Human Services
Community Building
Digest

**Children, Youth & Families

Low Maternal Education Linked to Intellectual Disabilities in Offspring

By applying a public health approach, researchers at three universities have discovered a key indicator for increased risk of mental retardation in the general population.   Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Miami, and the University of Virginia, found that low maternal education resulted in the highest risk of intellectual disability to offspring compared with other factors such as maternal illness, delivery complications, gestational age at birth, and even very low birth weight. Women with an education below the high school level were 8.9 times more likely to have a child with mild intellectual disability compared with women who had more than 12 years of education.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/epidemiologic-s.php

Depression Linked to Subsequent Pregnancy in Black Teens

African American adolescent mothers who have symptoms of depression may be more likely to have a subsequent pregnancy within two years of giving birth, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.  Studies indicate that teen mothers are twice as likely to experience depression as adult mothers with almost twice as many African American teen mothers affected compared with white teen mothers, according to background information in the article.  Depression and subsequent pregnancy are associated with parenting stress and negative parenting behaviors such as child abuse and neglect.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/depression-link.php

Authorities Fail to Recognize Emotionally Scarred Brothers and Sisters of Child Abuse Victims

In many cases, when abusive parents with multiple children target just one child for emotional or physical cruelty, authorities often remove the abused child from the home and return the non-abused siblings. But brothers and sisters of abused children can suffer lifelong emotional scars from helping parents conceal the abuse or, in extreme cases, from being forced to participate in torturing their siblings, according to a study published in the current issue of the Journal of Emotional Abuse. While psychologists have repeatedly studied the lifelong emotional carnage of untreated abuse victims, scant attention has been paid to their siblings.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/authorities-fai.php

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Psychopaths: What Were they Like as Children?

How did psychopaths develop? Were there signs of the disorder when they were children? If so, could those factors have been mitigated, making it possible for them to grow up to live normal, healthy lives? Beginning with the question of whether psychopathy is a stable disorder throughout life, the researchers attempted to trace its development back to its roots. In studying it over time, they found that child/adolescent psychopathy looks quite similar to the adult version but there did seem to be some areas of instability in the young version that could provide hope to those hoping to mitigate it before it's too late.

Secondhand Smoke a Risk for Children Worldwide

Parents worldwide are doing little to protect their children from exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been extensively shown to increase the risk for numerous illnesses and premature death. Measurements of nicotine levels from household air and children's hair samples also indicated high exposure to secondhand smoke among those living with a smoker. A related study, also published in the American Journal of Public Health, concluded that paternal smoking diverts money from basic necessities to cigarettes, putting children at greater risk for chronic malnutrition.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/secondhand-smok-1.php

Students With Cell Phones May Take More Risks, Study Finds

Carrying a cell phone may cause some college students -- especially women -- to take risks with their safety, a new study suggests. A survey of 305 students at one campus found that 40 percent of cell phone users said they walked somewhere after dark that they normally wouldn't go. A separate survey found that about three-quarters of students said that carrying a cell phone while walking alone at night made them feel somewhat or a lot safer. "Students seem to feel less vulnerable when they carry a cell phone, although there's not evidence that they really are," according to the co-author of the study a professor of city and regional planning at Ohio State University.

**Civic Engagement

Is There a Way to Ease Racial Tension between Adolescents?

The participatory action research project titled, "Enabling Adolescents in Culturally Diverse Environments to Peacefully Resolve Ethnic Group Conflicts," was conducted by special issue guest editors, Charles Garvin of the University of Michigan and David Bargal of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Preliminary studies were held in two separate locations in the US, as well as in South Africa and Israel. The research provided hope for future positive intergroup relations.  "During this stage, young people are relatively open to educational influences and to a reformulation of their personal attitudes and perceptions of the world," write the guest editors in the introduction. "Stereotypes about intergroup relations, including prejudices and the notion of social justice, are likely to be changing, and an ability to participate in dialogues as a means of managing conflict may be acquired."

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/is-there-a-way.php

Vanderbilt Class Explores Genetic Link to Voters' Behavior

A quirky new Vanderbilt University course blends politics and biological science to explore the effect of genetic make-up on political choices. "A series of papers and books suggests there is a potential connection, and we are excited to look at this emerging field of study with our students," said one of the instructors who teaches and writes about campaigns, elections, public opinion and the presidency. "Some research suggests that your partisanship - whether you tend to support the Republican or Democratic Party - is a product of how you were raised. However, your ideological bent toward conservatism or liberalism could have a genetic component."

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/vanderbilt-clas-1.php

**Community Development

HUD Budget Contains Major Funding Shortfalls

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, last year, Congress rejected deep cuts the Administration proposed in affordable housing and community development programs and funded the Department of Housing and Urban Development at $2.1 billion above the Administration's budget request for 2008. For 2009, Congress will have to provide a substantially larger increase --- totaling $6.5 billion above the Administration's request --- to avoid cuts in core programs that help millions of low-income families secure decent housing at affordable rents.

Tens of Thousands of Californians Could Benefit from Higher Government-Insured Mortgage Limits

Tens of thousands of California families could benefit from affordable government-insured mortgages under a plan to be announced shortly that will temporarily increase home loan limits, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced.  The economic growth package, which became law last month with wide bipartisan support, could allow more than 30,000 California families to be eligible over the next several months for safe, affordable mortgages insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration (FHA).  FHASecure, the refinancing arm of FHA has helped more than 100,000 homeowners refinance their mortgage since it was announced last fall. FHASecure includes homeowners who are current on their loan or past due because their teaser rates reset; some borrowers who owe more on their homes than they are worth; and those in the process of foreclosure.

Legal Community Against Violence Helps Launch State Legislators Against Illegal Guns Coalition

State legislators from around the country gathered today in Jacksonville at a conference hosted by Jacksonville Mayor Peyton to announce the formation of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns.  "With major gaps in federal laws and insufficient enforcement, states are left to fill in the gaps with laws that target the flow of illegal guns. State Legislators Against Illegal Guns promises to be a forum for elected officials to share ideas about what laws are effective and how to get those laws passed," said the Executive Director of Legal Community Against Violence.

**Economic Security

The Congressional Budget Resolution: Recommendations for a Blueprint in Support of Low-Income Individuals and Families

According to the Center for Law and Social Policy, the budget that the president submitted to Congress on February 4 would make substantial cuts---estimated at $15 billion after adjusting for inflation---in domestic discretionary spending other than homeland security. The president proposes to cut or eliminate 151 programs, many of which have been effective at supporting low-income workers and their families, just as the country is heading into an uncertain economic future. The Congressional budget resolution should inflict no harm to low-income workers, restore prior cuts, and invest in the future by supporting the workforce and ensuring safe and healthy children. The president's proposed cuts come at a time of a weakening national economy.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/the-congression.php

**Education

Teacher Pay Disadvantage Soars

According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2006, public school teachers earned 15.1% lower weekly earnings than other employees with comparable education credentials and experience earned. In 1996, this wage disadvantage was only 4.3%. Although the wage disadvantage for both male and female teachers has grown substantially over the last 10 years, in 2006 the gap was far larger among males (25.5%) than females (10.5%). This erosion of teacher pay relative to those of other opportunities affects the trends in teacher quality that are so critical to improving education outcomes. If the goal is to improve the quality of the typical teacher, then raising teacher compensation is a critical component in any strategy to recruit and retain a higher-quality teacher workforce.

Does Class Size Really Matter?

No more vexing problem in education exists today than the achievement gap in this country.

The difference between the extremes has rightfully attracted national attention, and one of the most popular policy proposals is to reduce class size---not surprising, since benchmarks are easily measured. In his provocative article for the March 2008 issue of Elementary School Journal, "Do Small Classes Reduce the Achievement Gap between Low and High Achievers" Evidence from Project STAR", a Northwestern University researcher explores the hard data and finds that some of our basic assumptions about class size may be incorrect.

**Health

In Early Childhood, Continuous Care by 1 Doctor Improves Delivery of Health Screenings

Children examined by the same doctor during their first six months of life are more likely to receive appropriate preventive health screenings -- for lead poisoning, anemia and tuberculosis -- by age two.Pediatric researchers said being cared for repeatedly by the same physician, often referred to as continuity of care, was a very important factor in the children they studied.Researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and The University of Pennsylvania reported on a study of 1,564 infants with Medicare insurance in the March issue of the journal Pediatrics. Children most at risk, such as those from urban, low-income families, often don't receive proper screening for lead toxicity, anemia and tuberculosis.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/in-early-childh.php

Health Policy Reform: Beyond the 2008 Elections

The number of Americans without health insurance is climbing steadily: 47 million people were uninsured in 2006, an increase of 8.6 million--more than 18 percent--since 2000. Recognizing the need for national leadership to revamp, revitalize, and retool the U.S. health care system, The Commonwealth Fund in 2005 established the Commission on a High Performance Health System, with the charge of promoting a high-performing health system. The Commission defines a high performance health system as one that helps everyone, to the extent possible, lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The Commission's work indicates that expanding access to health insurance coverage is the single most important step to achieving a better system. This report draws on the Commission's work during the past three years, as well as other research, to provide journalists with an evidence-based context for understanding the fundamental problems plaguing our current health system, as well as policy options under consideration for addressing these problems.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/health-policy-r.php

**Nutrition and Healthy Living

Teens Who Eat Breakfast Daily Eat Healthier Diets than Those Who Skip Breakfast

University of Minnesota School of Public Health Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers have found further evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. Researchers examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents, and the results indicate that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence. Five years later, the daily breakfast eaters also tended to gain less weight and have lower body mass index levels -- an indicator of obesity risk -- compared with those who had skipped breakfast as adolescents.

Cutting Screen Time May Help Reduce Overweight Children's BMI

Using a monitoring device to reduce television viewing and computer use time by 50 percent over a two-year period appears to reduce calorie intake, sedentary behavior and body mass index in overweight children age 4 to 7, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. By the end of the study, children with no time limits reduced their TV and computer use by an average of 5.2 hours per week, compared with an average reduction of 17.5 hours per week among children whose time was restricted.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/cutting-screen.php

**Seniors

Excessive Drinking Among the Elderly

One out of ten elderly adults on Medicare reports drinking more alcohol than is recommended, according to a new study from Brandeis University.

"Even though alcohol problems are more prevalent in younger people, a substantial proportion of older adults are consuming alcohol in amounts that exceed recommended guidelines." The study sheds light on a complex problem that has received scant attention and is often missed by health care and other providers.

Alcohol can exacerbate some medical problems, reduce a person's ability to function, increase the risk of falls, and negatively interact with medication.

**Substance Abuse

Drug Use Trends Affect Risk of Marijuana in Deviance Prone Boys, But Not Girls

When national drug use trends among adolescents go up or down, the risk of marijuana use among deviance-prone male youth also goes up or down. The risk among deviance prone girls, however, does not change with shifts in the popularity of drug use. The study, based on data collected from 44,751 students from the 12th grade from 1979 to 2004, also showed that deviance proneness is not only related to regular, more problematic use of marijuana, but is also related to occasional use of the drug. Parents and teachers need to be aware that historically, even those teens that use marijuana occasionally have been more likely to show antisocial or risky behavior.  Also it appears that adolescents' social rejection of marijuana use has been a powerful drug-use deterrent.

http://webclipper.handsnet.org/2008/03/drug-use-trends.php

Non-Medical Use of Prescription Medications Associated with Drug Abuse Among College Students

College students who take frequently abused medications without a prescription appear to have a higher risk for drug abuse than those who use such therapies for medical reasons, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.  "These increases are likely the result of many factors, including improved awareness regarding the signs and symptoms of several disorders, increased duration of treatment, availability of new medications and increased marketing. The increases in prescription rates have raised public health concerns because of the abuse potential of these medications and high prevalence rates of non-medical use, abuse and dependence, especially among young adults 18 to 24 years of age."