Bellingham Cops Train to Be Foster Parents for Vulnerable Kids
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Police in Bellingham, Wash., plan a new program that prepares officers to be temporary foster parents for children whose parents are arrested late at night. Otherwise, the kids might have to wait at home alone until a social worker arrives to take them to a temporary home. June 7. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com, go to archives and search for headline.
Getting a Grip on Survival Skills for Fending in an Unfair World
The New York Times
A new training course by the Youth Advocacy Center teaches youth who are leaving foster care and entering the work force some basic skills for survival. It also helps them look into professional fields that interest them, and encourages them to be open about their past and proud of their successes. The course is run under the direction of New York family court attorneys. May 14. www.nytimes.com, go to archives and search for headline. Registration required.
Living in the Shadow of Shame: Getting Help the First Step in Healing Teen Sex Offenders
The Boston Herald
One-third of sex offenders in the United States are teens, and 80 percent of all sex offenders started when they were youths (and many were abused themselves). But according to one specialist, young offenders are highly treatable, and only 5 percent of those treated re-offend. May 12. www.bostonherald.com, go to archives and search for headline. Registration required.
They Dial for Advice, from Toddlers to Teens
Philadelphia Inquirer
A new market for “parent coaches” has some experts worried that parents do not trust their own ability to raise children. Others seem to think that the service, which provides over-the-phone or face-to-face advice to parents for a fee, could be a valuable resource for families who need outside help. May 11. www.philly.com/mld/inquirer, go to archives and search for headline. Registration required.
The 100 Best High Schools in America
Newsweek
Newsweek examines the quality of public high schools through the lens of Advanced Placement test availability, reaffirming the growing emphasis placed on the elite high school courses. The top 100 public high schools were determined using a ratio of the number of AP tests taken in a year to the number of seniors graduating that year. June 2. www.msnbc.com/news/917011.asp?cp1=1.
Compiled from news reports, the Casey Journalism Center for Children and Families, and Connect for Kids.
