November is National Adoption Month. Data indicate that in 2011 there were 56,138 children in foster care in California. Though the percentage of children who are adopted within four years of entry into the foster care system in California has increased since 1998, most children are reunited with their family. Data also indicate adoption takes time; according to 2011 data, 66% of foster care youth in California who were eventually adopted waited over two years until they were placed into a permanent residence. And oftentimes, that stay in foster care is marked by instability; 2011 data show that 15.6% of California children in foster care for less than one year experienced three or more placements.

For a perspective on helping adopted children overcome adversity, please see our October 2011 guest blog post. You also can help raise awareness this month about youth in foster care using more data from kidsdata.org. Finally, spread the word about National Adoption Month through Child Welfare Information Gateway’s social media initiative.

Posted by Lindsey Nguyen

This November, help raise awareness about childhood diabetes by promoting American Diabetes Month, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes continues to be one of the leading causes of death in America, according to a 2011 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and its death rate has increased in recent years.

In California, an estimated 2% of children under age 18 with special health care needs has diabetes, according to 2009-2010 data.

Diabetes also is one of the 10 most common primary diagnoses for hospital stays among children under age 18, accounting for around 1% of all hospital discharges in California between 2002 and 2009.

For more information and resources for children and parents affected by diabetes, please refer to these guides provided by the American Diabetes Association.

Posted by kidsdata.org

Following are some recent news highlights about children and families, along with related data from kidsdata.org:

Emotional and Behavioral Health (see related data)

Study: Parents’ Social Anxiety May Raise Kids’ Risk for Anxiety Disorder
(Health Day, 11/7/12)

Analysis Examines Lack of Preventive Mental Health Care Available for Children
(Boston Globe, 10/25/12, by Gold)

National Increase in Rate of Babies Born with Addiction, Study Finds
(Sacramento Bee, 10/29/12, by Schrock)

Positive Home Environment Potentially Reduces Risk for Teen Alcohol Problems, Research Suggests
(Healthline, 11/8/12)

Health Insurance (see related data)

30 States Show No Improvement in Number of Uninsured Children, Report Shows
(MedPage Today, 10/26/12, by Pittman)

Study: California’s Number of Medically Uninsured Children Declines; State Still Has Second-Highest Number of Uninsured Kids
(Sacramento Bee, 10/24/12)

Transition to Denti-Cal from Healthy Families May Reduce Access to Dental Care for Children
(HealthyCal, 10/17/12, by Graebner)

Autism (see related data)

Review: Autism Interventions Require More Evidence-Based Approach
(Disability Scoop, 11/5/12, by Heasley)

Report: Children’s Development at 6 Months Same with Autism as Without; Changes Seen at 14 to 24 Months
(Doctor’s Lounge, 10/30/12)

Study: Flu during Pregnancy May Be Linked to Increased Autism Risk
(NBC, 11/11/12, by Fox)

Transforming School Lunches (see related data)

States that Implement Nutritional Changes in School Lunches See a Decrease in Childhood Obesity, Report Shows
(USA Today, 10/24/12, by Hellmich)

Report: Few K-12 Schools Offer Healthy Snack Options Outside of Mealtimes
(Reuters, 11/1/12, by Heavey)

Opinion: More Work Needed to Make Implementation of New School Lunches Successful
(NY Times, 10/29/12, by Brody)

Mothers and Infants (see related data)

Children’s Weight Linked to Mother’s Pre-Pregnancy Weight and Smoking Status, Study Finds
(MedPage Today, 10/29/12, by Petrochko)

Study: Obese Women Twice as Likely to Develop Gestational Diabetes as Healthy Weight Women, Orange County Study Finds
(OC Register, 10/30/12)

Breastfeeding Rates of Preemies in California Hospitals Increases, Research Shows
(Scope, 11/9/12, Steakley)

Teen Sexual Health (see related data)

Study: Smartphones Linked to Higher Rates of Teen Sex
(CBS, 10/30/12, by McMillen)

Teen Pregnancy More Likely Among Pre-Teens with Low Literacy Levels
(Healthline.com, 10/30/12, by Nerenberg)

Study: Many Teens Born with HIV Unlikely to Disclose to Partners
(Washington Times, 11/11/12, by Wetzstein)

Posted by Roselyn Thomas