Human Services News

Drug companies are sprinting ahead in a race against the clock to deliver millions of doses of vaccine for the H1N1 influenza virus before cooler weather ushers in the 2009-2010 flu season. A two-part cover story in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine, focuses on that topic and efforts to develop antiviral drugs for flu infections. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:18 PM | TrackBack

Teen attitudes toward smoking linked to likelihood of drinking and using drugs

New research by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers looks at the specific ways parents and peers influence teenagers to smoke, drink and use marijuana in combination. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:17 PM | TrackBack

Penn Study Asks, Protection or Peril? Gun Possession of Questionable Value in an Assault; Those Possessing Gun in Assault Situation 4.5 Times More Likely to Be Shot Than Those Not Possessing One

In a first-of-its-kind study, epidemiologists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that, on average, guns did not protect those who possessed them from being shot in an assault. The study estimated that people with a gun were 4.5 times more likely to be shot in an assault than those not possessing a gun. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:59 PM | TrackBack

Building Student Success From the Ground Up

From MDRC:

Achieving the Dream teaches community colleges to use student data to improve programming and student success. Since participating, Guilford Technical Community College in North Carolina has become a data-driven, success-oriented institution and has seen promising trends in student achievement. This study offers lessons for other colleges undertaking similar institutional reform. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:48 PM | TrackBack

A need for leadership in primary care

Community health centers have become the centerpiece of the nation's efforts to provide access to primary care for all and therefore experience a greater need for primary care providers, who already are in short supply. According to researchers at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine medical education must become a core part of the community health center mission to address this need. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:42 PM | TrackBack

Legal Community Against Violence Reacts to Supreme Court Decision to Hear Chicago Handgun Ban Case

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will review the Seventh Circuit's decision in McDonald v. Chicago, which held that the Second Amendment does not apply to state and local governments. In the Chicago case, the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of lawsuits alleging that Chicago and Oak Park ordinances prohibiting the possession or sale of handguns violate the Second Amendment. The court concluded it was bound by Supreme Court precedent holding that the Amendment applies only to the federal government, stating that the Supreme Court alone can reverse those cases. The court observed further that under principles of federalism, "local differences are to be cherished as elements of liberty" and that "[f]ederalism is an older and more deeply rooted tradition than is a right to carry any particular kind of weapon." Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:39 PM | TrackBack

Can Teacher Training in Classroom Management Make a Difference for Children's Experiences in Preschool?

From MDRC:

Early evaluation results from Newark, NJ, show that Foundations of Learning improved teachers' classroom management and productivity, reduced children's conflict with peers, and engaged students in the learning tasks of preschool. The intervention was implemented in Head Start programs, community-based child care centers, and public schools. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:37 PM | TrackBack

September 29, 2009

Student Art Exhibit from Chesterfield, Virginia to be displayed at U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education introduced art created by 37 students from Chesterfield County, Va. schools today in a ceremony welcoming the students and their art at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Education Building, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., in Washington, D.C. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:43 PM | TrackBack

$6.6 Million in Striving Readers Grants Awarded to help Struggling Readers

Eight states will receive $6.6 million in Striving Readers grants to improve the literacy skills of struggling adolescent readers, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today. The purpose of the Striving Readers program is to raise reading achievement in Title I-eligible middle and high schools where significant numbers of students are faced with the challenges of poverty and reading below grade level. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:42 PM | TrackBack

Electronic medical records could be used as a predictor of domestic abuse

Doctors could predict a patient's risk of receiving a domestic abuse diagnosis years in advance by using electronic medical records as an early warning system, according to research published on bmj.com today. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:33 PM | TrackBack

59 percent support Massachusetts' Landmark 2006 health reform law

A new poll by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Boston Globe finds 59 percent of Massachusetts residents who are aware of the state's health reform legislation, which was enacted in 2006, support it. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:29 PM | TrackBack

Obesity in mid-life reduces the chance of healthy survival in women

A new study by Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers has found that, among a large study population of women who lived until at least age 70, being overweight in mid-life was associated with having more health problems later in life. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:23 PM | TrackBack

Training clinicians helps reduce rates of early childhood cavities

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have found that pediatricians provided with the proper communication, educational and information technology tools and training could reduce the rates of children developing early childhood caries or cavities by 77 percent. This study appears in the October issue of the Journal Medical Care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:22 PM | TrackBack

University of Central Florida Team Developing Tool Kit to Help Diagnose Dementia

With the risk of developing dementia growing at an alarming pace, a University of Central Florida research team is working with the Boston University School of Medicine to develop a miniature diagnostic toolkit in the hopes of stimulating earlier detection and treatment. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:17 PM | TrackBack

$120 Million for States Made Available as Part of Recovery Act Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative

HHS today announced the release of $120 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for prevention and wellness programs for U.S. states and territories, building on the recent announcement of the $373 million funding opportunity for communities and tribes around the country. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:15 PM | TrackBack

RAND Corp. Study Outlines Strategies to Test New Payment Models for Health Care

A new RAND Corporation study outlines methods that might be used to test a novel payment system for medical care that would provide doctors, hospitals and other health providers a set fee for treating an ailment such as hip replacement surgery. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:03 PM | TrackBack

Study Highlights HIV/AIDS Challenge in American Prison System; Researchers at MUHC/McGill and Colleagues at UCSF Have Evaluated the Effectiveness of HIV treatment in Patients Who Enter and Leave Prison

HIV/AIDS is up to five times more prevalent in American prisons than in the general population. Adherence to treatment programs can be strictly monitored in prison. However, once prisoners are released, medical monitoring becomes problematic. A new study by Dr. Nitika Pant Pai - an Assistant professor of Medicine and a medical scientist at the Research Institute of the MUHC - suggests the majority (76 percent) of inmates take their antiretroviral treatment (ART) intermittently once they leave prison, representing a higher risk to the general population. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:02 PM | TrackBack

September 28, 2009

A pet in your life keeps the doctor away

Lowers blood pressure, encourages exercise, improves psychological health -- these may sound like the effects of a miracle drug, but they are actually among the benefits of owning a four-legged, furry pet.

This fall, the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction will explore the many ways animals benefit people of all ages during the International Society for Anthrozoology and Human-Animal Interaction Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 20-25.

Posted by Michael at 11:44 PM | TrackBack

Swiss study finds income affects prostate cancer patients' survival

A Swiss study finds prostate cancer patients of low socioeconomic status are more likely to die than patients with higher incomes. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:29 PM | TrackBack

Lack of social support tied to parental depression

The latest research from Family Relations shows that parents in low-income environments are more prone to depression when there is a lack of social support. This is especially prevalent in rural regions, where mental health and social resources can be deficient. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:27 PM | TrackBack

Rising Senior Unemployment and the Need to Work at Older Ages

Unemployment rates for older workers reached record levels in 2009, partly because fewer workers eligible for early retirement benefits are dropping out of the labor force. Growing concerns about the adequacy of retirement savings and whether retirees will have enough money to live comfortably in later life appear to have discouraged early retirement. Instead, more older workers are now remaining in the labor force and searching for work after they lose their jobs. The need for older adults to keep working raises the imperative for new policies that help address the special challenges that older job seekers face. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:27 PM | TrackBack

Do your children push the boundaries? It may be a sign of future leadership abilities study shows

Children whose parents use a firm parenting style that still allows them to test the rules and learn from it are more likely to assume leadership roles as adults according to a new study published in a recent edition of the Leadership Quarterly. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:22 PM | TrackBack

September 26, 2009

Statement from Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Regarding National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day -- September 27, 2009

From Health:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On September 27, our nation will observe National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD). This is a day for us to reflect on the devastating impact that HIV and AIDS have had among gay and bisexual men, to recognize that HIV continues to affect this community disproportionately, and to commit to reducing that disparity. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:06 AM | TrackBack

AUDIO from Medialink and Nestle: Could Your Family Be the 'Family of the Year?'

From Health:

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your family living the "best life?" Here's more on how one lucky family can win a trip to the "Aloha State" just by making little changes to form new, healthier habits. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 1:03 AM | TrackBack

Social background weighs heavily on teenage diet

Teenagers' attitudes to diet and weight are shaped by their social class, according to new research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Policymakers have long insisted on the importance of understanding young people's health and eating habits but this is the first study to show how everyday practices and perceptions of different social classes contribute to variation in the diet, weight and health of teenagers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:39 AM | TrackBack

Education Secretary Duncan and HHS Secretary Sebelius Announce Winner of 2009 H1N1 PSA Contest

U.S. Secretary of Education (ED) Arne Duncan and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius today announced that Dr. John Clarke of Baldwin, N.Y., is the winner of the 2009 H1N1 PSA Contest. More than 50,000 votes were cast by Americans across the country on YouTube. Dr. Clarke will receive a $2,500 cash prize and his ad will be broadcast on national television. The announcement was made at a What To Do About the Flu town hall meeting held by Obama Administration officials with college students and faculty at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:37 AM | TrackBack

Young adults visit doctors least at an age when risky behavior peaks

The prevalence of substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, homicide and motor vehicle crashes all peak in young adulthood. Yet the study's findings show that young adults underuse ambulatory medical care, infrequently receive preventive care and rarely receive counseling directed at the greatest threats to their health. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:37 AM | TrackBack

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan Issues Statement on Report on High School Dropout and Completion Rates

“President Obama says, 'When you drop out of school, you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country'. We need to educate our way to a better economy, and we won't be able to do that if one in four kids who enter high school aren't graduating within four years. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:34 AM | TrackBack

From the Classroom to the Community : Exploring the Role of Education during Incarceration and Reentry

This report synthesizes the Education Reentry Roundtable. It surveys the current landscape of correctional education, discussing both the educational needs of people involved in the criminal justice system and the programs being provided to meet those needs; reviews research on the effectiveness of correctional education and guiding principles for effective programming; discusses the issues involved in providing education in correctional settings and identifies some potential responses to these challenges. The report closes by looking to the future and highlighting key issues and new directions in research, policy, and practice. More information about the Reentry Roundtables can be found at http://www.urban.org/projects/reentry-roundtable/index.cfm. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:13 AM | TrackBack

Study finds intervention program increases kids' healthy eating, reduces screen time

A new Iowa State University study found that a family, school and community intervention program helps children live healthier lives and could be a new tool in the fight against the nation's childhood obesity epidemic. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:05 AM | TrackBack

Testimony on Income and Poverty in the United States: 2008 : Before the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress

Between 2007 and 2008, real incomes fell and poverty rose in the United States, Institute Fellow Harry Holzer testified before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. Even if the recession ends this year, rising unemployment will mean that real income keeps falling while poverty increases for a few more years and almost certainly by much more than occurred between 2007 and 2008. It will likely take several years beyond 2010 before real income and poverty fully recover from the effects of the downturn. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 12:00 AM | TrackBack

September 25, 2009

White House Hosts New Hampshire Town Hall on Importance of Fatherhood and Education

Today, as part of the continuing National Conversation on Fatherhood, Obama Administration officials made the second stop of a national initiative with a visit to Manchester, New Hampshire to focus on the importance of fathers in the education of their children. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, in cooperation with The U.S. Department of Education, conducted the event. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:48 PM | TrackBack

Secretary Duncan Says Rewrite of 'No Child Left Behind' Should Start Now; Reauthorization Can't Wait

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today said that the $24.8 billion in federal funds available annually to the nation's schools should support reforms that prepare students for success in college and careers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:47 PM | TrackBack

September 24, 2009

Children who are spanked have lower IQs, new research finds

Children who are spanked have lower IQs worldwide, including in the United States, according to new groundbreaking research by University of New Hampshire professor Murray Straus. The research results will be presented Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at the 14th International Conference on Violence, Abuse and Trauma, in San Diego, Calif. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:02 PM | TrackBack

Students, teachers need to be transculturally literate, expert says

To adequately prepare today's students for tomorrow's global economy, teacher education expert Mark Dressman favors "transcultural education," which he defines as an experience that goes beyond the traditional rite-of-passage trip to western Europe. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:47 PM | TrackBack

New mtvU & Associated Press Poll Shows How Stress, the Economy & Other Factors are Affecting College Students' Mental Health

From Health:

Over 60 Percent of College Seniors Worried They Won't Land a Job After Graduation, Nearly 1 in 5 Students Have a Parent Who Lost a Job This Year, and 1 in 3 College Students Changed Major or Chose Grad School in Response to the Recession Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:35 PM | TrackBack

California Doctors to Get Wired in State's Largest e-Prescribing Initiative

From Health:

CalPERS, Anthem Blue Cross, Medco Health Solutions, and Blue Shield of California Look to Promote Adoption Among Physicians Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:33 PM | TrackBack

Scientists determine dynamics of HIV transmission in UK heterosexuals

Among heterosexuals in the United Kingdom, HIV transmission can occur within networks of as many as 30 people, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Unit, London. Details are published September 25 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:16 PM | TrackBack

Diabetes most prevalent in Southern US

Diabetes prevalence is highest in the Southern and Appalachian states and lowest in the Midwest and the Northeast of America. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open-access journal Population Health Metrics have used two public data sources to investigate the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus at the State level. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:13 PM | TrackBack

New England Journal of Medicine publishes Mayo Clinic study about health care reform

Results of a Mayo Clinic survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that while physicians are open to being involved in health care reform discussions, some opposition may exist. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:05 PM | TrackBack

Use of statins favors the wealthy, creating new social disparities in cholesterol

Since the introduction of statins to treat high cholesterol, the decline in lipid levels experienced by the wealthy has been double that experienced by the poor. Statin use may have contributed to expanding social disparities in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, according to new research by Virginia W. Chang, M.D., Ph.D., of the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania, and Diane S. Lauderdale, Ph.D., of the University of Chicago. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:02 PM | TrackBack

HIV vaccine regimen demonstrates modest preventive effect in Thailand clinical study

In an encouraging development, an investigational vaccine regimen has been shown to be well-tolerated and to have a modest effect in preventing HIV infection in a clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult participants in Thailand. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:53 PM | TrackBack

Study shows simplifying financial aid process improves access to higher education

For years, studies have shown that young people from low-income households across North America are less likely to apply to college or university than peers from higher-income families. Now, a groundbreaking new study shows the solution may be as simple as helping students with the financial aid process. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:50 PM | TrackBack

MU researchers find planning, positivism influence employment success at different stages

With America's unemployment rate higher than it has been in decades, many people find themselves looking for jobs. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri focus on what job seekers need to get ahead of the competition. The Mizzou scientists found that certain planning activities and positive emotions have a large impact on success in finding a job. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:48 PM | TrackBack

September 23, 2009

New links among alcohol abuse, depression, obesity in young women found

There is new evidence that depression, obesity and alcohol abuse or dependency are interrelated conditions among young adult women but not men. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:43 PM | TrackBack

Computer model shows changes in brain mechanisms for cocaine addicts

University of Missouri researchers Ashwin Mohan and Sandeep Pendyam, doctoral students in the department of electrical and computer engineering, are utilizing computational models to study how the brain's chemicals and synaptic mechanisms, or connections between neurons, react to cocaine addiction and what this could mean for future therapies. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:39 PM | TrackBack

California Student Video Contest Opens; What Would $1,000 Do for Your School?

California high school students are invited to participate in The LegiSchool Project's annual Public Service Announcement Video Contest and create a 60-second PSA video showcasing what $1,000 would do for their school. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:30 PM | TrackBack

Twelve Going on 70: SCAN Health Plan Arizona Helps 7th and 8th Graders Understand Aging With Senior Sensitivity Training

From PR Newswire:

Seventh and eighth graders at the Arcadia Neighborhood Learning Center (ANLC) in Scottsdale today experienced firsthand some of the challenges that come with aging. Through "Trading Ages," an innovative senior sensitivity program sponsored by the not-for-profit SCAN Health Plan Arizona, the students participated in a series of hands-on exercises intended to demonstrate the physical challenges facing seniors.

SCAN's unique senior sensitivity program is designed to educate a younger generation of Americans about the diverse needs of older adults and to nurture an understanding, appreciation and compassion for the seniors in their lives. The program at ANLC represents the first time SCAN Health Plan Arizona has offered this program within a school. "We hope to expand this educational program to reach school-children throughout Maricopa County," said Tom Lescault, president of SCAN Health Plan Arizona.

SCAN facilitators Susan Cypert and Karen Richards led the children in a host of creative exercises to mimic the challenges facing seniors. Foot ailments were simulated with popcorn placed in their shoes, hearing loss through distorted recordings, vision changes through special glasses fitted with blurred lenses, and loss of dexterity with special gloves that limit mobility in their hands and fingers.

Posted by Michael at 10:25 PM | TrackBack

School-Family-Community Partnership Success Stories

The National Network of Partnership Schools (NNPS) at Johns Hopkins University has published Promising Partnership Practices 2009, a collection of more than 110 best practices chosen from schools, districts, and organizations across the country. The activities are used to improve reading, math, science, attendance, and multicultural understanding, and to create a family-friendly school environment. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:56 PM | TrackBack

Study uncovers 'de-urbanization' of America

More than any other populace on Earth, Americans are on the move. Because of factors such as employment, climate or retirement, 14 percent of the U.S. population bounces from place to place every year. Now, one researcher at the University of Kansas has made a vital study of how a population in perpetual motion impacts local tax bases and economies around the nation.

Visit the University of Kansas site to learn more about these trends.

Posted by Michael at 9:55 PM | TrackBack

New study shows simplifying financial aid process improves college access for low-income students

More low-income students would make it to college if changes were made to streamline the complicated financial aid process, according to a groundbreaking study released today by researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Stanford University School of Education, the University of Toronto, and the National Bureau of Economic Research. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:53 PM | TrackBack

Depression and anxiety disorders of adolescents are not the same thing

Adolescent depression and anxiety disorders are two distinct psychiatric disorders, according to Dr. William W. Hale III in a recent publication in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:51 PM | TrackBack

Pregnant women need flu shots

Eight maternal and child health information providers urged pregnant women to be vaccinated against both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu. The organizations partnered to issue a joint statement because the H1N1 virus has proven to be especially dangerous to pregnant women. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:50 PM | TrackBack

September 22, 2009

The Nursing Workforce Challenge : Public Policy for a Dynamic and Complex Market

Nurses are health care's backbone, spending the most time with patients, and working with teams of caregivers in institutions and serving as advanced practice nurses in primary care settings. Short-term shortages wax and wane, but concerns about a shortage are more serious now because the next decade may see more older nurses retiring than new ones entering the workforce. Education needs to be augmented and improved, but no precise estimation method can show how many nurses society "should" produce. Policy should focus more on nurses' scopes of practice and aligning how they are treated and paid with the value they add to patient care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:40 PM | TrackBack

HHS Secretary Sebelius and Education Secretary Duncan Announce Winner of 2009 H1N1 PSA Contest

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Arne Duncan today announced that Dr. John Clarke of Baldwin, N.Y., is the winner of the 2009 H1N1 PSA Contest. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:37 PM | TrackBack

U.S. Department of Education Video Contest Challenges Students to Take Responsibility for Their Education

In two minutes or less, America's students have an opportunity to show the nation and the world how far education can take them and how they will achieve their dreams. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:31 PM | TrackBack

Statement by U.S. Education Secretary Duncan on Draft College- and Career-Readiness Standards in English-Language Arts, Mathematics

The U.S. Department of Education today issued the following statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan regarding the first official public draft of the college- and career-readiness standards in English-language arts and mathematics as part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative led by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:30 PM | TrackBack

Transformation of Affordable-Housing Policy Illuminated in New Historical Analysis

The Housing Policy Revolution: Networks and Neighborhoods from the Urban Institute Press traces the shift in U.S. housing policy from the Washington-led bureaucracies of the 1960s to today's highly collaborative, tax-supported networks of advocates, local governments, bankers, and property developers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:03 PM | TrackBack

Top 1 Percent of Americans Reaped Two-Thirds of Income Gains in Last Economic Expansion

Two-thirds of the nation’s total income gains from 2002 to 2007 flowed to the top 1 percent of U.S. households, and that top 1 percent held a larger share of income in 2007 than at any time since 1928, according to an analysis of newly released IRS data by economists Thomas Piketty and Emmanuel Saez.[1] During those years, the Piketty-Saez data also show, the inflation-adjusted income of the top 1 percent of households grew more than ten times faster than the income of the bottom 90 … Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:43 PM | TrackBack

Stimulus Keeping 6 Million Americans Out of Poverty in 2009, Estimates Show

Although meant chiefly to help the broad economy, the stimulus plan Congress enacted earlier this year (the American Recovery and Re-Investment Act of 2009, or ARRA) had the important secondary effect of significantly ameliorating the recession’s impact on poverty. This analysis, which comes one day before the Census Bureau will release updated poverty figures (for 2008), examines seven of the recovery act’s provisions — two improvements in unemployment insurance, three tax … Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:42 PM | TrackBack

Podcast: Examining the New 2008 Census Data on Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance Coverage

Robert Greenstein discusses today’s grim Census Bureau report that shows the nation lost substantial ground in 2008 on poverty, median income, and the number of people who are uninsured. Several aspects of the Census report are highlighted. Duration: 11:59 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:40 PM | TrackBack

Poverty Rose, Median Income Declined, and Job-Based Health Insurance Continued to Weaken in 2008

Poverty increased, median household income fell, and the percentage of Americans with employer-based health coverage continued to decline in 2008, according to Census data for 2008 issued today. The figures reflect the initial effects of the recession. Median household income declined 3.6 percent in 2008 after adjusting for inflation, the largest single-year decline on record, and reached its lowest point since 1997. The poverty rate rose to 13.2 percent, its highest level … Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:38 PM | TrackBack

Current Health Reform Proposals: No Government Takeover of American Health Care

This paper debunks claims that proposed health reforms represent a government takeover of health care. We show, among other findings, that pending legislation would: (1) retain the nation's largely private medical care system, in which more than 90 percent of doctors are in private practice and 84 percent of all hospital admissions are to private facilities; (2) avoid government interference in the practice of medicine, instead simply extending existing public responsibilities to fund coverage for low-income Americans and regulate insurance; and (3) cover only 12 million people through a public option, based on Congressional Budget Office projections. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:21 PM | TrackBack

Promoting Neighborhood Diversity: Benefits, Barriers, and Strategies

Despite substantial progress since passage of the Fair Housing Act four decades ago, neighborhoods remain highly segregated by race and ethnicity. This paper summarizes existing research evidence on both the costs of segregation and the potential benefits of neighborhood diversity. It uses decennial census data to show that a growing share of US neighborhoods are racially and ethnically diverse, but that low-income African Americans in particular remain highly concentrated in predominantly minority neighborhoods. Because the dynamics that sustain segregation today are complex, strategies for overcoming them must address not only discrimination, but information gaps, affordability constraints, prejudice, and fear. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:20 PM | TrackBack

Rising Poverty Threatens Neighborhood Vitality

High poverty rates, especially among African Americans and Latinos, threaten the well-being of neighborhoods as well as families. We can anticipate that the number of neighborhoods with dangerously high poverty rates is higher today than in 2000, representing a tragic reversal of the downward trend between 1990 and 2000. Historically, public policies played a central role in establishing and enforcing patterns of racial segregation, alongside discriminatory practices by the private sector and individuals. But no single causal process explains the persistence of residential segregation in America today. To ensure the well-being and sustainability of all neighborhoods, public policies must intervene to break the cycle. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:19 PM | TrackBack

Poverty in the United States, 2008

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the U.S. poverty rate reached 13.2 percent in 2008. Even this significant increase from the 12.5 percent rate in 2007 surely understates the share of Americans struggling to make ends meet today in September 2009. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:18 PM | TrackBack

Transitioning In and Out of Poverty

Slightly more than half of the U.S. population experiences poverty at some time before age 65. Roughly half of those who get out of poverty will become poor again within five years. Who is more likely to enter poverty? How long are people poor? And what events are associated with falling into and climbing out of poverty? This fact sheet summarizes key findings from the poverty dynamics literature to describe how, why, and when people move in and out of poverty. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:17 PM | TrackBack

The Dynamics of Poverty in the United States: A Review of Data, Methods, and Findings

This paper reviews the literature on poverty dynamics in the United States. It surveys the most prevalent data, theories, and methods used to answer three key questions: How likely are people to enter, exit, and reenter poverty? How long do people remain in poverty? And what events are associated with entering and exiting poverty? The paper then analyzes the combined findings of the literature, discussing overarching patterns of poverty dynamics, differences among demographic groups, and how poverty probabilities, duration, and events have changed over time. We conclude with a discussion of the policy implications of these findings and avenues for future research. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:14 PM | TrackBack

Are Families Prepared for Financial Emergencies?

Data from the 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances show a disturbing reality. Even prior to the current recession, many families did not have enough assets to see them through a modest spell of unemployment or another financial emergency. In 2007, nearly one in three U.S. families were liquid asset poor. Low-income, young, and nonemployed families are more vulnerable to economic emergencies. For example, two-thirds (68 percent) of bottom income quintile families and 47 percent of second income quintile families are liquid asset poor, while such shortfalls affect only 1 percent of top income quintile families. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:13 PM | TrackBack

U.S. Department of Education Awards More Than $108.8 Million in Early Reading First Grants to Help Prepare Young Children to Read

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of more than $108.8 million in Early Reading First grants to 28 local education agencies and other public or private organizations in 18 states and Washington, D.C., to improve the school readiness of young children, especially those from low-income families. The Department of Education awards Early Reading First grants to school districts and non-profit organizations to improve the instruction and environment provided by preschool programs supported by the Title I program, Head Start, and publicly funded or subsidized child care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:04 PM | TrackBack

A Preliminary Look at Early Educational Results of the Opportunity NYC Family Rewards Program

From MDRC:

Targeted toward very low-income families in six high-poverty New York City communities, Family Rewards offers cash payments tied to efforts and achievements in children's education, family preventive health care practices, and parents' employment. This paper reviews data on participants' receipt of rewards and offers preliminary estimates of the program's impacts on selected educational outcomes during the first year. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:01 PM | TrackBack

A consistent decline in heart attack rates following the implementation of smoking bans

Strongly enforced legislation to restrict smoking produces rapid and substantial reductions in community rates of heart attack, according to a meta-analysis published today in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:42 PM | TrackBack

K-State geographer working to clarify what sustainability really means to rural decision-makers

A geographer is researching how people define sustainability with the hope that this will later help civic and business leaders in rural communities make more informed decisions about sustainability. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:39 PM | TrackBack

Racial disparities in diabetes prevalence linked to living conditions

The higher incidence of diabetes among African-Americans when compared to whites may have more to do with living conditions than genetics, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study found that when African-Americans and whites live in similar environments and have similar incomes, their diabetes rates are similar, which contrasts with the fact that nationally diabetes is more prevalent among African-Americans than whites. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:28 PM | TrackBack

Pediatrics: Kids need specialized care in hospital emergency departments

According to a recent IOM report, only 6 percent of US hospital emergency departments are fully equipped to properly care for children. With high rates of novel H1N1 (swine) flu expected this winter, the time to address these deficiencies is immediate. In a joint policy statement published in Pediatrics, "Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department," pediatric health specialists provide recommendations for appropriate equipment, training, medications and policies for pediatric emergency care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:23 PM | TrackBack

Early results: In children, 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine works like seasonal flu vaccine

Early results from a trial testing a 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in children look promising. Preliminary analysis of blood samples from a small group of trial participants shows that a single 15-microgram dose of a nonadjuvanted 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine -- the same dose that is in the seasonal flu vaccine - generates an immune response that is expected to be protective against 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in the majority of 10- to 17-year-olds eight to 10 days following vaccination. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:22 PM | TrackBack

RU kidding? Research finds that chatspeak has no impact on children's spelling ability

This will prolly comes as a bit of a shock to UR system, but findings from a group of University of Alberta researchers show that language commonly used in instant messaging has no effect on your child's spelling abilities. If anything, says study author Connie Varnhagen, using language variations commonly used in instant messaging and texting is actually a good sign. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:21 PM | TrackBack

Switch program increases kids' healthy eating, reduces screen time

The SwitchTM program, "Switch what you Do, View, and Chew," has been shown to be capable of promoting children's fruit and vegetable consumption and lowering 'screen time'. Researchers writing in the open-access journal BMC Medicine tested the program and report that it offers promise for use in youth obesity prevention. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:19 PM | TrackBack

Lies my parents told me

Parents say that honesty is the best policy, but they regularly lie to their children as a way of influencing their behavior and emotions, finds new research from the University of Toronto and the University of California, San Diego. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:18 PM | TrackBack

September 18, 2009

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Fosters Partnership Between State Health Agencies and Pharmacies; Strategy Aligns Resources for Massive H1N1 Vaccination

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) (http://www.astho.org) has released new guidance entitled, "An Operational Framework for Partnering with Pharmacies for the Administration of 2009 H1N1 Vaccine." As the country prepares for what will be the largest vaccine push in history, public health officials are thinking of creative ways to maximize workforce and resources to protect their communities.

ASTHO consulted with the following organizations to create the guidance: American Pharmacists Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Alliance of State Pharmacy Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Association of County and City Health Officials, National Community Pharmacists Association, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Medical Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, and Rx Response.

"We are talking about agencies that are stretched to their limits under normal circumstances," said ASTHO Executive Director, Dr. Paul E. Jarris MD. "Bringing pharmacies into prevention efforts will help take some pressure off state health agencies and traditional healthcare providers. This new guidance will streamline logistics so our focus can be on the most important issue at hand, protecting the public's health."

Many pharmacies already function as seasonal influenza immunization sites. Since the H1N1 vaccine is federally purchased and provided, its distribution and administration must be supervised by state and local health agencies. Recognizing that state health agencies already interact with hospitals and healthcare facilities, ASTHO organized a unique collaborative to create a plan for an effective H1N1 vaccine distribution partnership.

Posted by Michael at 9:17 PM | TrackBack

From Latino Philanthropy to Balinese Culture: Hewlett Foundation Awards $8.2 Million to Support Underserved and Diverse Communities in California

From fostering philanthropy within the San Francisco Latino community to nurturing Balinese music and dance in the East Bay, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation made $8.2 million in grants this spring to 36 organizations serving diverse and disadvantaged communities in California. Across the state, organizations received grants in the Foundation's four primary areas of California grantmaking: population, the environment, education, and performing arts. Among highlights of the grants awarded are: Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:15 PM | TrackBack

Too many bars in rural America linked to high suicide rates instead of idyllic life

A new study has examined the relationship between suicide and number of alcohol outlets. Results show that suicides -- both completed and attempted -- occurred at greater rates in rural community areas with greater bar densities.Completed suicide rates were lower among blacks and Hispanics, and higher among low-income, older whites living in rural areas. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:14 PM | TrackBack

FHA announces credit policy changes, adding Chief Risk Officer

WASHINGTON, DC - Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David H. Stevens today announced plans to implement a set of credit policy changes that will enhance the agency's risk management functions. Stevens also announced his intention to hire a Chief Risk Officer for the first time in the FHA's 75-year history. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:11 PM | TrackBack

Three lessons about black poverty

The new poverty numbers released by the Census Bureau on September 10th shows the black poverty rate inching upward. The good news is that in 2008 the black poverty rate increased only a statistically-insignificant two-tenths of a percentage point to 24.7 percent. The worst of the recession, however, has been in 2009.

The bad news is that next year’s poverty increase will certainly be larger. If we have only weak job creation after the official end of the recession—a “jobless recovery”—then the black poverty rate could increase for additional years.

In recent years, there has been a lot of hot air about black poverty. This is a good moment to clarify what causes blacks to have such a high poverty rate and what can be done about it.

The first important point to emphasize is the crucial link of poverty to the lack of jobs. When blacks lose jobs, as they do during recessions, the black poverty rate increases. The reverse is also true. When there is strong job growth in the country, the black poverty rate declines.

Posted by Michael at 9:06 PM | TrackBack

September 17, 2009

HHS Prevention and Wellness Initiative, Including Tobacco Control, Is Smart Investment in America's Health

From Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

The Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative announced today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which includes support for strategies to reduce tobacco use, is a smart investment in the nation's health that will save lives, prevent disease and help reduce health care costs. This investment, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, will also create jobs and strengthen the nation's public health infrastructure, which will help build stronger, healthier communities.

The HHS initiative will provide a total of $650 million for evidence-based prevention and wellness strategies that reduce tobacco use, increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease obesity. In the first part of this initiative, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that communities and tribes can apply for $373 million in grants to address these public health challenges under the leadership of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We urge communities and tribes applying for these grants to include evidence-based strategies and programs that are proven to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. There are few public health measures that have a stronger evidence base than the programs and policies that have significantly reduced tobacco use in states and communities across the country. Research and experience have demonstrated conclusively that comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs reduce tobacco use, save lives and save money by reducing tobacco-related health care costs.

Posted by Michael at 6:34 PM | TrackBack

Binge drinkers let down guard against infection

As if a bad hangover wasn't enough of a deterrent, new research has shown how binge drinking weakens the body's ability to fight off infection for at least 24 hours afterwards. The study, published today in the open access journal BMC Immunology, focused on the effect of heavy drinking on toll-like receptor 4, a protein that has an important role in immune system activation. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:30 PM | TrackBack

Lower lexical recall in bilingual kids no cause for alarm

If your French Immersion student is scratching their tete over not being able to think of the English word for sifflet, or the French word for keyboard, a University of Alberta researcher has a sage piece of advice. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:28 PM | TrackBack

Statement from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on House Passage of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act

“Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to give America's college students the biggest increase in financial aid since the GI Bill. The bill will guarantee increases for the Pell Grant program for the 2010-11 year and beyond. It will overhaul federal student loans to make them more efficient while saving taxpayers billions of dollars over the next decade. A share of the savings will also help reduce the deficit and promote high quality early childhood programs. It will support Historically Black Colleges and Universities, ensuring that these critically important institutions are integral to institutional improvement efforts at both the national and state levels. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:25 PM | TrackBack

Foundation Center Launches National Education Stimulus Initiative; New Initiative, Web Portal Help Foundations Leverage Funds for Education Reform

The Foundation Center today announced the launch of "Foundations for Education Excellence" ( Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:25 PM | TrackBack

Statement by Secretaries Duncan and Sebelius on House Passage of Early Learning Challenge Fund

Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised progress made by Congress today as the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA), HR 3221, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would move away from subsidizing private lenders to a direct loan program and reinvest nearly $90 billion in savings over the next 10 years into several initiatives, including the Early Learning Challenge Fund, which will be jointly administered by the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:24 PM | TrackBack

45,000 excess deaths annually linked to lack of health insurance: Harvard study

A study published online today, September 17, estimates nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the Institute of Medicine in 2002. The Harvard-based researchers found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:18 PM | TrackBack

Weight loss is good for the kidneys

Losing weight may preserve kidney function in obese people with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The findings indicate that taking off the pounds could be an important step kidney disease patients can take to protect their health. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:17 PM | TrackBack

Face off

Juvenile delinquency may be a result of misunderstood social cues. Research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health shows that male juvenile delinquents frequently misinterpret facial expressions of disgust as anger, providing a possible cause for their aggressive behavior. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:16 PM | TrackBack

Health staff and relatives underestimate chronic pain experienced by nursing home residents

Relatives and nurses find it hard to judge how much chronic pain nursing home residents experience, according to a five-year study. Researchers have highlighted the need for more education on assessing and treating chronic pain after they spoke to 174 residents, 171 nurses and 122 relatives. They would also like to see more alternative pain relief strategies used, like providing massage and encouraging greater mobility. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:14 PM | TrackBack

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Cornerstone Funding of the $650 Million Recovery Act Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative

Creating ways for healthful lifestyle habits to be the natural first choice for Americans is the goal of a $650 million initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and decrease smoking in U.S. communities. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:09 PM | TrackBack

HUD approves $18 million deal to construct 16-bed replacement hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a commitment to insure a mortgage loan to Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska, to construct a new 16-bed hospital to replace an existing 51-year-old facility and fund relocation of a primary care clinic to the new facility. The $18 million loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration's Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:08 PM | TrackBack

HUD Administrative Law Judge orders Puerto Rico condo association to pay $35,000 for housing discrimination and to provide accessible parking

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that a HUD Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), in an Initial Decision, has ordered a Puerto Rico condominium association to pay $25,000 in damages, provide accessible parking spaces to two disabled residents, and pay $10,000 in civil penalties for violating the fair housing rights of a disabled couple. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:06 PM | TrackBack

Federal, state partners convene to discuss ongoing anti-fraud efforts in housing market

WASHINGTON - This morning, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner hosted Attorney General Eric Holder, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Jon Leibowitz, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Jim Freis and attorneys general from 12 states to discuss emerging trends and proactive strategies to combat fraud against consumers in the housing markets as well as best practices to bolster coordination across state and federal agencies. This meeting follows up on an announcement by the Obama Administration in April of a multi-agency crackdown on foreclosure rescue scams and loan modification fraud designed to protect homeowners from predatory financial practices. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:05 PM | TrackBack

HUD awarded prestigious energy efficiency award

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is the recipient of the 2009 Galaxy Star of Energy Efficiency Award for significantly reducing energy consumption in public housing developments across the country. HUD's Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing Sandra Henriquez will accept the award this evening during a ceremony hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:04 PM | TrackBack

Pioneering HHS HRSA Grant Funds Establishment of First National Newborn Screening Clearinghouse

The nation's first Newborn Screening Clearinghouse (NBSC), connecting millions of parents and healthcare providers with resources and information relevant to more than four million newborns screened annually, will be created through a $3.75 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Genetic Services Branch. The project will span five years. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:03 PM | TrackBack

September 16, 2009

Education Secretary Arne Duncan Designates 314 Schools as 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced 314 schools as 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools. Secretary Duncan was joined by Maryland State Superintendent Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, Montgomery County Board of Education President Shirley Brandman, and Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jerry Weast for the announcement this morning at Highland Elementary School, a 2009 Blue Ribbon School in Silver Spring, Md. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:52 PM | TrackBack

On the Road to a High Performance Health System: Changing Course and Making History

The high cost of health care in the United States--higher than anywhere else in the world and rising faster than our gross domestic product--is taking its toll on families, employers, and government. In this presentation before the U.S. House of Representatives Steering and Policy Committee, Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis discusses the likely impact of proposed health reforms and suggests further policy changes for consideration. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:45 PM | TrackBack

HUD awards $6 million to 10 Hispanic colleges and universities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded nearly $6 million to 10 Hispanic colleges and universities to help revitalize neighborhoods, promote affordable housing and stimulate economic development in their communities. The funding announced today is provided through HUD's Hispanic-Serving Institutions Assisting Communities (HSIAC) Program. Donovan made the announcement to a policy gathering of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus Institute in Washington. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:35 PM | TrackBack

Chloride found at levels that can harm aquatic life in urban streams of the Northern US

Levels of chloride, a component of salt, are elevated in many urban streams and groundwater across the northern US, according to a new government study.Chloride levels above the recommended federal criteria set to protect aquatic life were found in more than 40 percent of urban streams tested. The study was released today by the US Geological Survey. Elevated chloride can inhibit plant growth, impair reproduction, and reduce the diversity of organisms in streams. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:32 PM | TrackBack

Prison gambling associated with crime, substance abuse when offenders re-enter community: Study

Parolees with a gambling habit may resort to criminal activities and substance abuse when they are released from prison if there are few community supports to help them re-integrate, a University of Alberta study has concluded. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:31 PM | TrackBack

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Joins Ad Council and Warner Bros. Pictures to Combat Childhood Overweight and Obesity

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Joins Ad Council and Warner Bros. Pictures to Combat Childhood Overweight and Obesity Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:27 PM | TrackBack

HHS Awards $35 Million to States for Increasing Adoptions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded $35 million to 38 states and Puerto Rico for increasing the number of children adopted from foster care. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:26 PM | TrackBack

Teenage birth rates higher in more religious states

Rates of births to teenage mothers are strongly predicted by conservative religious beliefs, even after controlling for differences in income and rates of abortion. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Reproductive Health have found a strong association between teenage birth rates and state-level measures of religiosity in the US. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:26 PM | TrackBack

Public Schools That Receive Low Grades Experience Huge Drop in Donations

Crucial donations from parents and local businesses plummet when public schools receive poor letter grades, and the effect is most pronounced in institutions serving low-income students, according to a new University of Florida study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:23 PM | TrackBack

Piper Trust Awards Nearly $4.3 Million in Grants to Valley Nonprofits

Office for Victims of Crime - National Crime Victims' Service Awards:

Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust has awarded nearly $4.3 million in grants to Maricopa County nonprofits, ranging from summer youth programs and funding for pool fences to prevent children drowning, to programs for older adults to remain active in their communities. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 7:21 PM | TrackBack

2010 Call for Service Awards Nominations: Last Call

OVC encourages you to nominate outstanding victim service providers, allied professionals, and crime victims and survivors for the 2010 National Crime Victims' Service Awards with our convenient Online Nomination Form.

Review the Submission Guidelines for step-by-step instructions on how to complete your nomination form.

The eight award categories are—

National Crime Victim Service Award
Award for Professional Innovation in Victim Services
Special Courage Award
Crime Victims Fund Award
Allied Professional Award
Ronald Wilson Reagan Public Policy Award
Volunteer for Victims Award
Federal Service Award

The award recipients will be honored at the National Crime Victims' Service Awards Ceremony on April 16, 2010, one of the prelude events to National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18-24, 2010.

Don't miss this opportunity. The National Crime Victims' Service Awards Online Nominations are due Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

Posted by Michael at 12:24 PM | TrackBack

September 15, 2009

Moving toward a new vision of education

Successfully introducing Information and Communications Technologies into classrooms is one of the biggest challenges proposed by new educational plans. A research group from the University of the Basque Country has studied substituting the current way in which education is structured for a new one that takes full advantage of the potential of new technologies. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:28 PM | TrackBack

Mount Sinai researchers find phone assessment effective for evaluating cognition in the elderly

Cognitive testing by telephone in elderly individuals is generally as effective as in-person testing, according to a new study by Effie M. Mitsis, PhD, assistant professor pf Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and part of Mount Sinai's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. The study will appear in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Posted by Michael at 11:25 PM | TrackBack

Weighing costs, benefits of HIV treatments

"We have this big quandary in resource-limited countries. We have a simple approach that is cost-effective, and reduces transmission [of HIV] by 50 percent. The Achilles heel of that approach is that in the mother and in any infant who does become infected, the virus learns to become drug-resistant," says Paul Palumbo, a Dartmouth Medical School professor. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:04 PM | TrackBack

Implementation Choices for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

A number of experts believe that the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 has the potential to transform health care for the children it serves. In this Commonwealth Fund report, researchers offer their recommendations for improving CHIP outreach and enrollment, as well as the quality of care enrollees receive. See a table of provisions. Review presentations from a webinar held September 15 to learn more. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 11:00 PM | TrackBack

In study of low-income toddlers, spanking found to have negative effects

A longitudinal study of more than 2,500 low-income White, African American, and Mexican-American mothers and their children found that spanking at age 1 leads to more aggressive behaviors at age 2 and less sophisticated cognitive development at age 3. In contrast, researchers found that verbal punishment alone didn't affect children's aggression or their cognitive development. Interestingly, when verbal punishment was accompanied by emotional support from moms, children performed better on cognitive ability tests. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:47 PM | TrackBack

Quality of early child care plays role in later reading, math achievement

Using information from the longitudinal study of early care and youth development, researchers found that children who spent more time in high-quality child care in the first five years of their lives had better math and reading scores in middle childhood. Researchers also found that low-income children who attended high-quality child care programs before the age of five performed similarly to their affluent peers. These findings have implications for the role of child care in the creation of anti-poverty policies. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:46 PM | TrackBack

Children under 3 can't learn action words from TV -- unless an adult helps

Using modified clips from the program Sesame Beginnings, researchers studied children's ability -- with and without adult support -- to learn a new verb and apply that word to a new scene. The research team found that children under 3 could not learn words directly from the program without adult support. In contrast, children over the age of 3 could learn new words from the video program and understand them later without adult support. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:45 PM | TrackBack

Parental physical discipline through childhood linked to behavior problems in teens

Using data collected in two longitudinal studies, researchers found that parents typically adjust the way they discipline their children in response to their children's cognitive abilities, using less physical discipline (spanking, slapping, hitting with an object) over time. Researchers also found that when parents' use of physical discipline continues through childhood, by the time their children are teens, they're more likely to have behavior problems. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:41 PM | TrackBack

Genes may explain why children who live without dads have earlier sex

Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, researchers used a novel and complex study design to better understand the association between fathers' absence and children's sexuality. Contrary to previous research, this study shows that the association can be best explained by genetic influences. The researchers also suggest that, while there's no "father absence gene," there are genetic contributions to traits in both moms and dads that increase the likelihood of earlier sexual behavior in children. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:40 PM | TrackBack

Acne really is a nightmare for some teens

Zits, pimples, bumps and blemishes are a young person's worst nightmare. Collectively they are known as acne, a very common skin condition that affects millions of adolescents. Now a Norwegian study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health has investigated the links between acne, diet and mental health issues in both males and females. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:37 PM | TrackBack

Improving Enrollment and Retention in Medicaid and CHIP

United Hospital Fund:

This Medicaid Institute report explores a series of federal administrative and legislative changes that states can seek to improve their current public health insurance programs and increase participation.

These possible changes are particularly relevant in the context of the national health reform debate, as current proposals expand Medicaid eligibility and mandate that individuals have coverage.

Posted by Michael at 10:03 AM | TrackBack

September 14, 2009

One Drug Arrest Every 18 Seconds in the U.S.; New FBI Numbers Show Failure of 'War on Drugs'

A group of police and judges who want to legalize drugs pointed to new FBI numbers released today as evidence that the "war on drugs" is a failure that can never be won. The data, from the FBI's "Crime in the United States" report, shows that in 2008 there were 1,702,537 arrests for drug law violations, or one drug arrest every 18 seconds. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:44 PM | TrackBack

Previous High School Dropouts to Be Honored in Washington, D.C., On September 23

The School for Integrated Academics and Technologies, a network of public charter high schools focused on dropout recovery, announces its San Jose Robotics team will participate in Job Corps Day on Capitol Hill on September 23, 2009.

Four student team members and several team mentors will put on a Robotics demonstration in the Rayburn House office building. Later that evening, the students will act as greeters at the Oratory Competition at the Capitol Visitor's Center.

Posted by Michael at 9:43 PM | TrackBack

Web-based screening and intervention may reduce drinking in university students

Web-based screening and personalized interventions for alcohol use may reduce drinking in undergraduate students, according to a report in the September 14 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:41 PM | TrackBack

Teacher support is key to self-esteem for Chinese and US youth

A study of 1,500 urban middle school students in China and the US shows that -- for both populations -- students who felt more supported by their teachers were more likely to have high self-esteem, while students who didn't feel supported by their fellow students were more likely to be depressed. Researchers also found that students in China received mores support from teachers and other students and more opportunities for autonomy that students in the US. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:38 PM | TrackBack

High-quality child care leads to academic success for low-income kids

A new study of 1,300 middle school students shows high quality child care leads to improved math and reading achievement. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:37 PM | TrackBack

Student Loan Default Rates Increase

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that the FY 2007 national student loan cohort default rate increased to 6.7 percent, up from the FY 2006 rate of 5.2 percent. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:34 PM | TrackBack

Testimony--Changing Course: Trends in Health Insurance Coverage, 2000-2008

This morning, the U.S. Bureau of the Census released the alarming news that the number of uninsured Americans hit 46.3 million in 2008, up from 45.7 million in 2007. In this testimony before the U.S. House of Representative's Joint Economic Committee, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis highlights the good and bad news in the new data and how it underscorces the need for health reform. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:30 PM | TrackBack

Background TV found to have negative effect on parent-child interactions

A new study looks for the first time at the effect of background TV on interactions between parents and young children. Using an experimental design, researchers found that when a TV was on, both the quantity and quality of interactions between parents and children dropped. This study challenges the common assumption that background TV doesn't affect very young children if they don't look at the screen. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:25 PM | TrackBack

Obama's Honest Speech - by Maggie Mahar

Following is commentary by Maggie Mahar. Mahar is a healthcare fellow at The Century Foundation and editor of the Health Beat blog. She is the author of "Money Driven Medicine: The Real Reason Healthcare Costs So Much," which was turned into a recently-released documentary, produced by Alex Gibney. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:24 PM | TrackBack

Lowering Sodium Consumption Could Save U.S. $18 Billion Annually in Health Costs, RAND Study Finds

Reducing Americans' average intake of sodium to the amount recommended by health officials could save the nation as much as $18 billion annually in avoided health care costs and improve the quality of life for millions of people, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:23 PM | TrackBack

HUD announces settlement with New York landlords

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced an agreement with a New York City property management company and 20 affiliated owners of federally assisted multifamily properties in Brooklyn. The owners agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty for failing to provide information regarding lead hazard reduction work at the properties and to clean up lead-based paint hazards in nearly 800 apartments. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:23 PM | TrackBack

HUD awards $3 million to Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native colleges and universities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $3 million to four Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian colleges and universities to help revitalize neighborhoods, promote affordable housing and stimulate economic development in their communities. The funding announced today is provided through HUD's Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Institutions Assisting Communities (AN/NHIAC) Program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:22 PM | TrackBack

'Public Option' Fight Misses True Measure of Reform, Says University of Maryland Expert

The political struggle over the "public option" continues to run the health care reform debate aground, stealing the spotlight from the true measure of any plan, argues University of Maryland Public Policy Dean Don Kettl. Instead, the debate should focus on what Kettl calls the "r" word: not "rationing," but "regulation." Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:22 PM | TrackBack

HUD awards $4 million to Native American colleges and universities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $4 million to five Native American colleges and universities to build, expand, renovate, and equip their own facilities. Funded through HUD's Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP), these tribal institutions will also create programs to reduce their energy costs, produce faculty housing and construct state-of-the art classroom facilities. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:21 PM | TrackBack

New 2008 poverty, income data reveal only tip of the recession iceberg

This morning's report by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the real (inflation-adjusted) income of the median household fell 3.6%, from $52,163 in 2007 to $50,303 in 2008. The poverty rate increased from 12.5% in 2007 to 13.2% in 2008.

While the 3.6% decline in median income in 2008 was the largest one-year decline on record (since 1967) and the increase in poverty was the largest one-year increase in poverty since 1991, an important thing to keep in mind about today's data release is that it captures only a small portion of the deterioration in the economy up to this point in the recession.

Posted by Michael at 9:18 PM | TrackBack

Understanding the implications of prenatal testing for Down syndrome

With new prenatal tests for Down syndrome on the horizon promising to be safer, more accurate, and available to women earlier in pregnancy, the medical community must come together and engage in dialogue about the impact of existing and expected tests, argues a new leading article published online first by Archives of Disease in Childhood. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:12 PM | TrackBack

September 11, 2009

As H1N1 looms, study shows students aren't protecting themselves

As public health experts warn of potential widespread outbreaks of H1N1 flu this school year, a new study from North Carolina State University shows that students do not comply with basic preventative measures as much as they think do. In other words, the kids aren't washing their hands. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:24 PM | TrackBack

Heavy-drinking colleges showing no improvements

US colleges with the biggest student drinking problems have so far failed to turn the tide, according to a new study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:23 PM | TrackBack

After years of toil, sustaining change in education still a vexing problem

Researchers at the University of Chicago Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education examine the problem of sustaining innovative change in education. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:22 PM | TrackBack

North Carolina Teachers Go Online for Fresh Classroom Ideas; Summer Seminars Use Technology to Bring Scholars and Teachers Together

As North Carolina students returned to school last week, they weren't the only ones excited to share what they did over the summer. A select group of teachers from across the state will be bringing new materials for their students to use and ideas garnered from their participation in a new program offered by the National Humanities Center, developed in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:17 PM | TrackBack

$12.4 Million Awarded to School Systems in 24 States, D.C. to Promote Instruction of Critical Foreign Languages

The U.S. Department of Education today announced the award of more than $12.4 million in Foreign Language Assistance Program grants to local and state school systems in 24 states and the District of Columbia, aimed at promoting the instruction of foreign languages critical to national security. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:17 PM | TrackBack

Medicine wheel model for nutrition shows promise for control of type 2 diabetes

Indian adults have the highest age-adjusted rates for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity of any racial or ethnic group within the US. In a study published in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers from the South Dakota State University, Brookings, report that a culturally sensitive educational program based on the Medicine Wheel Model for Nutrition shows promise in changing dietary patterns in an American Indian population and impacting glycemic control. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:16 PM | TrackBack

Common mental disorders may be more common than we think

The prevalence of anxiety, depression and substance dependency may be twice as high as the mental health community has been led to believe. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:16 PM | TrackBack

Health care reform: The endgame

President Obama’s address to the nation on health care tonight begins the endgame of reform. We shouldn't forget that health reform has come a long way. As a candidate, President Obama called for fundamental health reform that would provide strong new regulation on private insurers, offer generous subsidies to make coverage affordable for all and introduce real competition with a strong public insurance option.

Committees in both the House and Senate have followed his lead and constructed good plans including a strong public option. The recent proposal from Montana Senator Max Baucus of the Senate Finance Committee includes many of these planks, although it unfortunately makes a step backward in the march to reform by not providing a strong public option.

Posted by Michael at 9:10 PM | TrackBack

Census Bureau report shows need for health care reform

A new Census Bureau report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the U.S. shows that the existing health care system is failing to provide stable and secure coverage for a growing number of Americans. The report shows that employment-based health coverage dropped for the eighth year in a row, from 59.3% of Americans covered in 2007 to 58.5% in 2008. The number of Americans without any health insurance rose from 45.7 million in 2007 to 46.3 million in 2008.

Posted by Michael at 9:09 PM | TrackBack

Marin Community Foundation Unveils Five-Year, $35 Million Initiative to Close the County's Educational Achievement Gap; Programs Will Help Low-Income Students and Students of Color Succeed in School

Low-income students and students of color in Marin who are falling behind in school will receive extra help under a five-year initiative of the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) that will invest a minimum of $35 million to close the County's educational achievement gap. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:08 PM | TrackBack

HUD approves $18 million deal to construct 16-bed replacement hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced a commitment to insure a mortgage loan to Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska, to construct a new 16-bed hospital to replace an existing 51-year-old facility and fund relocation of a primary care clinic to the new facility. The $18 million loan is made possible through the Federal Housing Administration's Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:07 PM | TrackBack

Children with fatter midsections at increased risk for cardiovascular disease

Children with more fat around their midsections could be at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, researchers say. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:06 PM | TrackBack

September 10, 2009

Vaccination of 70 percent of US population could control swine flu pandemic

An aggressive vaccination program that first targets children and ultimately reaches 70 percent of the US population would mitigate pandemic influenza H1N1 that is expected this fall, according to computer modeling and analysis of observational studies conducted by researchers at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:09 PM | TrackBack

Children with emotional difficulties at higher risk for adult obesity

Previous research has shown that low self-esteem and emotional problems are found in people who are overweight or obese -- but not which influences which. Research published today in the open-access journal BMC Medicine, sheds light on this issue showing that children with emotional difficulties are at higher risk for obesity in adult life. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:08 PM | TrackBack

Child poverty: a lost decade

A Sept. 10 report from the Census Bureau shows that the child poverty rate rose to 19.0% in 2008, from 18% in 2007. That translates to 14.1 million children living in poverty in the richest nation on earth.

In 2008, more than one in three - 35.3% - of all people living in poverty were children. EPI projects that with the continuing deterioration in the labor market, by 2009 a quarter of all children in this country will be living in poverty and by 2010 the child poverty rate will be 26.6%.

Coalition on Human Needs:

Posted by Michael at 8:08 PM | TrackBack

Replication of Nurse-Family Partnership

Public/Private Ventures:

Few social programs work as well as Nurse-Family Partnership. Started in 1977 as a pilot study by Dr. David Olds, the program has been tested through a succession of three clinical trials and found to produce substantial and enduring improvements in the health, well-being and self-sufficiency of low-income first-time parents and their children. P/PV has been involved with the replication of this outstanding program for more than a decade. Nurse-Family Partnership currently serves approximately 17,600 families per day in more than 350 counties in 28 states across the nation.

Nurse-Family Partnership provides intensive home visiting to first-time, low-income mothers and their children.

Nurse-Family Partnership nurse home visitors have three fundamental goals:

To help women improve the outcomes of pregnancy by helping them improve their health behaviors, such as improving their diets; reducing their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and illegal drugs; and assuring women obtain prenatal care;
To help parents improve their child's health and development by helping parents provide more responsible and competent care for their children; and
To help families become economically self-sufficient by helping parents develop a vision for their own future, plan future pregnancies, continue their education and find jobs.

Posted by Michael at 4:47 PM | TrackBack

Grim Census Data on Poverty Points to Growing Need Even Before Unemployment Skyrocketed this Year

Today's Census Bureau report that the number of Americans living in
poverty increased by nearly 2.6 million to 13.2 percent in 2008 is a stark reminder of the toll the recession was already taking on families even before the economic picture worsened this year.

Continuing a long-term trend, the number of people without health insurance grew to 46.3 million, according to the Census data. From 2000 to 2008, the proportion without insurance rose from 13.7 to 15.4 percent. The numbers of uninsured working age adults (18-64 years old)
increased from 19.6 percent to 20.3 percent between 2007 and 2008, an increase of more than 1.5 million people. Bucking the trend, the total number of uninsured children dropped from 11 percent to 9.9 percent, because many children are eligible for public insurance programs such
as SCHIP and Medicaid that are unavailable to most adults.

"This data shows the enormous importance of public health insurance programs in filling the gaps as more people continue to lose private health insurance," said Deborah Weinstein, executive director of the Coalition on Human Needs, adding that President Obama's call to action on health care reform could not be timelier.

Last year's 39.8 million poor people comprise the highest number of Americans living in poverty since 1960. As bad as that number is, Weinstein pointed out that the overall poverty rate is almost certainly worse today than it was in 2008 when the recession was first getting underway -- the period reflected by the Census data.

Posted by Michael at 2:38 PM | TrackBack

September 9, 2009

HUD offers $511 million in capital advances for housing very low-income elderly and persons with disabilities

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced $511 million is available to provide non-profit organizations interest-free capital advance funds to produce affordable rental housing with supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities through HUD's Section 202 and Section 811 Capital Advance programs. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:09 PM | TrackBack

HUD offers $20 million to help seniors and persons with disabilities continue to live independently at home

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering $20 million in grants to help elderly residents and non-elderly residents with disabilities the services they need to continue to live independently in their own homes. HUD is making these grants available through the its Service Coordinator Program that will support the hiring of service coordinators to help frail and at-risk elderly individuals and persons with disabilities access health care, meals and other critical support services. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:08 PM | TrackBack

September 8, 2009

2009 Back-to-School Forecast -- Record Numbers of Students

More students are entering and returning to the nation’s schools and colleges than ever before, according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES).

In fact, as America's youth head back to classes, public elementary and secondary schools are preparing to serve a record 50 million students this fall with another 5.8 million attending private schools.

Colleges and universities anticipate an enrollment record of 18.4 million students, a projected increase of about 3.1 million since fall 2000. Among those are unprecedented numbers of African Americans and Hispanics. Driving the overall surge has been increases in both the traditional college-age population and rising enrollment rates.

Posted by Michael at 8:53 PM | TrackBack

Declining health care coverage: the worst is yet to come

On Thursday, September 10, the U.S. Census Bureau will release its annual report on health insurance coverage in 2008. The report includes the latest numbers on the uninsured and various forms of health coverage. EPI’s same-day analysis of this report will highlight trends in employer-sponsored health insurance, including valuable state-by-state coverage rates.

As of 2007, employer-sponsored health insurance remained the dominant form of health insurance in the United States. Over the 2000s, however, the share of Americans receiving coverage through an employer (whether their own, or that of their spouse or parent) has declined steadily.

Posted by Michael at 6:26 PM | TrackBack

A better way to get educated, employed

If you think apprenticeship sounds like a relic from centuries past — good enough for Ben Franklin but a no-go in a 21st-century economy — think again, Institute Fellow Robert Lerman explains in a commentary for thestate.com Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:27 PM | TrackBack

The Effects of Open Enrollment on School Choice and Student Outcomes

This paper analyzes households' response to the introduction of intra-district school choice and examines the impact of this choice on student test scores in Pinellas County Schools. Households react strongly to the incentives created by such programs, leading to significant changes in the frequency of exercising alternative public schooling options, and changes in the composition of the "opt out" students. However, using proximity to public alternatives as an instrument for opting out of the assigned public school, the author finds no significant benefit of opting out on student achievement and that those who opt out of their default public schools often perform significantly worse on standardized tests than similar students who stay behind. Results further suggest that the short-run detrimental effects of opting out are stronger for students who opt out closer to the terminal grade of the school level. Yet the detrimental effects are weaker for disadvantaged students, who typically constitute the proposed target of school choice reforms. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:20 PM | TrackBack

Supplemental Educational Services and Student Test Score Gains: Evidence from a Large, Urban School District

This study examines the effect of SES on student test score gains and whether subgroups of students benefit more from NCLB tutoring services, using information about students enrolled in 3rd through 8th grades in 121 elementary and middle schools from 2003-04 to 2007-08. A total of 17 elementary and middle schools were required to offer SES at some point during the period under study, and 9,861 student-year pairings in the sample were eligible to receive SES. The authors find consistently significant and positive average effects of SES on test score gains in mathematics. Results in reading tend to be insignificant. SES tutoring does not appear to disproportionately benefit a particular racial/ethnic group or ability level. Female students and students with disabilities appear to benefit more from participating in SES. SES has a significant, cumulative effect on students in both mathematics and reading. They also demonstrate that not accounting for content area of tutoring can cause downward bias in estimates of the SES treatment effect. These findings are qualified on a couple of dimensions. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:18 PM | TrackBack

The Influence of School Administrators on Teacher Retention Decisions

When given the opportunity, many teachers choose to leave schools serving poor, low-performing, and minority students. While substantial research has documented this phenomenon, far less effort has gone into understanding what features of the working conditions in these schools drive this relatively high turnover rate. This paper explores the relationship between school contextual factors and teacher retention decisions in New York City. The methodological approach separates the effects of teacher characteristics from school characteristics by modeling the relationship between the assessments of school contextual factors by one set of teachers and the turnover decisions by other teachers within the same school. Teachers perceptions of the school administration have by far the greatest influence on teacher-retention decisions. This effect of administration is consistent for first-year teachers and the full sample of teachers and is confirmed by a survey of teachers who have recently left teaching in New York City. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:09 PM | TrackBack

The Effects of Postsecondary Correctional Education : Final Report

Increasing educational proficiency has shown promise as one strategy for assisting inmates in finding gainful employment after release and ending their involvement with the criminal justice system. This report examines the effect of prison-based postsecondary education (PSE) on offenders both while incarcerated and after release. In three states, prisoners who participated in PSE were less likely to recidivate during the first year after release. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:05 PM | TrackBack

Unemployment Statistics on Older Americans : Updated 9/09

The recession has increased joblessness among older Americans. These graphs and tables report unemployment rates and how they have varied by age, sex, race, and education since 2007. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:04 PM | TrackBack

Obama Administration Announces Historic Opportunity to Turn Around Nation's Lowest-Achieving Public Schools

Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced draft requirements for $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:58 PM | TrackBack

Education Department Provides More Than $3.4 million in Grants for Native Hawaiian Education Programs

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $2.7 million to eight vocational education programs on Oahu and on the 'big island' of Hawaii to support career and technical education efforts helping Native Hawaiians. The grants are awarded under the Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP), which provides assistance to projects aimed at increasing vocational enrollment and course completion by Native Hawaiian students. Five of the NHCTEP grants are being awarded to programs operated by ALU LIKE, Inc., the statewide non-profit service organization for Native Hawaiians. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:56 PM | TrackBack

Recovery Act Funds Accelerated to Save Jobs, Drive Reforms in Schools with Students in Greatest Need

Delivering unprecedented resources to states and school districts, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that more than $11 billion is now available to further save jobs and drive reforms. The Department of Education has made available ahead of schedule the second half of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding-$11.37 billion-in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, IDEA, and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) grants and provided further guidance to states and schools on use of funds, flexibility, and the need for collaboration across programs. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:52 PM | TrackBack

How Will Comprehensive Reform Improve Health Care for Americans? A Resource for Journalists from The Commonwealth Fund

This Commonwealth Fund supplement to the September/October 2009 issue of the Columbia Journalism Review provides journalists and others with an evidence-based context for understanding how both lack of coverage and spiraling health care costs directly affect American families and businesses, and how comprehensive health reform can address these problems. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:30 PM | TrackBack

Obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking increase the risk of second breast cancer

A new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that obesity, alcohol use and smoking all significantly increase the risk of second breast cancer among breast cancer survivors. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:25 PM | TrackBack

Four Ways Parents, Policy Makers Talk Past Each Other on Education Reform

President Obama extolled the importance of persistence today to students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, but much of the news coverage focused on whether the President should (as other presidents have) speak directly to the nation's school children despite the opposition of some parents.

Unfortunately, the sparring over the speech attracted a lot more attention than many of the more fundamental gaps between parents and much of the national education reform movement. More than a decade of research by Public Agenda suggests that reformers, parents, and educators nationwide are often talking past each other when it comes to improving the public schools.

Many parents and educators nationwide come at the issue of education from a very different starting point - one that national reformers often misunderstand or overlook. Marshalling support for reform and building a consensus to bring American schools up to world-class standards requires narrowing this gap and launching a more informed and inclusive discussion on how to improve the schools.

Posted by Michael at 4:23 PM | TrackBack

Rate of teen binge drinking cut more than 1/3 by prevention system

Rates of binge drinking were 37 percent lower among eighth-grade students in communities in seven states that used a prevention system designed to reduce drug use and delinquent behavior compared to teenagers in communities that did not use the system. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:21 PM | TrackBack

Delivering Legal Aid after Katrina : The Equal Justice Works Katrina Legal Initiative

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita led to a myriad of legal needs in the Gulf Coast area at a time when the region's legal infrastructure was weakened. Equal Justice Works implemented the Katrina Legal Initiative, an innovative legal aid disaster relief program to assist the affected communities. This report details the implementation of this program; describes the program goals, activities, and impacts; analyzes whether the program met the stated goals; and offers recommendations for comparable programs in the future. Lessons learned from the Katrina Legal Initiative can help to inform future disaster relief efforts on the part of the legal community. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:18 PM | TrackBack

Permanent Supportive Housing in the District of Columbia: Taking Stock and Looking Forward

With the generous support of the William S. Abell Foundation, the Urban Institute (UI) surveyed District permanent supportive housing (PSH) agencies and specific PSH projects, asking their staff to detail current projects and future ambitions. This research brief is an analysis of the stock of PSH in the District as of early fall 2008, demographic information on PSH tenants at that time, and a look at how the District might move forward toward fulfilling its commitment to create 2,500 new units of PSH and ultimately eliminating chronic homelessness. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:16 PM | TrackBack

K-12 education should include engineering

The introduction of K-12 engineering education has the potential to improve student learning and achievement in science and mathematics, increase awareness about what engineers do and of engineering as a potential career and boost students' technological literacy, according to a new report from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:16 PM | TrackBack

HUD and Mayor Bing welcome first family to new homes at old Herman Gardens site

DETROIT - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary Sandra Henriquez today joins Detroit Mayor David Bing at an 11 a.m. ceremony to welcome the first family into the new Gardenview Estates, an 833-unit mixed-income development that stands at the site of the former Herman Gardens public housing development. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:14 PM | TrackBack

War, genocide 'difficult knowledge' to teach younger students

University of Illinois education professor Brenda M. Trofanenko says the study of genocide and "difficult knowledge" of historical events is best left to high school students. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:13 PM | TrackBack

Secretary Donovan announces nearly 100 million dollars in Recovery Act grants to improve public housing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Donovan today announced that HUD is awarding $96 million in grants to 15 public housing authorities across the country to make substantial improvements to thousands of public housing units nationwide. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:11 PM | TrackBack

HUD charges South Dakota landlords with housing discrimination

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it is charging two Sioux Falls, South Dakota apartment owners, and their employees, with violating the Fair Housing Act by harassing and making discriminatory statements to an African-American family residing at Lakeport Village Apartments. In addition, HUD is accusing the owners and their employees of intimidating white tenants who came to the family's defense. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:10 PM | TrackBack

Left Behind By Design: Proficiency Counts and Test-Based Accountability

Many test-based accountability systems, including the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), place great weight on the numbers of students who score at or above specified proficiency levels in various subjects and often provide incentives for teachers and principals to target children near current proficiency levels for extra attention, but the same systems provide weak incentives to devote extra attention to students who are proficient already or who have little chance of becoming proficient in the near term. Using fifth grade test scores from the Chicago Public Schools, this paper shows both the introduction of NCLB in 2002 and similar district level reforms in 1996 generated noteworthy increases in reading and math scores among students in the middle of the achievement distribution. However, the least academically advantaged students did not score higher in math or reading following the introduction of accountability. There is mixed evidence of score gains among the most advantaged students. Also, results suggest that the choice of the proficiency standard in such accountability systems determines the amount of time that teachers devote to students of different ability levels. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:03 PM | TrackBack

Status versus Growth: The Distributional Effects of School Accountability Policies

Although the Federal No Child Left Behind program judges the effectiveness of schools based on their students achievement status, many policy analysts argue that schools should be measured, instead, by their students achievement growth. Using a ten-year student-level panel data set from North Carolina, the authors examine how school-specific pressure associated with the two approaches to school accountability affects student achievement at different points in the prior-year achievement distribution. Achievement gains for students below the proficiency cut point emerge in response to both types of accountability systems, but more clearly in math than in reading. In contrast to prior research highlighting the possibility of educational triage, the authors find little or no evidence that schools in North Carolina ignore the students far below proficiency under either approach. They find that the status, but not the growth, approach reduces the reading achievement of higher performing students. Results suggest that the distributional effects of accountability pressure depend not only on the type of pressure for which schools are held accountable (status or growth), but also the tested subject. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:02 PM | TrackBack

Recession? What recession? Unionization up on state, local levels

Against all odds, organized labor managed to make new inroads during the economic upheaval of the past year, new findings from UCLA's Institute for Research on Labor and Employment suggest. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:01 PM | TrackBack

"Going Down With the Ship?" The Effect of School Accountability on the Distribution of Teacher Experience in California

Many school accountability programs, including the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act are built on the premise that the threat of sanctions attached to failure will produce higher student achievement. However, the stigma associated with failing schools and the expected costs of possible future sanctions may lead experienced teachers to leave these schools for other opportunities. This may undermine the programs improvement efforts. Particularly it may lead failing schools to rely on a higher proportion of novice teachers. This study looks at elementary and secondary schools in California from 2002-2006 to determine the effect of failing to meet academic performance thresholds on teacher experience under the NCLB accountability system. Because failing schools differ in important ways from schools that meet performance targets, the author takes advantage of the racial subgroup rules to compare groups of schools that may have different failure probabilities despite similar profiles. The author finds that failure to meet AYP is associated with decreases in aggregate teacher experience and increases in the proportion of novice teachers. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:01 PM | TrackBack

Money won't buy happiness

There is more to life satisfaction than money, and public policy programs aiming to tackle poverty need to move beyond simply raising people's income to also improving their quality of life in other areas. These findings by Professor Mariano Rojas from Mexico's Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales are published online in Springer's journal, Applied Research in Quality of Life. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 4:00 PM | TrackBack

Which Students are Left Behind? The Racial Impacts of the No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind Act imposes sanctions on schools if the fraction of each of five racial group of students demonstrating proficiency on a high stakes exam falls below a statewide pass rate. This system places pressure on school administrators to redirect educational resources from groups of students most likely to demonstrate proficiency towards those who are marginally below proficient. Using statewide observations of 3rd and 4th grade math tests, this paper demonstrates that students of successful racial groups at schools likely to be sanctioned gain less academically over their subsequent test year than comparable peers at passing schools. This effect is stronger at schools more likely to suffer from NCLB sanctions and is robust to non-random sample selection. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:59 PM | TrackBack

Community gardens don't impact crime rate

Urban residents across the United States have dug in to create green spaces in their neighborhoods and the effects are positive -- increase in the number of owner-occupied dwellings, more personal income and rent increases in areas surrounding community gardens. But could the presence of green space contribute to lower crime levels in neighborhoods? Researchers investigated whether community gardens had an impact on reported property crimes in neighborhoods surrounding urban community gardens in Houston. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:59 PM | TrackBack

The Achievement Consequences of the No Child Left Behind Act

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has compelled states to design school accountability systems based on annual student assessments. The effect of this Federal legislation on the distribution of student achievement is a highly controversial but centrally important question. This study presents evidence on whether NCLB has influenced student achievement based on an analysis of state-level panel data on student test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This study identifies the impact of NCLB by relying on comparisons of the test-score changes across states that already had school accountability policies in place prior to NCLB and those that did not. Results indicate that NCLB generated statistically significant increases in the average math performance of 4th graders (effect size = 0.22 by 2007) as well as improvements at the lower and top percentiles. However, the authors do not find consistent evidence that NCLB generated similarly broad improvements in reading achievement or achievement among 8th graders. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:58 PM | TrackBack

Study: Parenthood makes moms more liberal, dads more conservative

Parenthood is pushing mothers and fathers in opposite directions on political issues associated with social welfare, from health care to education, according to new research from North Carolina State University. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:57 PM | TrackBack

Leaving No Child Behind: Two Paths to School Accountability

The relatively poor academic achievement of black and Hispanic students has been a national concern since the passage of the Elementary Secondary and Education Act (ESEA) in 1963. Frustrated with relatively slow progress in closing these educational gaps, the most recent reauthorization of the ESEA, the No Children Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) attempts to employ rigorous accountability standards to speed progress. At about the same time, Florida implemented a change in its A+ Plan for Education that focused on the educational gains of low-performing students. This paper examines whether either of these accountability systems improved the academic outcomes of black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students in Florida. Schools labeled as failing or near-failing in Floridas system tend to boost performance of students in these subgroups, while schools presented with incentives under NCLB to improve subgroup performance appear to be much less likely to do so. However, Hispanics appear to benefit from the NCLB sub-grouping requirements if they attend schools with low accountability pressure under Floridas grading system. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:57 PM | TrackBack

Experts Analyze New Census Data on Incomes, Poverty, and Health Coverage

Poverty, income, and health care coverage data for 2008 will be released by the Census Bureau on Thursday, September 10. Labor market and health insurance experts from the Economic Policy Institute will be joined by Harvard economist Lawrence Katz to put the latest data in historic context, and to analyze it in light of other economic trends during and since 2008. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:56 PM | TrackBack

Justice Department Lawsuit Charges Atlanta Condominium With Discrimination Against Families With Children

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:55 PM | TrackBack

Achievement Trade-Offs and No Child Left Behind

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, states have been required to set minimum proficiency standards that virtually all students must meet by 2014. Using longitudinal, student-level test score data from seven states between 2002-03 and 2005-06 this paper addresses the following research questions: (1) Has NCLB increased achievement among lower-performing students? ; (2) Have these gains come at the expense of students who are already proficient or far below the proficiency target? Identification is achieved by exploiting the fact that in the early years of NCLB, not all grades counted for purposes of determining AYP. Thus the estimate of the NCLB effect is based on a comparison of outcomes in high-stakes vs. low-stakes years. The authors find consistent evidence of an achievement trade-off in the hypothesized direction, though the effects on any given student are not large. They find mixed evidence that students far below the proficient level have been harmed by NCLB; in fact at higher grade levels they appear to have benefitted. Effects of NCLB on efficiency, while positive, appear to be modest. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:55 PM | TrackBack

Contraband cigarettes account for 17 percent of all brands consumed by adolescent smokers

Consumption of contraband cigarettes among adolescent daily smokers in Canada accounts for 17 percent of all cigarettes smoked by this age group, and rises to more than 25 percent in Ontario and Quebec. This behavior may be undermining tobacco-prevention strategies, as they focus on taxation and minimum age restrictions to curb and prevent smoking, states an articlein CMAJ. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:52 PM | TrackBack

'Hygiene hypothesis' challenged

New research hints that the common belief that kids who go to daycare have lower rates of asthma and allergy later in life might be nothing more than wishful thinking. While young children in daycare definitely do get more illnesses and experience more respiratory symptoms as a result, any perceived protection these exposures afford against asthma and allergy seem to disappear by the time the child hits the age of eight. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:50 PM | TrackBack

Children with asthma more vulnerable to H1N1 virus

Nearly a dozen 7th graders with asthma were welcomed along with other classmates back to school today by a special guest who had a message for them about staying healthy -- Kathleen Sebelius, 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. Secretary Sebelius met with students and their parents at Thurgood Marshall Elementary, one of 16 schools in Philadelphia that partners with the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) program partners to help students better manage their asthma. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:49 PM | TrackBack

U.S. Department of Education Closes Out Summer Reading Initiative-"Read to the Top!"-With Record Success

Despite busy schedules and summer heat, a record number of Cabinet members and senior administration officials joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan for the Department's weekly reading initiative, "Read to the Top!" during June, July and August. For 12 weeks, Secretary Duncan and 15 Cabinet members and other senior administration officials brought books to life for the more than 1,200 children who gathered under shady trees on the Department's plaza to listen to the stories and ask questions. Even the "First Grandmother" of the United States, Marian Robinson, stopped by to read to the children who had tons of questions for her. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 3:46 PM | TrackBack

September 3, 2009

Summer School for Teachers Takes Global Twist

From PR Newswire:

While students slowly adjust to buzzing alarm clocks and mounting homework, a select group of teachers approach the return to school with renewed passion for their profession, thanks to summer odysseys fueled by Fund for Teachers fellowships. And, beginning today, Minneapolis teachers are invited to apply for similar life- and career-changing experiences for summer 2010. Applications for individual grants of $5,000 and team grants of up to $10,000 are available at www.fundforteachers.org. The deadline for submission is November 2, 2009.

"Teachers have the power to transform the world through their direct, daily contact with our future generations," said Karen Kovach Webb, executive director for Fund for Teachers. "Thanks to our community partners and generous donors, we offer educators the opportunity to pursue areas of personal and professional interests and bring their experiences and energy back to the classroom."

Since 1998, 189 teachers from Minneapolis embarked on self-designed professional development expeditions around the world, including 15 this summer who were supported by FFT's local community partners The Blake School and AchieveMpls.

Posted by Michael at 6:27 PM | TrackBack

Carrots are better than sticks for building human cooperation

Rewards go further than punishment in building human cooperation and benefiting the common good, according to research published this week in the journal Science by researchers at Harvard University and the Stockholm School of Economics. While previous studies have focused almost exclusively on punishment for promoting public cooperation, here rewards are shown to be much more successful. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:23 PM | TrackBack

People with type 2 diabetes not meeting important nutritional recommendations

People with type 2 diabetes are not consuming sufficiently healthy diets and could benefit from ongoing nutritional education and counseling, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 6:07 PM | TrackBack

Pew poll: 9 in 10 Iowa voters support more government oversight of food

Ninety percent of voting Iowans believe the government should be given additional authority to ensure the food they eat does not make them sick, according to a new poll commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts and conducted by Hart Research and Public Opinion Strategies. Support for stronger food protections is high regardless of voters' gender, income level or political affiliation. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:57 PM | TrackBack

Goodwill Awarded $19 Million to Mentor Youth

Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:52 PM | TrackBack

Current national primary care policies for childhood obesity need to be improved

Current primary care policies aimed at reducing obesity and increasing physical activity in children do not work and are very costly to run, according to research published on bmj.com today. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 5:50 PM | TrackBack

September 2, 2009

'Eatin' (not so) good in the neighborhood'

Living without a car in close proximity to fast food restaurants is associated with excess body mass index and weight gain, according to a University of Pittsburgh study available online and published in the September issue of the Journal of Urban Health. Adults in areas with high fast food concentration who didn't have a car were as much as 12 pounds heavier than those who lived in neighborhoods that lacked such restaurants. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:08 PM | TrackBack

Waist-hip ratio better than BMI for gauging obesity in elderly

Body mass index readings may not be the best gauge of obesity in older adults, according to new research from UCLA endocrinologists and geriatricians. Instead, they say, the ratio of waist size to hip size may be a better indicator when it comes to those over 70. Obesity is often associated with premature mortality because it leads to an increased risk of diabetes, heart attack, stroke and other major health problems. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 10:05 PM | TrackBack

Seniors need health care reform too

Older Americans are fortunate to have universal access to high-quality and generally affordable public insurance in the form of Medicare. Research shows that Medicare enrollees are much more satisfied with their health care coverage than non-seniors are with their private insurance. Furthermore, Medicare enrollees report fewer problems getting access to care and have fewer instances of medical expenses resulting in financial hardship.

Medicare also does a better job of controlling costs than private insurance. Yet seniors covered by Medicare are not impervious to health care inflation. Seniors face rapidly increasing out-of-pocket spending due to higher premiums in optional supplemental “Medigap” policies and increased cost-sharing and premiums from employer-sponsored retiree health insurance plans.

HUD awards $17 million to help develop housing for very low-income elderly

WASHINGTON - Senior housing developments in 32 states will receive critically needed funding to get their projects off the ground thanks to $17 million in "pre-development" grants announced today by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan. The grants are awarded to 61 project sponsors under HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:27 PM | TrackBack

HUD announces disaster assistance for New York storm victims

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to three western New York counties and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following last month's severe storms and flooding. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:25 PM | TrackBack

Long-term unemployment soars

This recession, already the longest and deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, continued through July with the eighteenth consecutive month of job losses. This report on the labor market covers the Great Recession from its official start in December 2007 through July 2009. In order to see how this recession stacks up against previous post-war recessions, we compare labor market indicators at the start of recessions to their values 19 months later. This document will be updated in mid September to reflect new August data.

Posted by Michael at 9:23 PM | TrackBack

Two Educators Show That Leadership Makes a Difference at Tough Public Schools in POV's 'The Principal Story,' Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, on PBS

"The Principal Story" captures a year in the life of two dynamic public school principals in Illinois. Veteran principal Kerry Purcell has led Harvard Park Elementary in the state capital of Springfield for six years; Tresa D. Dunbar, Ph.D., is a second-year principal at Chicago's Henry H. Nash Elementary on the city's tough west side.

They differ in temperament, age, race and experience. Yet they share a startling demographic challenge. Their students are overwhelmingly from low-income families.

At Harvard Park, the number is 87 percent. At Nash, virtually every student - a shocking 98 percent of the student body - comes from a low-income family. With this fact come a host of familiar problems - lack of funding, teacher turnover, low attendance rates, low scores and the corresponding lures of drugs, gangs and violence.

Posted by Michael at 9:22 PM | TrackBack

New iPhone app 'Outbreaks Near Me' locates H1N1 (swine flu), infectious diseases

A new iPhone application, created by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab, enables users to track and report outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as H1N1, on the ground in real time. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:21 PM | TrackBack

Rise in weight-loss drugs prescribed to combat childhood obesity

Thousands of children and adolescents are using anti-obesity drugs that in the UK are only licensed for use by adults. The number of young people receiving prescriptions for these drugs has increased 15-fold since 1999, but most stop using them before they could expect to see any benefit, according to a new study. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:18 PM | TrackBack

September 1, 2009

Cheap drinks at college bars can escalate drinking among college students

Cheap drinks can lead to higher intoxication levels and a host of related health and safety problems. A new study has examined the relationship between alcohol prices at college bars and intoxication upon exit.Findings show that, contrary to bar claims, students will purchase more expensive alcoholic drinks and when they do, become less intoxicated than those who purchase more drinks at cheaper prices. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:05 PM | TrackBack

High school put-downs make it hard for students to learn, study says

High-school put-downs are such a staple of teen culture that many educators don't take them seriously. However, a University of Illinois study suggests that classroom disruptions and psychologically hostile school environments can contribute to a climate in which good students have difficulty learning and students who are behind have trouble catching up. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 9:03 PM | TrackBack

UB education expert urges schools to help their students feel more involved

New research from a University at Buffalo expert on classroom education has identified six factors that affect whether elementary, middle and high school students will engage in the activities of their schools or feel alienated. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:59 PM | TrackBack

Experts Offer Tips to Help Students Succeed in Their First Year in College

As students across the nation head back to college, they should be aware that, on average, one in three of them will not return to the same school for their second year. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:55 PM | TrackBack

Signals Tells Students How They're Doing Even Before the Test

This fall Purdue University has launched a first-of-its-kind computerized system that will track student academic progress and warn students in real-time if they need work in certain areas. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:54 PM | TrackBack

Education Played Bigger Role Than Race in Approving Gay Marriage Ban

The level of voters' education -- not the large numbers of blacks who turned out for the first time to cast ballots for Barack Obama -- best explains the passage of a Florida law banning gay marriage, a new University of Florida study suggests. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:53 PM | TrackBack

New approaches to military physical and mental health explored

New peer-reviewed research on military health issues is being presented this week at the Military Health Research Forum, a scientific meeting hosted by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The studies focus on topics including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family-based reintegration program. Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:50 PM | TrackBack

Why the public option should not be negotiable in health care reform

In a letter to the president, the head of EPI lays out the case for the public option.

Dear President Obama:

I am heartened by news reports that your administration supports fundamental health reform that still includes an option for a public insurance plan, modeled on successful existing programs like Medicare, to guarantee meaningful choices for Americans about their health coverage.

Like many other economists, we at the Economic Policy Institute have concluded that fixing our broken health care system is crucial to fixing our broken economy. Beginning with the publication of Jacob Hacker’s Health Care for America in January 2007, we have championed reforms that preserve the current employer-based system for those workers and employers who prefer it, but that also provide an effective public alternative for those falling through its considerable gaps.

Read the whole letter.

Posted by Michael at 8:48 PM | TrackBack

Increasing residential and employment density could mean reductions in vehicle travel, fuel use and CO2 emissions

Increasing population and employment density in metropolitan areas could reduce vehicle travel, energy use, and CO2 emissions from less than 1 percent up to 11 percent by 2050 Read more from this post.

Posted by Michael at 8:45 PM | TrackBack

Health experts offer action steps local governments can use to cut childhood obesity rates

Zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants near schools and playgrounds, community policing to improve safety around public recreational sites, requirements that publicly run after-school programs limit video game and TV time, and taxes on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and drinks are some of the strategies local government officials can use to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic in their communities, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council.