Child Welfare
On Saturday, the Arizona Republic began a yearlong examination of the state’s child welfare system, and begins with a look by Mary Reinhart at how budget cuts have hampered front-end programs aimed at family preservation.
A string of alleged child molestation cases in recent weeks has put pressure on Los Angeles school officials to teach preventative measures to protect kids in the classroom, reports Ed Mertz of KNX 1070.
A $3.2 million federal grant will be used to help the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, community-based clinics and other social workers help victims of child abuse, reports Cathryn Prince of the Greenwich Patch.
Education/Jobs
Some education leaders in Massachusetts are questioning Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan to centralize the community college system, reports Scott O’Connell of MetroWest Daily News.
Daniel Luzer of Washington Monthly quotes Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum saying he supports for-profit colleges because “they are going to be the principal tool, along with community college to respond to… exploding demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers to do the jobs of the future.“
President Obama should take a page from the Reagan playbook and support a more robust inspector general’s office at agencies like the Corporation for National and Community Service, says the editorial board of the Washington Examiner.
Juvenile Justice
The Huffington Post reports on Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan to shutter two of the state’s eight juvenile detention centers, which drew praise from some advocates and criticism from unions representing workers at the facilities.
Gheni Platenburg of the Victoria Advocate reports on the adopt-a-pet program at Texas’ Victoria Regional Juvenile Justice Center. The first four-legged guest at the center is dachshund/terrier Alice, who is being trained by the inmates.
A South Dakota lawmaker amended the definition of “juvenile sexting” on Monday, saying he doesn’t think the illegal activity should fall under the child pornography law, reports NECN.
