The Kidsdata News Roundup
News, Research, and
Data About Children's Health and Well Being
March 2011
Head Trauma Study Suggests Many Child Abuse Cases Go Undetected
(MSNBC, 3/7/11, by Brownstein)
See the Data:
In 2008,
physical abuse accounted for 9% of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect in California.
Experts Give Advice on Caring for Ill Children with No Health Insurance
(San Diego Union Tribune, 3/7/11, by Dell, Whitehead, and Day)
See the Data:
The
percentage of children without health insurance in California varies greatly by county, from roughly 1% to 18%, based on 2007 data.
Report: Majority of Teachers Nationwide Have Hungry Students in Their Classrooms
(San Jose Mercury News, 2/22/11, by Gonzales)
See the Data:
California 9th and 11th graders generally are
less likely to report eating breakfast than 7th graders.
California Rep. Napolitano Pushes Bill to Fund Mental Health Services in Schools
(LA Times, 2/18/11, by Mianecki)
See the Data:
The number of students per school counselor has
improved recently, from 1,024 students per counselor in 1998 to 668 in 2009. This still does not meet the recommended national ratio of 250 students per counselor.
Opinion: Schools Still Serve Meals Far Too High in Sugar
(LA Times, 3/2/11, by Ventura and Goran)
Students' Negative Reactions to More Healthful Lunches Highlight Challenges for Schools
(LA Times, 2/20/11, by Eng)
See the Data:
The percent of California's public school students eligible to receive free or reduced price school meals ranges from
25% in Placer County to 76% in Merced County; statewide,
56% of students are eligible.
Report: Special Needs Children Bullied More Often
(HealthyCal, 2/15/11, by Weintraub)
See the Data:
In 2006-’08, 3-7% of California students in grades 7, 9 and 11 reported that they were
bullied at least once in the last year because of their disability.
Following Survey of Student Emotional Health, Palo Alto Parents Argue That Schools Are Not Doing Enough to Reduce Stress
(Palo Alto Weekly, 3/23/11, by Kenrick)
See the Data:
According to a 2010 survey of California parents, about 14-16% of children from higher-income households ($100K or more) have high or very high stress levels, compared to 9-10% of children from lower-income households (below $50K).
More Teens Wait to Have Sex, Study Shows
(USA Today, 3/3/11, by Jayson)
See the Data:
In 2007, 80% of California teens ages 14-17 reported that they had not had sex, similar to previous years.
Opinion: Soda Tax Won’t Solve Obesity Epidemic, but It’s a Good Place to Start
(LA Times, 2/25/11, by Lazarus)
See the Data:
In 2008, about one in three California students in grades 5, 7, and 9 were not at a healthy weight. Find rates for your community.
The First-Ever Silicon Valley Latino Report Card
This report card, produced by the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, focuses on five topics: health, education, the economy, housing, and environmental sustainability. The report card finds that Latinos in Silicon Valley lag behind non-Latinos in numerous areas, such as algebra proficiency and college readiness, and have higher rates of obesity and diabetes. The report card finds that continued efforts are needed to ensure that Latinos meet established benchmarks in health and enjoy the same quality of life as other racial/ethnic groups. Despite these challenges, progress has been made in areas such as kindergarten readiness and insurance coverage, the report notes. See the report.
What Works for African American Children in Out-of-School Time Programs
This Child Trends analysis aims to identify out-of-school time programs that have positive impacts on African American children, as well as intervention strategies that contribute to program success. Based on a literature review of rigorous program evaluations, the analysis finds that programs that foster partnerships between communities and schools tend to work; strategies that garner family “buy-in” appear to be critical to program success; and high-intensity programs that meet consistently/frequently can result in positive impacts for African American children and adolescents. Read the report.
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