A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Jan. 8:
Many Kids Obese by Preschool, Study Finds
A nationwide study of low-income toddlers found that 32 percent
of Caucasian and African American and 44 percent of Latino 3-year-olds
are overweight or obese. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison
who conducted the study said they found no clear explanation for the higher
rate among Latinos. (AP, 12/29/06, by Neergaard)
Federal
Government Tackles Health Care for Kids
This Wall Street Journal article outlines possible federal programs
that would provide health care to uninsured children. Many current programs,
such as Medicaid, do not provide enough funding to cover all children,
and lawmakers are struggling to find funding to expand existing programs
or develop new ones. (WSJ, 12/30/06, by Zhang)
Libraries Shut Doors to Rowdy Kids
Middle and high school students with nowhere to go and nothing
do to in the afterschool hours often turn to their local library, but
some kids' behavior is prompting libraries across the country to ban or
limit access to students after school. Some libraries require permission
slips from schools to allow children to enter, and others have closed
their doors altogether from 3 to 5 p.m. (NY Times, 1/2/07, by Kelley)
Report
Card: State Should Improve Obesity Rates, Family Well Being
The State of California has received Bs and Cs in health care and education,
but a D-plus in obesity rates from Oakland nonprofit California Now's
annual report card on children's health. The state also received a D-plus
for family well being, which measures issues such as poverty and child
abuse. The state's highest grade was a B-plus for afterschool programs.
(SMC Times, 1/3/07, by Marcucci)
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