The cover story of the September 2010 issue of Monitor on Psychology (a publication of the American Psychological Association) calls on psychologists to raise awareness of what is happening to children as a result of the recession. Titled, “The Recession’s Toll on Children,” the article quotes psychologist Ruby Takanishi, Ph.D. saying, “Research shows that children who slip into poverty, even for a short time, suffer long-term setbacks even when their families regain their economic footing.”
She concludes by saying, “Investment during the first decade of life is crucial for the country’s well-being, as well as for individual potential,” she says. “In the United States, education is the only possibility for escaping from poverty. Thus, the recession’s impact on declining availability of prekindergarten programs is very damaging for children in poverty.”
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Approximately 11 percent of children lack consistent access to adequate food, according to a new report by the National Center for Children in Poverty. Good insecurity among children rose sharply in 2008 after remaining between 8 and 9.5 percent for nearly a decade. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food security as having, “dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living.”
The report states:
There is a large body of research that establishes the consequences of poverty for children’s lives. Although less is known about the role of material hardship – particularly food insecurity – in influencing children’s health and well-being, there is a growing body of research suggesting that food insecurity can result in poor cognitive development, socio-emotional development, and health outcomes for children.
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A new report by Action for Children, Latino Children in North Carolina, presents both good and bad news.
Today, Latino children are doing a little bit better than three years ago on many of the indicators included in the repor. And, the report notes:
“There are strong protective factors in the Latino community that help offset risks for children. Most Latino babies are born healthy and thrive. Latino children and youth are positively engaged with their families and have high self-esteem. Most Latino children have at least one parent who works.”
But more importantly, too many Latino children in North Carolina are denied access to health care, high quality education, safety, and family economic security. The report finds:
“That Latino children in North Carolina are more likely than the overall child population of the state to live in poverty or low-income and suffer from food insecurity, even though most Latino children in our state live with parents who work. On average, Latino parents have less education, lower wages and fewer worker protections than white parents.
The report also finds that low-income status and other barriers to health care access mean that a greater percentage of Latino children lack health insurance coverage, a medical home and a regular dental clinic, and fewer Latina mothers receive adequate prenatal care than in the general population.
Latino youth in North Carolina are more likely than the general child population to feel unsafe at school. Latino youth are also more likely to score below “proficient” on end-of-grade tests and eventually drop out of school.”
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Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs, is the new set of national standards describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs. It covers:
- General Nutrition Requirements
- Meal and Snack Patterns
- Requirements for Infants including supporting breastfeeding
- Requirements for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Meal Service and Supervision
- Food Brought from Home
- Nutrition Education
- Active Opportunities for Physical Activity
- Outdoor and Indoor Play Time
- Caregivers/Teachers’ Encouragement of Physical Activity
- Screen Time Limits
- Policies on Infant Feeding, Food and Nutrition Services, and Physical Activity
Download the standards.
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Action for Children North Carolina announced today that, based on 2007 data, the new Annie E. Casey Foundation KIDS COUNT Data Book ranked North Carolina 37th in child well-being nationwide. The Data Book, released annually, is a state-by-state comparison of ten selected measures of the well-being of America’s children. It reveals that North Carolina has improved on five of the ten measures since the year 2000. Yet, on three other measures conditions worsened for North Carolina’s children.
Read the report.
Access North Carolina information.
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