Child Welfare
Extending services to foster youths into their early 20s is a better public investment than dealing with them later in the justice, welfare and public health systems, writes New York Foundling Executive Director Bill Baccaglini, in a column for the Huffington Post.
Education/Jobs
Joshua Altman of The Hill reports on Texas Gov. Rick Perry ‘s comments about the DREAM Act during the most recent Republican presidential debate. If you don’t think beneficiaries of the DREAM Act deserve the benefits, Gov. Perry said, “I don’t think you have a heart.”
Bertrand Gutierrez of the Winston Salem Journal reports on an effort by a D.C. advocacy group to send youth speakers who are affected by the DREAM Act into churches to meet with parishioners.
Florida is in serious need of a work-force system overhaul, writes Beth Kassab, business columnist for the Orlando Sentinel.
Massachusetts is pondering a raise of the dropout age from 16 to 18, reports Steve Adams of the Patriot Ledger.
Juvenile Justice
Mentoring has proved to be a key element in the prevention of juvenile violence – particularly of the gang-affiliated variety – in the San Jose Area, opines Jeff Bornefeld, head of California Community Partners for Youth, in the San Jose Mercury News.
C.J. Lin of the Contra Costa Times reports on efforts by the Los Angeles Police Department to effectively monitor events planned through social media.
