The Kidsdata News Roundup
News, Research, and Data About Children's Health and Well Being
July 2010

Alcohol and Drug Use
Teen Girls More Vulnerable to Substance Use, Study Finds
(USA Today, 6/29/10, by Steinberg)

Parenting Style Can Influence Whether Teens Engage in Heavy Drinking, Study Finds
(HealthDay News, 6/24/10, by Mozes)

See the Data:
The percentage of California students who report drinking and drinking to get drunk is roughly the same for girls and boys.



Breastfeeding
New Research Supports Exclusive Breastfeeding for First Six Months
(CNN, 6/21/10, by Falco)

See the Data:
About 43 percent of California mothers exclusively breastfed in the hospital after giving birth, according to 2007 data.

Among WIC participants in 2008, 10% reported exclusive breastfeeding of their infant for the first six months.



Depression
Family Therapy Shows Good Results for Depressed/Suicidal Teens, Study Finds
(WSJ, 6/29/10 by Diamond)

See the Data:
Almost 40 percent of 9th and 11th grade girls in California report depression related feelings, compared to roughly 25 percent of boys, according to 2006-08 data.



Disabilities
Public Schools Struggle to Educate Severely Disabled Children
(NY Times, 6/20/10, by Otterman)

See the Data:
In 2005-06, 8 percent of all children with special health care needs in California faced severe difficulties due to their conditions.



Foster Care
Foster Care Teens Often Have Nowhere to Go After “Graduation”
(Bay Citizen, 6/23/10, by Bundy)

See the Data:
Find a summary of data about foster care in California.  



High School Dropouts
Editorial: Slowing High School Graduation Rate a Growing Problem in California
(SF Chronicle, 6/21/10)

See the Data:
In California, high school dropout rates vary by race; 8 percent of Asian American students dropped out compared to 33 percent of African American students.



Weight
California Child Obesity Rates Rank 25th in the Nation, Annual Report Finds
(SF Chronicle, 6/30/10, by Oustinovskaya)

Hypertension Rates Increase Among Overweight Children, Putting Them at Risk for Heart Attack, Stroke in Adulthood
(WSJ, 6/29/10, by Winslow)

Study: Teens Who Snack May Weigh Less
(Reuters, 6/25/2010 by Norton)

See the Data:
Find data about students at healthy weight in CA.



Other Research

The 2010 Child Well Being Index
This index report funded by the Foundation for Child Development covers the impact of the recession on children in the United States, as well as poverty among children, risky behaviors, and the rise in childhood obesity. View the full report here. The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health commissioned a similar California-specific index available at http://www.kidsdata.org/index/.

Parent Perspectives on Health Care for Adolescents
A recent report by the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health presents findings from parent focus groups on adolescent health care. The study offers suggestions for an ideal adolescent health care setting that is accessible and inviting to teens. Read the full report:
http://www.thenationalalliance.org/mar10/Parents_Perspectives%20on_Health_Care%20_for%20Adolescents.pdf



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