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who conducted the study along with colleagues from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and UC-San Francisco.

"It's not surprising when you think about the health behaviors related to heart disease and stroke - physical inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking - and think about how neighborhoods can influence these," Winkleby said.

The availability of parks, for instance, or conveniently located markets with fresh produce rather than fast-food restaurants, may make a significant contribution toward differing levels of heart disease, she said.

They found that new cases of heart attacks and stroke were 1.9 times higher for women and 1.5 times higher for men who lived in high-deprivation vs. low-deprivation neighborhoods.

Census data was used to determine the level of neighborhood "deprivation," which was measured by an index of education, income, unemployment and welfare assistance levels.

Posted by Michael at 9:42 PM

RWJF Funds Tobacco Policy Change Projects

From Funding News:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded $1.9 million in grants to prevent tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke under its Tobacco Policy Change program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:42 PM

Families Forgotten: Administration's Priorities Put Child Care Low on List

Despite evidence that child care assistance is critical to helping low-income families to work and to succeed financially, the President's FY 2008 budget proposal freezes discretionary child care funding for the sixth consecutive year.

According to the Administration's own estimates, 300,000 children will lose child care assistance by 2010. This is in addition to 150,000 children who have already lost assistance since 2000.

Posted by Michael at 9:33 PM

Administration's 'Child Welfare Program Option' Puts Children Who Have Been Abused or Neglected at Greater Risk

The Bush Administration's 2008 budget proposal talks about a goal of increasing services and supports for children, but its budget recommendations go in the opposite direction.

This brief focuses on the Administration's "Child Welfare Program Option," offering a summary of what is known about the proposal and the concerns and questions CLASP has about the approach suggested.

Over the last decade, between 875,000 and one million children have been found to be abused or neglected each year. This startling figure does not even acknowledge the millions of children who are abused and neglected but never reported.

There is growing consensus that the child welfare system must be reformed---that children and their families need a broader range of services and supports.

Posted by Michael at 9:31 PM

Implementing the TANF Changes in the DRA: "Win-Win" Solutions for Families and States, Second Edition

From washingtonpost.com - washingtonpost.com - US government, national security, science and national news and headlines.:

This report from CLASP and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is intended to guide state administrators and advocates as they consider implementing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provisions of the 2006 federal budget, called the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA).

This report has been updated to reflect the Interim Final Rule and guidance issued by HHS in response to states' Work Verification Plans.

The report discusses the legal structure of the work participation requirements; strategies for improving and increasing engagement in programs; strategies for increasing support for working families (through increased earnings disregards, stand-alone "work supplement" programs, and child support distribution options) and helping states meet participation rates; disability laws and ways to improve the effectiveness of TANF-related programs for individuals with disabilities; and the fiscal implications of the TANF, child care, and child support provisions.

To view/print specific chapters, visit http://www.cbpp.org/2-9-07tanf.htm. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:28 PM

'No Child' Commission Presents Ambitious Plan

A commission proposed a wide-reaching expansion of the No Child Left Behind law yesterday that would for the first time require schools to ensure that all seniors are proficient in reading and math and hold schools accountable for raising test scores in science by 2014. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:27 PM

Coverage Patterns Among SCHIP-Eligible Children and Their Parents

Urban Institute:

This brief uses the 2005 Current Population Survey to examine national patterns of coverage among families with SCHIP eligible children.

Key findings are that: close to 2 million uninsured children are eligible for SCHIP, the majority of SCHIP enrollees could not be enrolled in an employer plan that covers their parents, and almost 40% of SCHIP enrollees lives with an uninsured parent.

This implies that federal funding will have to be increased substantially to cover the remaining eligible but uninsured children and that many children stand to lose coverage altogether if federal funds are inadequate to meet existing program needs.

Because of concerns that SCHIP would substitute for---or crowd out---private coverage, the SCHIP statute precluded states from covering children enrolled in employer coverage and required that states implement mechanisms to prevent SCHIP from substituting for employer coverage.

Since SCHIP was enacted, uninsurance rates have fallen among children, particularly low-income children, but progress appears to have stalled in recent years (Kenney and Yee forthcoming).

The analysis simulates eligibility for both SCHIP and Medicaid, taking into account the eligibility rules in each state and using the information available on the CPS related to the child's age, household structure, and family income.

We examine the insurance coverage distribution of children who meet the income eligibility requirements for SCHIP, assessing how many remain uninsured and variation in participation rates.

Posted by Michael at 12:43 PM

February 8, 2007

Developing a Statewide System to Link Families with Community Resources

Commonwealth Fund:

Undetected childhood behavioral health and developmental problems have a significant impact not only on the children who experience them, but also on their families and communities and the medical, mental health, and educational systems they use.

Developmental Surveillance Developmental surveillance, unlike developmental screening, is a flexible, continuous process in which knowledgeable professionals perform observations of children while providing care.

Pioneered in Great Britain, developmental surveillance is broader in scope than screening and other traditional techniques and encompasses all activities relating to the detection of developmental problems.

Components of developmental surveillance include eliciting and attending to parental concerns about a child's behavior, learning, or development; obtaining a developmental history; observation of a child's development; and communicating with others in the child's life (such as childcare providers or preschool teachers).

Because research has shown that parental concerns are important indicators of problems, soliciting parents' input is critical to the developmental surveillance approach.

The Help Me Grow program includes outreach to child health providers on developmental surveillance as well as referral of at-risk children.

Through the support of The Commonwealth Fund, Help Me Grow visited and trained more than 50 percent of the community-based practices in Connecticut---300 practices in all.

Posted by Michael at 8:22 PM

HHS Proposes Nearly $700 Billion Budget for Fiscal Year 2008

HHS News:

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt released today details of the President's FY 2008 budget request to Congress for the department.

The budget proposes total outlays of nearly $700 billion for Health and Human Services, an increase of more than $28 billion from 2007.

"For the past six years, this Administration has worked to make America a healthier, safer and more compassionate nation," Secretary Leavitt said.

"I am proud of the strides we have made in health care through HHS initiatives.

It sets out an aggressive, yet responsible, budget that funds our priorities and helps sustain our long-term commitment to seniors and low-income Americans.

The HHS budget proposal reflects fiscally responsible steps to reform and modernize the Medicare program.

Funding for Medicare benefits, which will help 44.6 million Americans, is expected to be nearly $454 billion in FY 2008, an increase of $28 billion over the previous year.

The FY 2008 budget includes a comprehensive package of Medicare legislative and administrative proposals that will help strengthen the program's long-term viability.

The President's budget proposes to reauthorize State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for five more years, to increase the program's allotments by $5 billion over that time, and to target SCHIP funds more efficiently to those most in need.

$25 million in FY 2008 for treating the illnesses of the heroic responders at the World Trade Center.

The President's budget includes $1.5 million to launch a new Latin America Health initiative to develop and train a cadre of community health care workers who can bring much needed medical care to rural areas of Central America.

Posted by Michael at 7:57 PM

Administration Proposes $35.2 Billion HUD Budget in 2008

HUD News Release 07-008

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson unveiled the Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 Budget request, which seeks to expand record homeownership, promote affordable housing and assist homeless individuals and families.

President Bush is seeking $35.2 billion for HUD, which represents a $1.6 billion or 4.5 percent increase over his proposed spending plan for FY 2007.

"This budget continues President Bush's deep commitment to build an ownership society while recognizing the need to promote affordable housing programs across the country," said Jackson.

Jackson said HUD's FY 2008 spending blueprint will support the Department's core missions, particularly expanding homeownership and caring for those most in need.

The FY 2008 Budget seeks a record $1.6 billion to support thousands of local programs that serve the homeless, as well as increases for rental assistance for low-income families.

In June 2002, President Bush challenged the nation to close the minority homeownership gap by increasing the number of minority homeowners by 5.5 million by the end of this decade.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - FHA is undergoing a historic transformation to give homebuyers who do not qualify for prime financing a better alternative to high-cost, high-risk loan products.

Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) - HUD's Section 184 Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Program is designed to offer home ownership, property rehabilitation and new construction opportunities for eligible tribes, Indian Housing Authorities and Native Americans.

To help even more low-income families find affordable housing, the President is proposing significant reforms to the Department's Housing Choice Voucher Program that would help up to 180,000 more low-income families in addition to the two million households the program currently serves.

Posted by Michael at 7:54 PM

Nutrition Program Changes in the 2008 Budget

FRAC Analysis:

The President's FY 2008 budget proposals fall far short of the investments required to meet the health, education and nutrition needs of America's vulnerable families, children and elderly.

Reducing participation in the Food Stamp Program.

Missing from the Administration package are eligibility restorations for legal immigrants and jobless adults willing to work.

Under current federal law, states have the option to treat as categorically eligible for food stamps those families which are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program services.

Although the families may have modest savings or "gross income" that slightly exceeds the Food Stamp Program's regular rules, if the state takes this option they may receive benefits.

The President's budget proposes to eliminate the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

Posted by Michael at 7:50 PM

Budget Cuts Children's Health Coverage

Families USA:

The following is the statement (in part) of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, about the President's budget proposal that would cut children's health coverage:

"The President's budget proposal would cut health coverage for children in low- and moderate-income families.

Instead of expanding health coverage to America's 9 million uninsured children, the President proposes to reduce coverage in two ways.

"First, the President's proposed funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) is inadequate to retain enrollment for the children who currently participate in the program.

"Second, the President's proposal is designed to reduce SCHIP eligibility in 18 states* where eligibility exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($34,340 in annual income for a family of three).

"The President's proposal contravenes his explicit promise at the 2004 Republican convention.

"We call on Congress to reject the President's health budget proposals and work to achieve more affordable coverage for all, starting with America's children."

Posted by Michael at 7:46 PM

Budget Calls for Deep Cuts in a Wide Range of Domestic Programs

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Cuts Start in 2008 and Grow Deeper Over Time.

Under the Administration's budget, domestic discretionary programs --- the programs that are funded each year through the annual appropriations process, other than defense and international programs --- are slated for sizable reductions over the next five years.

The largest cuts would come in 2012, when domestic programs would be cut $34 billion, or 7.6 percent, relative to the 2007 funding level, adjusted for inflation.

Data from back-up information provided by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to the Congressional Budget Committees (but not made readily available to the public) show that key domestic priority areas --- including areas such as education, environmental protection, veterans health care, and medical research --- would be slated for large funding cuts over the 2008 to 2012 period.

Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education: This subfunction includes funding for K-12 education, vocational and adult education, and special education.

In fiscal year 2008, funding for the three programs would total $415 million, $660 million below the expected fiscal year 2007 funding level for the programs that would be consolidated even before adjusting for inflation.

Discretionary funding for all programs outside of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security is currently provided by a temporary continuing resolution, which is scheduled to expire on February 15.

In actuality, the overall level of funding that the administration is proposing for domestic discretionary programs in 2008 is $1.5 billion below the level for 2007 reflected in H.J. Res.

Posted by Michael at 7:37 PM

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

CDC:

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Nearly half of the more than 1 million Americans estimated to be living with HIV in the United States are African Americans.

In 2005, African Americans made up approximately 13 percent of the population, but accounted for nearly half (49%) of new HIV diagnoses in the 33 states with long-term confidential name-based HIV reporting.

While these statistics paint a bleak picture, being of black race or black ethnicity is not in itself a risk factor for HIV.

However, some African Americans face challenges that may place them at an increased risk of contracting HIV, including socioeconomic factors, such as poverty and stigma; high rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); substance use; and less access to medical care.

Prompt and early diagnosis of HIV is a critical step in dealing with the crisis within the black community.

CDC recommends that all Americans between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV as a routine part of medical care.

Being tested for HIV is important since people who are unaware of their infection are estimated to account for up to 70 percent of all new sexually transmitted HIV infections each year.

Once diagnosed, those living with HIV can fully benefit from available life-saving treatments.

They can also take steps to protect their partners and protect their community.

To reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in the black community, CDC conducts research and programs for HIV prevention that include partnering with community leaders and organizations to mobilize against HIV/AIDS, expanding the reach of effective HIV-prevention programs, conducting the Minority AIDS Research Initiative, and implementing social marketing campaigns emphasizing the importance of HIV testing.

To learn more about Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and CDC's programs, visit www.cdc.gov/hiv.

Posted by Michael at 7:29 PM

President's Budget Misses Mark on Helping to Reduce Poverty in America

Catholic Charities USA:

The proposed $2.9 trillion budget contains drastic cuts and changes to a range of programs that address the health and well-being of low-income families and individuals.

Catholic Charities USA is especially alarmed that just two weeks after President Bush's State of the Union address, in which he acknowledged the nation's health care crisis, the president is recommending cutting more than $100 billion from Medicaid, Medicare, and other critical health care programs over five years.

The Administration proposes to eliminate Food Stamp eligibility for approximately 300,000 people in working families with children.

These families have low-incomes, but they are not receiving cash assistance.

The budget also proposes to eliminate funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides funding for the elderly and nutritionally vulnerable pregnant women and their children.

The Administration proposes deep cuts to services and housing programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"As part of our campaign, we will measure policymakers' budget and policy proposals in terms of how they strengthen or weaken family life and how they address the dignity of the human person to have access to adequate food, shelter, health care and economic security," said Father Snyder.

Posted by Michael at 7:25 PM

A Counterintuitive Approach to Reducing Poverty and Strengthening Families

MDRC:

Between the end of World War II and 1973, the percentage of Americans living in poverty fell by half. Since then, however, the overall poverty rate has remained largely unchanged. Why didn't poverty continue to decline? Falling wages and increasing rates of lone parenting are the two principal explanations.

This paper was originally prepared for the conference, "Identifying Policies That Would Reduce Poverty," on April 17-18, 2006, co-sponsored by the Joyce Foundation and the Brookings Institution.

A strategy that used the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to supplement the earnings of all low-wage workers age 21 to 54 who work full time --- whether they have children or not and whether they marry or not --- would counter three decades of wage stagnation and persistent poverty, with significant positive corollary effects on employment and parental support.

By conditioning the benefit on full-time work, by targeting individuals regardless of their family status, and by calculating EITC eligibility on the basis of individual income rather than joint income for tax filing purposes (as Canadians and Europeans do), this earnings-based supplement would restore equity to the American social compact while distorting incentives to work, marry, and bear children as little as possible.

Encouragingly, there is a reliable body of evidence demonstrating that work-based earnings supplements --- such as the EITC --- can be an effective strategy for boosting employment and earnings, and reducing poverty, without distorting work incentives.

Posted by Michael at 1:19 PM

February 7, 2007

Education Department Launches Priorities for NCLB Reauthorization

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today launched Building on Results: A Blueprint for Strengthening the No Child Left Behind Act.

On the heels of the President's call in his State of the Union Address for Congress to reauthorize the No Child Left Behind Act, which turned five this month, Spellings said, "There is no better time than this year to get the job done."

Building On Results is designed to provide additional tools to our schools and educators to help America's students read and do math at grade level by 2014.

It would strengthen efforts to close the achievement gap by giving states more flexibility to measure and increase student progress; encourage rigorous coursework, particularly in math and science, in our nation's high schools; and provide new options and choices for families whose children remain in underperforming schools.

"If we let this opportunity pass us by, the loss will be felt greatest by our nation's young people---the very individuals we will be counting on to keep America globally competitive and nationally secure," Spellings said.

Achievement gaps in reading and math between African-American and Hispanic nine-year-olds and their white peers have fallen to all-time lows.

"The government is now well-positioned to move expeditiously to invest federal dollars and inject good common sense to where it's most needed."

Posted by Michael at 10:19 PM

Education Department Announces Largest Pell Grant Increase in Three Decades

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced today that President Bush's 2008 budget will raise the Pell Grant maximum for students to $4,600 next year, the largest increase in over 30 years, and $5,400 over five years, the largest five-year increase ever.

Spellings unveiled the President's proposal during an address at the 2007 Annual Emerging Issues Forum on Transforming Higher Education: A Competitive Advantage for North Carolina hosted by North Carolina State University.

"Higher education costs have made it more difficult for low and middle income families to afford college," said Secretary Spellings.

Each year, Pell Grants help more than five million full-and part-time low-income students afford higher education.

"This is real money that will help more low-income students achieve the dream of a college education," said Spellings.

The President's increase exceeds one contained in a spending bill passed by the House earlier this week, which proposed to raise the maximum Pell Grant amount for each student from the current $4,050 to $4,310 a year.

Additionally, Spellings emphasized the need to provide better information to students and families about how and where their education dollars are being spent.

"Just like any other investment or enterprise, we need meaningful data to better manage the system," Spellings said.

"Higher education has long been one of the strengths of America.

It's a system that encourages innovation and adapts to meet differing needs.

With more than 90 percent of today's jobs requiring a post-secondary degree, it's critical that we provide the information and resources necessary to help students pursue higher educational opportunity."

Posted by Michael at 10:13 PM

2008 Budget Makes Investments in No Child Left Behind, More Aid for Low-Income College Students

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today praised President Bush's FY 2008 Department of Education budget request for providing increased resources to improve our public schools, increase rigor in our nation's high schools, and help more Americans afford college.

"President Bush believes that every student can learn and today he is reaffirming his commitment to a good education for every child, regardless of race, income or zip code," said Secretary Spellings.

"This budget builds on the great progress our children have made under No Child Left Behind while at the same time targeting dollars more strategically to meet our students' most pressing needs and priorities," said Secretary Spellings.

The President's request of $56 billion makes bold investments in the core priorities of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) by increasing funding for the landmark law to $24.5 billion, up 41 percent since 2001.

Additionally, $500 million in Title I School Improvement Grants will help states turn around low-performing schools and direct resources to students who need additional instruction to succeed.

And for low-income families with students trapped in chronically underperforming schools, Promise and Opportunity Scholarships will provide a choice of intensive tutoring or the opportunity to attend a quality public, private or charter school.

To better prepare students to succeed in the global economy, the President proposes $365 million for the American Competitiveness Initiative to strengthen instruction in math, science, and critical foreign languages, the new currencies of the world economy.

The President's top education priority for 2008 is reauthorization of NCLB, and his 2008 request is fully aligned with the goal of every child reading and doing math at grade level by 2014.

Particular emphasis will be placed on bringing more resources and rigor to the high school level, as well as placing priority on providing low-income students with educational resources through Title I funds.

$500 million in first-time School Improvement Grants for states to support school improvement and increase support for Local Educational Agencies improvement efforts.

$300 million for Promise Scholarships ($250 million) and Opportunity Scholarships ($50 million) to expand school choice options for students in low-performing schools.

Posted by Michael at 10:09 PM

12-Step Treatment More Effective than Alternative, Study Says

Researchers from Stanford University found that a 12-step oriented treatment program that included attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings boosted two-year sobriety rates by 30 percent compared to cognitive-behavioral (CB) programs, the BBC reported Jan. 29.

Lead study author Keith Humphreys said the spiritual dimension of AA may explain why recovering alcoholics in such programs are better able to resist the temptation to return to drinking.

The study appears in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.