The Preteen Post, Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health




	Save the Date for the 2008 Preteen Summit The Preteen Alliance will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year with the 2008 Preteen Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10. Several speakers are slated to discuss the importance of the preteen years, and new research about preteens will be released. This year's summit will be the fourth in a series of large events held by the Alliance, the most recent being the previous Preteen Summit in January 2006. Keep watching preteenalliance.org for more information about the Dec. 10 Summit.

	Study: Preteen Behavior May Predict Outcome of High School Exit Exam As early as fourth grade, students who will be at risk of failing the high school exit exam can be identified based on grades, classroom behavior, and test scores, according to a new study by the Public Policy Institute of California. The findings prompted the report authors to recommend that some of the funding used to tutor struggling high school students be redirected to students in earlier grades. http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-exitexam11-2008jun11,0,2483597.story Full Report: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/rb/RB_608AZRB.pdf Is the Preteen Crime Rate Growing? This study, released by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago, examines trends in crime rates among children. Researchers found that the age of juvenile offenders generally did not change much from 1980 to 2006. However, crime rates among children under age 13 did outpace those of older youth in certain categories, such as sexual offenses, assaults, and weapons possession. One reason for those increases may be that juvenile justice systems may be dealing with problems that previously have been the responsibility of child welfare agencies, researchers said. http://www.chapinhall.org/article_abstract.aspx?ar=1469 'Stop Bullying' Toolkit The U.S. Department of Health recently released the Stop Bullying Now! Activities Guide, a handbook of ideas for putting the department's Stop Bullying Now! Campaign to work in schools or communities. Also available are a DVD video toolkit featuring webisodes, public service announcements, and video workshops. For more information, visit http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp.

	Radio Show: Preteens and the Media (en Español) The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health and Kaiser Permanente are co-sponsors of this Nuestros Niños radio show about preteens and all types of media influences, including cell phones, video games and movies. Sunday, June 22, on KLOK 1170 AM. http://www.kidscal.org/event/204202 Also see: Helping Preteens Develop a Healthy Body Image Childhood Matters Sunday, June 29, on 98.1 KISS FM http://www.kidscal.org/event/204549 Healthy Eating, Active Living This class for preteens and their families sponsored by Kaiser Permanente Redwood City covers basic nutrition and exercise strategies for developing healthy habits. Monday, June 23, in Redwood City. http://www.kidscal.org/event/203266 Support Group for Preteen Girls Family Service Agency sponsors this group for preteen girls who have experienced trauma from divorce, family problems, domestic violence, or any kind of abuse. Tuesday, July 1, in San Mateo. http://www.kidscal.org/event/204570 Free Summer Health Care for Uninsured Preteens and Teens Lucile Packard Children's Hospital's Teen Van will offer two drop-in clinics for children over age 12 to provide services such as acute illness and injury care, family planning, immunizations, medications, and much more. July 10 and 24, in San Jose. http://www.kidscal.org/event/204565 Find more preteen events on kidscal.org: http://www.kidscal.org Add your events to kidscal.org: http://www.lpfch.org/cgi-bin/calendar/admin.cgi If you have information about preteen events or activities for the next newsletter, please send it to preteens@lpfch.org.

	The Preteen Alliance promotes the emotional and behavioral health of preteens by using information to raise public awareness and inform regional action. The Alliance has more than 1,100 members, and is guided by a steering committee. For more information, see http://www.preteenalliance.org/about.html. Also on preteenalliance.org: News and Research About Preteens: Find recent news and research commissioned by the foundation regarding preteens, as well as links to other relevant research. Resources and Services: Preteenalliance.org's resources page links to websites and services on topics affecting preteens. Data on Preteens: Find preteen-specific facts on bullying, gang involvement, stress, weight, and other topics – all from kidsdata.org’s database of local children’s facts. Also available: A summary of data about preteens. If you have questions about The Alliance or want to include information in the next edition of The Preteen Post, reply to this e-mail or call us at (650) 724-5778. Sign up for this newsletter and other e-mail newsletters about children's health. View past issues of this newsletter. Forward this e-mail to a friend or colleague!