A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, March 5:
Schools,
Governments Act to Stop Cyberbulling
This feature article about cyberbullying notes that schools and
governments across the country are beginning to address this growing problem
through school policies and bullying laws. (Parade Magazine, 2/25/07,
by Wiseman)
Governors
Call for More Child Health Funding
Governors from 11 states that may suspend health benefits to
some children due to lack of federal funding have called on President
Bush to take immediate action. The State Children's Health Insurance Program
is meant to cover kids from families whose incomes are above the Medicaid
threshold but who still may not be able to afford insurance on their own.
Lawmakers in many states say they need millions more dollars from the
federal government in order to maintain the program. (NY Times, 2/25/07,
by Pear)
Editorial:
Foster Kids Need Family Ties
Many children who are removed from their parents' care have relatives
they can turn to, but the incentive system built around foster care prefers
non-family placements , according to this San Francisco Chronicle editorial.
Now, a bill introduced in Congress m ay change that incentive system and
make it easier for children to remain with family members. (SF Chronicle,
2/25/07)
Parents,
Schools Disagree over Homework Time
Some parents argue that the amount of homework their children
is assigned prevents them from participating in family activities or having
playtime. Several local schools in Mountain View and Menlo Park have agreed
with parents and cut homework, but some studies have shown that homework
increases test scores and helps engage students in learning. (SJ Mercury,
2/25/07, by Noguchi)
Study:
Vaccine Protects Small Percentage of Women
A new study suggests that although more than one-third of U.S.
women have some form of the human papillomavirus (HPV), only 3.4 percent
of women have the most dangerous strains of HPV, which can be treated
by a vaccine. Certain strains of the virus may cause cervical cancer.
The study's conclusion that fewer women are affected by those strains
of the virus may intensify the debate over whether the vaccine should
be mandatory for all preteen girls.
Editorial:
Help Former Foster Youth Find Jobs
This San Francisco Chronicle editorial supports a new bill proposed
by Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, that would allow businesses in certain
areas to claim tax credits for hiring a former foster youth. Proponents
claim that the bill would encourage more businesses to offer jobs to former
foster youth, a group that normally has very high unemployment. (SF Chronicle,
2/26/07)
Opinion:
Parents Should Take Action Against Media Messages to Young Girls
The American Psychological Association has reported that exposure
to media portrayals of sexualized women has a detrimental effect on young
girls' body image and development. This opinion article by a psychology
professor at UC-Santa Cruz suggests that parents can help counteract these
effects by teaching media literacy and encouraging their daughters to
value traits other than physical characteristics. (SF Chronicle, 2/26/07,
by Zurbriggen)
Genetics
May Play Role in Preterm Births
Researchers say that genetics may help explain why African American
women are more likely than Caucasian women to give birth early, even when
environmental factors are taken into account. The study of more than 700,000
births found that, in African American women, a second preterm birth often
happens during the same week of gestation as the first – suggesting a
genetic connection. (NY Times, 2/27/07, by Bakalar)
County
Youth
Identify Their Needs
The San Mateo County Youth Commission met with the county's Board
of Supervisors this week to offer policy recommendations from the commission's
2007 Adolescent Report. The report shows that a majority of youth want
more focus in schools on gang prevention, comprehensive sex education,
and drug abuse prevention and counseling. (SMC Times, 2/28/07, by Gordon)
Study:
Kids More Likely to Gain Weight over Summer
A new study shows that children in kindergarten and first grade
tend to gain more weight over the summer than during the school year.
This has prompted some critics to argue that advocacy should be refocused
from nutrition at school to encouraging parents to provide more activities
for their children at home. (AP, 2/28/07, by Callahan)
Use
of Cold Medicines in Children Under Review
The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will conduct
a thorough review of the safety of several over-the-counter cold medicines
that are marketed for children. The review comes in response to a
petition from pediatricians and public health officials that says many
of the medicines included in these drugs can be harmful and have not been
tested thoroughly in children. (NY Times, 3/1/07, by Harris)
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