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Other Journals Extracts from the "Other" Journals relating to Children, Youth and Families – in the fields of health, substance abuse, education, psychology, science ... |
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Other Journals Extracts from the "Other" Journals relating to Children, Youth and Families – in the fields of health, substance abuse, education, psychology, science ... |
Follow @CYCareworkers
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June 2010
US
Five states to increase cigarette taxes on July 1
To reduce smoking and combat budget deficits, five states will implement cigarette tax increases on July 1.
The five states are: New York, $1.60 increase to $4.35 per pack; Hawaii, 40 cents to $3 per pack; New Mexico, 75 cents to $1.66 per pack; South Carolina, 50 cents to 57 cents per pack; and Utah, $1 to $1.70 per pack. On May 1, Washington increased its cigarette tax by $1 to $3.025 per pack.
New York's increase will give it the highest state cigarette tax at $4.35 per pack, while South Carolina's increase – its first since 1977 – means it will no longer have the lowest cigarette tax in the nation. Missouri will now have the lowest cigarette tax at just 17 cents a pack. After the July 1 increases, the average state cigarette tax will be $1.45 per pack, while the federal government levies an additional $1.01 per pack.
Also taking effect this week, a new federal law will curb tobacco tax evasion and curtail sales of low-cost cigarettes and other tobacco products over the Internet and through the mail. As required by the law, the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday will institute a ban on mailing tobacco products (with very minor exceptions). The law also requires Internet tobacco sellers to pay all applicable taxes and affix tax stamps before delivery to any customer; requires that age and identification of purchasers be checked at both purchase and delivery; and provides government officials with new tools to crack down on tobacco tax evasion.
"These actions to increase tobacco taxes and prevent tax evasion are a huge victory for the nation's health that will save many lives and billions of dollars in tobacco-related health care costs," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "Higher tobacco taxes continue to be a win-win-win for the states – a health win that reduces smoking and saves lives, a revenue win that helps balance budgets and fund critical programs, and a political win that is popular with voters. We applaud the state and federal officials who have supported these important measures."
The evidence is clear that increasing the cigarette tax is one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking, especially among kids. Scientific studies show that every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking rates by about 6.5 percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent. The combined effect of the state cigarette tax increases approved so far this year will be to:
Prevent more than 262,000 kids from starting to smoke;
Spur more than 140,000 adult smokers to quit;
Prevent more than 120,000 smoking-caused deaths;
Produce more than $5.9 billion in long-term health care savings;
Raise more than $561 million in annual revenue.
States with the lowest cigarette tax rates are Missouri (17 cents per pack), Virginia (30 cents), Louisiana (36 cents), Georgia (37 cents) and Alabama (42.5 cents).
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids urges all states to increase tobacco taxes as a proven way to reduce smoking and other tobacco use, save lives and raise revenue. The Campaign also urges states to use more of their tobacco tax and tobacco settlement revenues to fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs at levels recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people and costing $96 billion a year in health care costs. Every day, another 1,000 kids become regular smokers – one-third of them will die prematurely as a result.
SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
28 June 2010
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/28/2855468/five-states-to-increase-cigarette.html
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CANADA
Overeating, not exercising may mean today's children won't live as long as their parents
Besides some notable exceptions - such as war, famine and infectious disease - humans have made great strides increasing life expectancy.
"Over the last 300 years, human life expectancy has been going up," says Siegfried Hekimi, a biology professor at McGill University. "The reason why people live longer can easily be ascribed to environmental factors," he says in an interview from Montreal. "With more food, proper sanitation, easier living conditions and advances in public health and medical interventions, overall health has improved." Most Canadians will celebrate their 81st birthdays, for example - a significant improvement from the 1920s when life expectancy at birth was less than 60.
The great strides civilization has made lengthening the human lifespan through medical miracles and other breakthroughs, however, could soon be thrown into reverse. While easier working conditions and proper nutrition has helped humans live longer, not being physically active at all and eating too much can be disastrous. With obesity levels on the rise, researchers now believe life expectancy could decline for the first time in history. "Obesity can actually accelerate aging," Hekimi explains.
And in New Brunswick, where the obesity trend is particularly alarming, shorter life expectancies could be around the corner. A 2004 health survey by Statistics Canada found that nearly 35 per cent of New Brunswickers were overweight or obese, higher than the national average of 26 per cent. The study also found the prevalence of obesity among children and youth was 13 per cent in New Brunswick, compared to the national rate of about 10 per cent.
Angelo Belcastro, a board member of Active Healthy Kids Canada and a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick, says the effects of physical inactivity and overeating are reaching epidemic proportions. "The implications in the longer term, particularly for children but also for adults, will create a huge burden on health care system with the early onset of diseases," he says.
The obesity problem is so severe that children growing up now are part of the "first generation in memory that has a life expectancy shorter than the previous one," says Stéphane Robichaud, chief executive of the New Brunswick Health Council.
As a parent of 11- and 12-year-old sons, Robichaud sees first hand how challenging it is to raise active and healthy children. "They both play video games and I try to limit their screen time, but when you're busy it's not always that easy," he says. "The power of inertia is very strong." But the problem isn't just encouraging kids to be physically active. Robichaud says access to affordable fruits and vegetables is sometimes hard to come by. "Two litres of pop is cheaper than two litres of milk," he says. "There is a lot of discussion about how that affects the choices of parents."
Growing up in Val-Comeau, a fishing village on the Acadian Peninsula, Robichaud says he spent most of his time outside playing with neighbourhood friends. "I remember my mom would kick us outside and after a while you would find something to do," he says. "When the street lights came on we headed back home." Robichaud understands that nowadays parents are concerned with the safety of their children, especially in urban centres. He says coming up with solutions requires the entire community to be on board. "I have yet to see anybody react indifferently when I tell them the generation being born today has a shorter life expectancy than their parents," he says. "We need people to understand how serious a problem this is, and then work together to change it. Or we could be facing a crisis down the road."
Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, epidemiology professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Illinois, concurs. "If you look at the health statistics of younger people alive today, their health ...is not as good as the previous generation," he says. "We've seen a dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity among children," he says in an interview from Chicago, Ill. "There is a strong possibly that the rise in obesity could attenuate the steady increases in life expectancy."
The 56 year-old professor is author of the book The Quest for Immortality: Science at the Frontiers of Aging. He describes how his 80-year-old father-in-law swears by a lengthy list of dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants all "scientifically proven" to slow the aging process. In addition to the oatmeal and bran-packed breakfasts, the jars of prunes and a fridge filled with foods rich in soy protein, the octogenarian enjoys a daily 45-minute power walk. While a healthy diet and plenty of exercise are important, Olshansky says technological breakthroughs in fighting diseases associated with aging have also kept his father in-law alive today.
But medical advances may not be enough to combat obesity, especially as overweight people start, at a younger and younger age, developing diseases normally associated with advancing age.
The obesity crisis throws a wrench in the projections of many demographers. Based on historical trends, some experts have projected that life expectancy at birth will rise to 100 years in the United States and other developed nations by 2060.
Cambridge University geneticist Aubrey de Grey has even stated that the first immortal could be alive today. Although de Grey says humans will soon be able to prevent the aging process, Olshansky dismisses this claim as "pure fantasy."
Meanwhile, scientific evidence of a possible decline in life expectancy as a result of the obesity epidemic is mounting. Dr. Joyce Lee, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan, has found more young and middle-age adults in the United States are becoming obese younger. In an article entitled "Getting heavier, younger: Trajectories of obesity over the life course," published in the International Journal of Obesity last month, Lee and co-authors found 20 per cent of Americans born between 1966 and 1985 were obese by the time they hit 20. "This is a concern because it's both the duration as well as the degree of obesity that can lead to chronic diseases," Lee says in an interview from Ann Arbor, Mich.
The increasing, cumulative exposure to excess weight over a lifetime will likely have profound implications for future rates of type two diabetes and mortality within the U.S. population, she says. In addition, obesity and the onset of chronic disease at a younger age could have a significant impact on the economy, productivity levels and health care costs. "The costs are going to be enormous," she says. "You have people who should be at the peak of their working career who should be participating actively in society but they have a great deal of disability as a result of obesity."
Lee says she expects obesity will have a negative impact on life expectancy because obese people have higher mortality rates. "The direction, in terms of life expectancy, is likely to go down although by how much is debatable," she says. "But there could be some huge technological advancements or changes in society that might impact things. It's hard to predict the future."
While people in North America are heavier than they've ever been, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. reported no increase in pediatric and adult obesity between 2003 and 2006. "But we need to do more than stabilize obesity rates," Lee says. "I think we really need to eradicate obesity and not just stop the increase if we want to live to our full potential."
Meanwhile, obesity rates among children and adults in Canada have increased substantially during the past 25 years. In the late 1970s, the adult obesity rate was 14 per cent. A quarter century later, 5.5 million people - nearly 25 per cent of adults - are obese, according to a 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey by Statistics Canada. "It's significant because obesity is associated with chronic diseases like cardiac conditions, diabetes, orthopedic problems and mental health issues," says Pam Hubley, associate professor at the University of Toronto's Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
She says tackling the obesity problem in children requires a two-pronged approach. "We have to both manage obesity and chronic diseases as well as educate the public to prevent childhood obesity," says Hubley, also the associate chief of nursing at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. "It's a societal issue and it's one we all have the responsibility to pay attention to," she says. "There are so many factors that contribute to the background of how this problem has crept up on us.
"We all need to pay more attention to food, portion sizes, the choices we make in restaurants and marketing and advertising," Hubley adds. "If we're really going to address the problem of childhood obesity we need multiple strategies from education and prevention to primary care."
Brett Bundale
26 June 2010
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1110939
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New children’s book provides understanding of how important it is to keep on-going connections between siblings who are separated due to foster care and adoption.
Pamela Rollins has created a wonderful children’s book that takes an important step in bringing to light the affects of sibling separation. Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother* is a true-to-life story of how Pamela being separated from her brother reminisces on the simple things like, reading books together, watching movies, going swimming and even waking up in the morning to her brother’s precious smile. She discovers the most important lesson-that her love for her brother and his love for her can never be separated.
This children's book contains a terrific story, a foster care/adoption guide for families along with beautiful and touching pictures by Kimberly Sponaugle.
The timing and importance of this rare book cannot be overstated. A new study suggests the relationship we have with our siblings during youth has a considerable influence on our social and emotional development as adults. Laurie Kramer, a University of Illinois researcher, says that although a parent’s influence on a child’s development shouldn’t be underestimated, neither should a sibling’s.
Dr. Jerry F. Westermeyer of the Department of Psychiatry at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago says, "The sibling relationship has been a neglected topic in social science, especially in adulthood," noting that virtually no research had been done on the topic until the 1980's. "But people are starting to look hard at it now," he says. "It's an important topic and it strikes a chord."
Brothers and sisters separated from each other in foster care experience trauma, anger, and an extreme sense of loss. Research suggests that separating siblings may make it difficult for them to begin a healing process, make attachments, and develop a healthy self-image (McNamara, 1990). Indeed, because of the reciprocal affection they share, separated siblings often feel they have lost a part of themselves.
Sixty-five to 85 percent of children entering
the foster care system have at least one sibling; about 30 percent have
four or more. It is often difficult to find families willing to take all
of them, and current estimates indicate that 75 percent of sibling
groups end up living apart after they enter foster care. For most of
them, it means losing the only significant relationship they have known.
The more we can keep these relationships intact, the more children can
use these opportunities to work through adoption identity issues that
may arise, and can develop truly meaningful relationships with others.
With sibling separation, facilitating regular contact is critical to maintaining healthy relationships.
Free Press Release Center
23 June 2010
*Life sure feels different living in a separate house from my brother by Pamela Rollins and Kimberley Sponaugle is in our bookstore:
Please
click on a flag
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PENNSYLVANIA
Teachers might face new sex law
Teachers and coaches who engage in sexual relationships with those under 18 would face more severe penalties under legislative changes proposed by Montgomery County lawmakers and prosecutors.
"One of the most disturbing things that we have seen over the years are situations where we entrust an adult with the care of our school child, whether it's a coach or it's a teacher, and they violate that trust and begin a sexual relationship with a child," District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said Monday. She and several local lawmakers introduced legislation that would make it a felony crime for a teacher, coach or youth organization instructor to engage in sexual relations with any child under the age of 18. "We send our children to school to learn about reading, writing and arithmetic, not to get the personal tutorials in what it means to have a sexual relationship. We do not expect that of our teachers and we need to hold them to a higher standard," Ferman added.
Under current laws, teachers or coaches who engage in sexual relationships with those over 16, the age of consent in Pennsylvania, can be charged with a misdemeanor offense of corruption of minors, which is punishable of a maximum sentence of 2½ to 5 years in prison. State laws allow for more severe felony penalties when the victims are under 16. "This loophole leaves our children exposed and there is absolutely no excuse for that," said state Rep. Joshua D. Shapiro, D-153rd District. "All we seek to do in this legislation … is to say that the same tough sexual assault laws that apply in the case of a 14- or 15-year-old will also apply in the case of a 16- or 17-year-old. This law will be very, very clear about the do's and the don'ts."
Ferman and her staff of prosecutors, including Samantha Cauffman, who leads the sex crimes unit, and Kate McGill, brought the so-called loophole to the attention of area lawmakers as they increasingly saw their hands tied to charging teachers and coaches with no more than a corruption of minors charge when the conduct involved victims over 16.
Under the proposed change, authority figures such as teachers, coaches or youth organization instructors who engage in sexual contact with anyone under 18 would be charged with institutional sexual assault, a more serious felony that is punishable of a maximum sentence of 3 ½ to 7 years in prison. "What this law specifically does is it says whether you are 14 or 15 … or whether you are 16 or 17, we will ensure that our district attorneys all across Pennsylvania have tough laws, tough sanctions, that they can slap on those predators," Shapiro said.
Shapiro and state Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th District, vowed to work in a bipartisan manner with House colleagues to drum up support to pass the proposal from the House Judiciary Committee this week to the Appropriations Committee and then on to a full vote before the House later this year.
"If coaches decide that it's a good thing to fall in love with a 16- or 17-year-old athlete on their team, then we have a place for you. There is plenty of vacancy in our prison system and this legislation will clearly give prosecutors the opportunity to send these types of coaches, or animals or predators, away," said Vereb. State Rep. Matthew Bradford, D-70th District, also attended the news conference.
The current law regarding institutional sexual assault does not include teachers, coaches and youth organization instructors in educational settings. Under the proposal, the law would be amended to apply to those professions. Under the current law, only a person who is an employee of a state or county prison, youth development center, youth forestry camp, state or county juvenile detention facility, other licensed residential facility serving children and youth, or mental health facility or institution commits a third-degree felony when that person engages in sexual intercourse or indecent contact with an inmate, detainee, patient or resident.
"What this statute will do is simply hold our educators to the standard that we deserve and that we have come to expect. Parents need to know that when they send their children off to school, when they send them to these organized activities, that they're going to be safe and they're going to be protected," Ferman said about the proposal. "This is a very specific response to a problem that our prosecutors have identified and we are trying to address it in a most clear way."
Carl Hessler Jr.
22 June 201
http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2010/06/22/news/srv0000008610702.txt
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COMMONWEALTH
'On their own - Britain's child migrants': Medallion tells of the leaving of Liverpool
Liverpool is linking up with Australia to tell the emotional story of child and youth migration. From 1860 until the 1960s migration schemes saw youngsters and teenagers separated from families and sent to the ends of the earth to begin new lives. Many were orphaned or had come from poor families who could no longer look after them and it was felt Australia and Canada provided better opportunities and a standard of life.
Youth migration schemes shared similar aims as child migration, recruiting rural workers and populating the empire. Youth migrants were usually slightly older and had more choices about what happened to them, meaning that they were more easily able to move on with their lives without regret.
Children sailed from Liverpool, Glasgow, London and Southampton. While many found happiness, others suffered abuse and exploitation. National Museums Liverpool has partnered with the Australian National Maritime Museum to develop a touring exhibition which opens in Sydney this autumn. Liverpool stories and artefacts will form part of the "On their own - Britain’s child migrants" exhibition.
Fourteen-year-old Everton schoolboy William Nevin left Liverpool behind in 1911. Bound for New Zealand, he never saw his home again. William married, had children and was successful in business. But he never forgot about his family and kept one Liverpool thing with him throughout his life – a medallion awarded to him at Major Lester school in Everton for being a star pupil. That medallion is one of the artefacts set to appear in Sydney.
William’s niece Phyllis Clark from Woolton said: “Because he was successful at school he was chosen to go to New Zealand. It was seen as an honour. So one day these men arrived in bowler hats from Alfred Holt shipping company and off he went. The family had never even heard of New Zealand – it was like they were taking William to the moon. We were given the medallion two years ago by William’s family in New Zealand to return to Liverpool. William had died in the 1970s. He’d kept it all his life as a memento of his roots. And in some ways the medallion is one of the reasons why he left Liverpool behind – he excelled at school which is why he was chosen to go.”
National Museums Liverpool and the Australian National Maritime Museum have just launched an online message board – www.britainschildmigrants.com – for people to share their memories and experiences of child migration.
Rachel Mulhearn, director of Merseyside Maritime Museum, said: “From the late 19th century Britain sent more than 100,000 children to Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries. It was believed they would have a better life working in the clean expanses of the British Empire where they were the source of much-needed labour. While many had happy experiences and began new lives, the separation for some from the homes and families often led to a lonely, brutal childhood. Today many former child migrants and their families are still coming to terms with their dislocation. The "On their own" exhibition will tell some of the stories of children who migrated and of their families left behind.”
"On their own" opens in Sydney, Australia and is set to come to the Merseyside Maritime Museum in 2011.
In November 2009 the Australian Government issued an apology to children who suffered in institutional care. The British Government also apologised to former child migrants in 2010. "On their Own" will tell some of their stories.
artdaily.org
20 June 2010
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=38761
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NEW YORK
Family agency opens Malta branch
Parsons Child and Family Center, an organization that has been serving the Capital Region for close to 200 years, recently opened a branch in Malta.
The new branch will offer two programs: one
for children in foster care and another for children with severe
emotional disturbances.
Sharon Mahota, senior director of case management services for Parsons,
says the organization sees Saratoga County as "a hub of new activity"
and wants to be closer to the families it serves. The branch consists of
a staff office and focuses primarily on in-home treatment.
"It's the kind of job that makes sure other services and programs are wrapped around the family," Mahota said.
The opening of the new branch in May brings programs closer to the families that Parsons serves, helping to keep down operational costs, according to Mahota. She said the new branch fit into the overall program's budget.
However, the economic downturn has had an impact on the kind of work that Parsons does. "Because of the recession, the families we serve are more troubled or more challenged," Mahota said. "It's harder and harder for families to take time off of work to go appointments." The pressure for families has translated to more stress on the staff, Mahota said. She sees "a higher level of stress, a greater potential for families to cancel appointments and an elevated need for concrete services," like food, clothing and shelter.
Both programs at the new site have their own eligibility requirements, and require children to be in foster care and have their cases referred by the county Department of Social Services.
For a mental health waiver, children come through mental health Single Point of Access, a centralized intake process for referring people with mental health issues to organizations such as Parsons.
Ben Golden
16 June 2010
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=941473&category=REGION
____LOUISIANA
Bill with penalty for parents of youths convicted of minor offenses approved by Senate
The Senate gave quick, unanimous passage Wednesday to a bill that would authorize judges to sentence parents or guardians to serve community service time with their children when the youths are convicted of minor offenses.
The Senate voted 35-0 for House Bill 1335 by Rep. Walker Hines, D-New Orleans, sending it to the desk of Gov. Bobby Jindal. Jindal can now sign it into law, let it become law on its own or veto it. Hines said the bill would apply to parents whose children are truant from school, violate curfews or other relatively minor acts of delinquency. The bill states judges should order the child and the guardian to serve the community service together "if feasible."
"This is not punitive," Hines said. "This is done to encourage parents to be more engaged in the child's life." One example of community service a parent could be ordered to perform is to ride the school bus to class with the child and spend a few hours in the youth's classes, Hines said.
Sen. Edwin Murray, D-New Orleans, who handled Hines' bill on the Senate floor, said judges who handle juveniles cases asked for the law. "I think they may have this authority now," Murray said, but enacting the law would remove any doubt.
Senators also voted 36-0 for House Bill 1314 by Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, mandating that sex offenders have their home addresses "prominently displayed" on their houses as part of the requirement that they register with state and local officials. Hardy's bill now goes to Jindal, a proponent of tough laws on sex offenders, especially child predators. Jindal has called sex offenders who prey on children "monsters." Hardy's bill applies to sex offenders whose victims are children or adults.
Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, who handled Hardy's bill on the Senate floor, said the bill would require the offender's address to be "in a conspicuous place" on the outside of the home. He said the address must be "of sufficient size and legibility" so that it will be seen by "an ordinary observant person approaching the residence during daylight hours."
Under present law, sex offenders must register with local police for a specific number of years after serving time in prison or as part of the sentence or probation. One of the conditions is that the offenders must notify residents of the neighborhood and school principals in the areas where they live.
Ed Anderson
10 June 2010
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/06/senate_oks_bill_with_penalty_f.html
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NEW JERSEY
New state program puts first time offenders back on straight and narrow
Even good kids sometimes make bad decisions.
In the wrong place at the wrong time, one thoughtless act could ruin a
childhood.
But a new state-mandated program called Station House Adjustment (SHA)
has changed the way police officers handle first time offenders.
Designed to keep juveniles that have committed an act of delinquency out
of the juvenile justice system, SHA allows officers to resolve minor
issues without the necessity of filing a formal court complaint. “It
keeps them out of the court system, but they still have to face the
consequences,” said Ptl. Chuck Cusack, who works with Ocean City’s
Community Oriented Policing unit. “They get a whiff of the system,
enough to show them they don’t want to come back. They still learn a big
lesson. These are not hardened juvenile delinquents or repeat offenders.
These are kids that just made a mistake.”
Since its introduction last year, more than 200 juveniles have passed through the Ocean City Police Department. “It saves the offender from having a record and it saves the court time and resources, easing their backlog so they can devote their efforts to more serious offenses,” said Cusack. “The courts were overwhelmed with underage drinking, this takes a tremendous burden off.”
Before SHA, a local merchant might catch a juvenile shoplifting but if they called the police and sought to bring charges, the merchant would be in for a long day in court at some future date. “Most merchants don’t have time to do that, especially in the summer,” said Cusack. Most of the time, the offenders would get off, he said, without as much as a slap on the wrist. SHA allows the merchant to exit the situation as soon as the police arrive, but the juvenile must still face the consequences.
“Instead of the juvenile getting charged, they
come to me,” said Cusack. “I meet with at least one of their parents.”
Youngsters are not charged, but they still have to face the music. A
visit to the police station and a call to the youth’s parents make an
impact, he said.
Every offender is also put on probation for three months. Police notify
their school and the local police if they live out of town. A child is
on probation at home too. “If a child violates probation they will have
to face serious consequences,” he added. “The case goes back to the
drawing board and they could get charged.” Any juvenile who has been
arrested and charged with a Petty Disorderly Persons Offense, PDP or an
ordinance violation may be eligible, Cusack said. Juveniles with more
serious charges, or that are on probation, or that have charges already
pending are not eligible.
First time offenders come in all shapes and sizes, from a variety of backgrounds. Offenses run the gamut from underage drinking to loud parties, minor theft, minor drug offense or fighting. Some crimes, such as vandalism, involve restitution. Others, like shoplifting, require a violator to attend a five-hour program explaining the ramifications. Cusack said there is zero tolerance for fighting, especially in Ocean City High School, but it doesn’t stop the sparring. Drug offenders could be required to attend a drug education class. Some offenders have to write apology letters, but the largest and most involved component of the program is community service. Offenders might wash police cars or hand out water during the annual Cop Chase 5K run. Other times they might clean up the beach, the dog park or one of the city’s many playgrounds. “We do a lot of cleaning,” said Cusack. “The beach clean-ups are great, we work with Clean Ocean Action every year.”
Cusack said he is open to suggestions. “If anyone has something they need done, let us know,” said Cusack, adding that offenders will not be put to work at private homes or businesses, but perhaps non-profits, such as a church or other organization needs help. “There was a lot of graffiti on the boardwalk last fall,” he said. “I tried to get the boardwalk merchants together so we could clean that up. I told them if they gave us the paint we’d do it, but it was after the season and I couldn’t get it together. We’re open to any suggestions. I would have loved for the kids to clean that up. Graffiti looks terrible.”
Out of more than 200 offenders, less than ten walked about disgruntled, said Cusack. ”The handful that really hated it are destined to be in the system anyway, we can’t reach them,” said Cusack. Not so with the others. “We talk to the kids when they’re cleaning or performing their service,” he said. “We talk about what they did to get them there, why it was wrong. A little bit of a bond develops; they are able to see police officers in a different light. Most respond positively.”
Most parents are grateful that their young offender was offered the opportunity to participate in SHA, but some are just plain angry that they had to return to Ocean City for community service, said Cusack. “Sometimes they are resistant to admitting that their child made a mistake,” he said. “Some are real perturbed that they had to return, they get frustrated that they are responsible for their children. Most of the time parents thank us that their child has no record and they didn’t have to hire an attorney. That can be very expensive.”
Cusack said turning a first time offender away from a life of crime is rewarding. “You see them months later and they come up and shake your hand,” he said. “It makes me feel good. Our goal is to turn them around before it’s too late. For most, the program is a wake-up call. We take them through the jail cells at the end of the program, that’s an eye-opener.”
When apprehended, juveniles are escorted through the police station with an officer, who sits with them until their parents arrive. “Once they’re 18 they get put in a jail cell,” said Cusack. “There are jail cells in Ocean City, we want them to know that. Jail is very real. Once they hit 18 it’s adult court and adult fines, it’s serious. From 15 to 25 people do some real stupid things. You could find yourself with an adult record; we don’t want that to happen. We always tell them we hope not to see them again, in the program anyway,” he added.
Ann Richardson
9 June 2010
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Rethinking unstructured time for kids
A throwaway line in a widely read NY Times article on mulitasking published Monday speaks volumes about how children’s lives have changed in recent years.
Lily, a second-grader, is allowed only an hour a day of unstructured time, which she often spends with her devices. The laptop can consume her. “You can holler her name all day and she won’t hear,” the article quotes her mother as saying.
The idea that kids should have lots of unstructured time to relax, play freely and choosing their own leisure activities, seems to be waning.
The notion that kids are overscheduled and stressed was a big controversy early in this decade, springing partly from a popular book by child-development expert David Elkind, The Hurried Child. In the latest edition, Dr. Elkind argues that widening Internet use only increases the pressures on kids to hurry up, grow up, and think and act like adults.
It is true that kids’ time is more structured than in the past. Research has found kids spend more time studying and taking part in youth groups and religious activities, compared with the past. Children of working mothers tend to have less free time; they do more studying and also spend more in child care. About one in four American kids ages 9 to 12 are involved in three or more activities, putting them in Dr. Elkind’s “hurried children” category, according to research by Sandra Hofferth, director of the Maryland Population Research Center at the University of Maryland and a leading researcher on children’s use of time
But the idea that busy kids are stressed has been partly eclipsed by findings that kids involved in a lot of activities actually do better on some important measures of psychological health. It is actually the least active children who show more signs of withdrawal, inability to get along with others and low self-esteem, Dr. Hofferth found in a study of 331 children.
Readers, do you consciously allot your kids at least some unstructured time every day? Or are you concerned that they have too little? Do you kids tend to juggle a lot of activities, just as you do? If so, do you ever see signs of stress or overload?
Sue Shellenbarger
8 June 2010
http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2010/06/08/rethinking-unstructured-time-for-kids/
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When to start disciplining your child and how
A Portland mother of a toddler writes, "My husband would like to know: When do you start discipline and how?"
I passed her question along to Roni Stein of Portland, a parent coach who's certified by the Parent Coaching Institute and who holds a doctor of education degree in child and youth studies. She's also a mother and grandmother.
Stein says a child's developmental stage is a good indicator of whether she's ready for discipline. She gives the example of a toddler who is playing with food. "To discipline them and say, 'You shouldn't be squishing the banana in half' -- that is premature," Stein says. At that age, a child is learning a lot through touch, so squishing a banana isn't malicious behavior but mere experimentation.
Similarly, a younger child may not comprehend time or language well enough to understand the phrase "If you do it again."
"You need good language (skills) for give-and-take conversation with a child," says Stein,
Then there's the child's readiness to accept the consequences of misbehavior. "For a child who's between 1 and 2, it's too early to say things like, 'If you don't finish your food you're going into timeout,' " Stein says. The child simply doesn't understand what a timeout is and why he's being separated from everyone else -- Stein doesn't recommend timeouts at all for children under 2.
Here's one common discipline scenario: A 1- or 2-year-old pulls the cat's tail, which puts the child in danger of being scratched. Rather than punish the child by scolding from across the room, Stein advises picking up the child, gently, and saying something like, "I can't let you play with the cat that way. I can let you come over here and play with your stuffed animals."
That advice arises from her belief that too many parents see discipline as meaning punishment. Discipline also means instruction, Stein says. (Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, backs her up: "2 a) training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency.")
"If you look at most parenting books, they will say that punishment doesn't work," Stein says. Instead, she says, parents should focus on instructing a child by "redirecting in a way that is developmentally appropriate." She gives an example: "If you don't sit at the table while we're eating, then I'm going to assume that you're no longer eating and take the food away ... The next time you get down, that will be the end of your dinnertime for tonight."
Amy Wang
3 June 2010
http://blog.oregonlive.com/themombeat/2010/06/when_to_start_disciplining_you.html
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Time capsule found in Edinburgh
A time capsule dating back almost a century has been unearthed by a construction worker on a building site in Edinburgh, it has emerged. The recent discovery came as a building was about to be demolished to make way for the new Royal Victoria Building at the Western General Hospital. A glass jar was found, containing newspapers, maps and pictures. It was sealed 97 years ago, in 1913, to mark the creation of a children's home for Craigleith Hospital and Poorhouse.
The worker on the site first noticed papers sticking out of a large piece of brickwork and alerted his foreman. The sealed jar was discovered inside the large stone, dating back to the Craigleith Hospital and Poorhouse, which went on to become the site of the modern-day Western General Hospital. The children's home was built next to the main building for just £7,180.
Alistair Johnston, project leader of developers Laing O'Rourke, said: "We are all really excited. The guys were working as normal when one of them noticed papers sticking out of the stone. They started to investigate and realised what they had found. It was a large glass bottle filled with lots of old newspapers, maps and pictures. We picked it out of the earth and the rubble while trying to keep it as intact as possible. But we knew straight away it was really old."
Laura Brouard, assistant archivist at Lothian Health Services Archive, said: "Surprisingly, given the length of time that it has been buried, the capsule's contents are extremely well-preserved. They provide a fascinating insight into the origins of the Children's Home at Craigleith Poorhouse, later part of the Western General Hospital."
The children's hospital was requisitioned by the Army in 1914 to treat casualties from World War I.
Signed diary
In 1929, parish councils were abolished and ownership of the
poorhouse and hospital was transferred to Edinburgh Town Council in
1930. The council upgraded the facilities and equipped Craigleith as a
teaching hospital with 280 beds, with the new name of the Western
General. The children's home became known as the Paderewski Building. A
ceremony was held to mark the occasion and the capsule inserted into a
memorial stone. The stone was then used to form the fabric of the
building.
Copies of three different newspapers were then slid inside the bottle, along with a signed diary and a copy of the ceremony's order of service, which included speeches and hymns. A map of Edinburgh and minutes from a meeting granting planning permission were also sealed inside. The collection will now be added into the health archive and the replicas are set to be put on display in the new Royal Victoria Building when it is complete in 2012.
BBC News
2 June 2010
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/scotland/edinburgh_east_and_fife/10218940.stm
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From foster care to homelessness: California's epidemic of abandoned youth
Human Rights Watch has released a new report about California youth in foster care with some startling results. At least 20 percent of the 4,000 who are released from foster care each year end up homeless.
Through interviews with 63 young people who became homeless after leaving foster care, it was evident that factors leading to homelessness include "missed opportunities to learn skills, lack of ability to support themselves, a shortage of second chances, and the fact that no one cared what happened to them."
With homelessness, young people are more likely to be incarcerated, criminally victimized, sexually abused, impregnated early and/or impoverished. Those with mental health problems, which are not uncommon among foster youth, face even more obstacles, with lack of access to health services.
The state mandates that foster youth be provided with food, health care, shelter and education. However emotional support and guidance are not necessarily present in their lives. When they turn 18 and are "emancipated" they more often than not lack the tools to navigate the adult world. And although child welfare agencies are required to aid foster youth in developing a plan for post-emancipation, HRW's interviews revealed that reality is often quite different.
The statistics are disturbing. An astounding 90 percent of youth had no source of income upon the time they left foster care, nor did they have any adult to turn to for support. 65 percent had not graduated from high school and 62 percent had no health care.
With the publication of the report, Human Rights Watch calls for California to provide foster youth with support in order to make a smoother transition to adulthood, such as providing mentoring programs, transitional housing programs, mental health services and education programs. It would also be helpful to have programs to address the problems former foster youth face such as early pregnancy or learning disabilities. Elizabeth Calvin, senior advocate for children's rights at Human Rights Watch, argues, "In most US families, young people continue to receive a spectrum of support - emotional and financial - as they make the transition to adulthood, and the youth in California's care deserve no less."
Natasha G.
1 June 2010
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