HandsNet WebClipper Digest
The WebClipper Digest is HandsNet's weekly overview of crosscutting human services news from throughout the World Wide Web. If you have questions or if your organization has a PRESS RELEASE or NEW REPORT that you would like included in the Digest, please contact us at editor@handsnet.org.
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July 12, 2002
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**Alerts
U.S. AIDS Leaders Call for Comprehensive Strategy to Address HIV in America
AIDS Action, the United States' largest non-governmental HIV/AIDS advocacy organization, called upon President George W. Bush, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, members of Congress, state and municipal governments and all Americans to recommit themselves to the fight against HIV/AIDS in America. With the XIV International AIDS Conference as their backdrop, U.S. AIDS leaders unveiled a National Call to Action outlining action steps and policy recommendations that all Americans must embrace to ensure the United States' efforts to fight HIV/AIDS at home parallels its global investment and attention.
http://64.95.130.47/webx?13@@.1dce2121
**Children, Youth & Families
CDF Action Council Releases Congressional Scorecard
The Children’s Defense Fund Action Council released its 2001 Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard, which documents how U.S. Senators and Representatives voted on issues affecting the lives of America's children. Members of Congress were scored on 10 key votes cast in 2001 that had a significant impact on children's well being. Co-sponsorship of the comprehensive Act to Leave No Child Behind (S.940/H.R.1990), introduced in May 2001 was also considered.
http://www.cdfactioncouncil.org/2001scorecard.htm
Teen Anxiety, Chances of Harmful Smoking and Eating Behavior Higher Than Expected;
A study from University of California, Irvine published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry that the rates of anxiety among teenagers appear unexpectedly high, and their anxiety makes them more prone to overeat and smoke. The study, one of the first to involve teenagers' use of hand-held computer diaries, found that high rates of anxiety led to more frequent episodes of anger, sadness and fatigue and altered teenage behavior significantly. The findings, part of a long-term study, may also provide insight into teenage perceptions and moods that may have changed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
http://64.95.130.47/webx?13@@.1dce2105
Teens Relate Smoking, Drug Use to Popularity
A recent study shows that young people associate cigarette smoking and alcohol and other drug use with popularity. "Young people ages 14 to 22 are more likely to associate cigarette smoking with the popular kids than with the unpopular ones," said Dr. Dan Romer, who directed the research at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center. "In their minds, if they're thinking about whether they should smoke or not, they're going to think 'If the popular kids do it, why shouldn't I?"'
http://www.jointogether.org/sa/news/summaries/reader/0%2C1854%2C552382%2C00.html
Spiritual and Religious Programs For Troubled Youth
The New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services (NEN) has findings from a two-year research project entitled "Practice Unbound: A Study of Secular Spiritual and Religious Practices in Work with Adolescents." The report is based on interviews conducted with approximately 200 randomly selected youth-serving organizations from across the nation and Guam. Chapters illustrate the kinds of spiritual and religious programs (including yoga, martial arts, unique rites-of-passage rituals, and prayer groups) that many agencies are beginning to adopt; how the youth have responded; what obstacles they’ve encountered; and what they hope to do in the future.
http://64.95.130.47/webx?57@@.1dce2058
***Staying Alive Youth Campaign on MTV
Former US President Bill Clinton will participate in an MTV special, "Staying Alive: A Global Forum on HIV/AIDS," taking place at the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain. MTV will tape the forum for broadcast on channels around the world starting July 12, marking the launch of a youth focused global campaign on HIV/AIDS.
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=429
Trial of a Community-Based Support Program for Families of Children with Chronic Illness
A study from Mathematica Policy Research tested a family support intervention for children with chronic illnesses, who have a heightened risk for mental health problems, and their mothers. The intervention, which was provided by "experienced mothers" and child life specialists and included telephone contacts, face-to-face visits, and special family events, had modest positive effects in promoting children's adjustment. Notes that including child life specialists may be especially useful for children with chronic illness who have low physical self-esteem, although the results suggest that the intervention could be effective for children with any chronic illness and implemented in a variety of pediatric settings.
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/issues/v156n6/rfull/poa10379.html
Marriage in Oklahoma: 2001 Baseline Statewide Survey on Marriage and Divorce.
A new analysis from Mathematica Policy Research reports on the first state survey to collect comprehensive data on attitudes, behaviors, and opinions related to marriage, divorce, and marital quality. The study reveals that Oklahomans value marriage and are interested in services to support stronger and healthier marriages. Although low-income families' views on marriage are less positive than those of other state residents overall, nearly three in four are receptive to relationship skills education and 88% support a statewide initiative to promote marriage and reduce divorce.
PDF: http://www.okmarriage.org/pdf/survey_report.pdf
**Community Development
CDC’s and Raising Children
Shelterforce Online reports how community development corporations are addressing the special challenges of raising children in low-income communities. The National Center for Children in Poverty decided to explore the ways that CDC’s are promoting the well being of low-income families with young children, the challenges they face, and how their role in this important area might be strengthened. http://www.nhi.org/online/issues/123/ittakesaCDC.html
The Food Stamp Shelter Deduction: Helping Households with High Housing Burdens Meet Their Food Needs
A new analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy priorities examines the housing burdens faced by low-income households and discusses how the food stamp program's shelter deduction provides more food stamps to low-income families that are heavily burdened by high shelter costs.
PDF: http://www.cbpp.org/7-1-02fs.pdf
New Online Community Mapping Tool Supports Neighborhood Revitalization
Community mapping is one of many tools in the PolicyLink Equitable Development Toolkit. The toolkit contains a wide variety of tools, addressing the needs of impoverished communities as well as those experiencing gentrification and displacement of community members. It presents policy options to build and sustain healthy and inclusive neighborhoods. The tools are applicable to affordable housing, land use, project financing, and income and asset building. Each tool is crafted to be accessible and useful both to new organizations and to groups with advanced knowledge and expertise.
http://www.policylink.org/EquitableDevelopment/
Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing
The Enterprise Foundation and Metropolitan Life Foundation The MetLife Foundation has partnered with The Enterprise Foundation for the seventh year to offer the 2002 MetLife Foundation Awards for Excellence in Affordable Housing. The awards program recognizes community-based or regional nonprofit organizations and Tribes/Tribally Designated Housing Entities that excel in property and asset management or provide housing to people with special needs. The application deadline is August 15, 2002.
http://www.enterprisefoundation.org/join/networkmembership/metlife.asp
**Disabilities
National Council on Disability Releases Recommendations on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Reauthorization
The National Council on Disability (NCD) released a report on the congressional reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with recommendations on monitoring and enforcement, funding, discipline, and overrepresentation. NCD's report, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Reauthorization: Where Do We Really Stand?, supports the organization’s primary concern about the reauthorization of IDEA is and always will be the nearly six million children and youth with disabilities and their families who should be the beneficiaries of this civil rights law."
http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/synthesis_07-05-02.html
**Education
Call For National Yardstick To Measure College Enrollment and Retention
Ashoka Fellow J.B. Schramm, who is
helping students from economically depressed areas to enter college, recently
called for a national yardstick by which to measure how well colleges enroll
and retain poor youngsters. "We are seeing increasing national interest in
this idea, which would make an enormous difference in college access and equity.".
http://www.ashoka.org/involved/newsletter070102d.cfm
**Health
HHS Issues Report on Medical Innovation and Seniors
The Department of Health and Human Services released a new report highlighting the importance of medical innovation and new technology, especially new drugs, in helping seniors live longer and healthier lives. The report, "Securing the Benefits of Medical Innovation for Seniors," highlights advances in disease treatment and prevention as key factors improving health for older Americans. "In providing seniors access to prescription drug coverage in Medicare, we must let patients, not the government, choose the drug coverage that is best for them," HHS Secretary Thompson said. "We must not erect barriers that block the development and the availability of the most impressive array of medical breakthroughs in history -- the new drugs that improve and save the lives of America's seniors."
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/medicalinnovation/.
BCBSA Report Finds Health Agendas Derailed by Fiscal Crises
Worsening fiscal crises and rising healthcare costs strongly influenced state legislative agendas around the country over the past six months, according to a new analysis by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). The "State of the States: Mid-2002 Update." "Severe budget woes forced most legislators to retreat from their goal of extending coverage to uninsured residents and financial pressures also made dealing with double-digit increases in prescription drug costs even more critical," says the report. "The fiscal crises and other concerns also resulted in less emphasis on health plan regulation for the first time in recent years."
http://www.bcbshealthissues.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=29776
HHS Releases Grants To Expand Community Health Centers
The Department of Health and Human Services announced 131 grants totaling $55.8 million designed to expand services at community health centers, which provide care for many of the country's medically underserved residents. A portion of the grants, part of President Bush's Expanded Medical Capacity Initiative, will be used by community health centers to provide primary health and preventive services to an additional 424,000 people. Other funds will be used to support services and outreach for the homeless, residents of public housing and migrant workers and their dependents.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020710a.html
HHS Awards $4.5 Million for Senior Medicare Patrol Projects
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the award of $4.5 million to programs that train retired professionals to help older Americans become better health care consumers, help identify and prevent billing errors and potential fraud. The 51 Senior Medicare Patrol Project grants include 28 new projects and 23 continuations that are distributed in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. To help beneficiaries and others report suspected fraud, the HHS Office of the Inspector General maintains a toll-free hotline, 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477). For more information about the Administration on Aging's Senior Medicare Patrol grants, see:
**Hunger
Food Stamps Participation Dips in April but is Two Million Persons Higher than Previous Year
An analysis by the Food Research and Action Center finds that participation in the Food Stamp Program in April 2002 dipped by 50,189 persons from the previous month, to 19,172,853 persons. The April 2002 level of Food Stamp Program participation represented a rise of more than two million persons over the April 2001 level, and of 2.4 million compared to July, 2000, but was still almost four million persons lower than the level five years earlier, in April 1997. Increases in participation in 2001 and 2002 likely have been driven by improved access to the program in a growing number of states, and by the weakened economy, causing more households to apply.
http://www.frac.org/html/news/fsp/02april.html
Consequences of Hunger and Food Insecurity
The Center on Hunger and Poverty released a new report, The Consequences of Hunger and Food Insecurity for Children, which highlights an array of recent research findings that depict the adverse consequences of hunger and food insecurity for children. This new document groups a number of recent research findings into three broad areas: health consequences, psychosocial and behavioral impacts, and learning and academic outcomes. A section on the relationship between food insecurity and obesity is also included, since this is an issue receiving growing attention. Copies are available both in print and online. To order printed copies, please contact the Center on Hunger and Poverty by phone (781-736-8885), fax (781-736-3925), or email (hunger@brandeis.edu). The full report is available at:
PDF: http://www.centeronhunger.org/pdf/ConsequencesofHunger.pdf
Reaching Those in Need: State Food Stamp Participation Rates in 1999
A report from Mathematica Policy Research finds that state food stamp participation rates varied widely in 1999, with some rates under 50% and some over 70%, while the national rate was 57%. The report also finds that participation rates declined in every region of the country and in most states between 1994 and 1999, while the national rate fell by 17 percentage points.
PDF: www.mathematica-mpr.com/PDFs/redirect.asp?strSite=fns99rates.pdf
Food Stamps in Rural America
Another report from Mathematica, “Rural Dimensions of Welfare Reform,” examines how well the Food Stamp Program serves non-metropolitan households. The report argues that the program is at least as successful in serving low-income rural households as urban households, that participation rates are higher in rural areas, and that recent declines in participation rates have occurred primarily in metropolitan areas. http://www.upjohninst.org/publications/titles/rdwr.html
**Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management
The Citizen Sector: Becoming as Entrepreneurial and Competitive as Business
Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka posits that once in a rare while, the fundamental architecture of a significant part of society shifts. Over the last two and one-half decades, the organization of the social half of society, led by its social entrepreneurs, has done so. It has passed irrevocably through the tipping point from bureaucratic and monopolistic to entrepreneurial and competitive -- the same transition that transformed the business half of society over the prior three centuries.
http://www.ashoka.org/involved/drayton.cfm
Self Reliance Awards Available
The 2002 Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Awards (HCSRA) application is now available for download. Annually, the HCSRA's honor innovative grassroots organizations that have shown excellence in the promotion of self-reliance among the clients they serve. In addition to receiving a $5,000 cash award the organizations selected as HCSRA recipients are honored at a Forum and Ceremony in New York City. This is a competitive awards program with approximately 230-300 organization applying annually and between six to ten organizations being selected as winners. The application deadline is August 1, 2002.
http://www.worldhungeryear.org/programs/hcsra_2002.asp
**Technology
New Digital Divide Report; States Risks Losing Millions in Federal Funds If Congress Approves Bush Administration's Call to Eliminate Key Programs
A new report, “Bringing A Nation Online: The Importance of Federal Leadership,” challenges the Bush administration's belief that the digital divide has been bridged. The report documents the necessity of continued federal leadership to expand digital opportunities for people in underserved communities. It was published by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund and the Benton Foundation.
http://www.civilrights.org/publications/bringinganationonline/index.html
Results of National Nonprofit Technology Survey
Gifts In Kind International announced the results of its fifth annual National Nonprofit Technology Survey to identify the hurdles nonprofit organizations face in overcoming the "digital divide" within the nonprofit sector. The key finding of the survey is that while there has been significant improvement in nine of the fourteen criteria that Gifts In Kind International measures, most nonprofits do not have a long-term technology plan.
http://www.pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=427
e-VETS Now On Line; Internet Portal Links to Veterans'
Services Web Sites
Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) has
introduced the e-VETS Resource Advisor Website. Active duty military
personnel, veterans, reservists, National Guard members, and their families can
now access hundreds of Web sites containing information about programs and
services available to them.Department of Labor.
http://www.dol.gov/elaws/evets.htm.
**Welfare Reform
TANF Reauthorization 101
The Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR), a Washington, DC, research organization has published a Fact Sheet based on the briefing paper, “Feminist Perspectives on TANF: An Introduction to Key Issues for the Future of Welfare Reform,” which provides an overview of the key issues being discussed around the reauthorization of TANF.
http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/tanf101.html
The Senate Finance Committee’s “Tri-Partisan” TANF Reauthorization Bill,
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has prepared an analysis of the TANF reauthorization bill passed by the Senate Finance Committee on June 26, 2002.
http://www.cbpp.org/7-3-02tanf.htm
Poverty in America: Beyond Welfare Reform
The Population Reference Bureau has released Poverty in America: Beyond Welfare Reform The report provides an overview of poverty in the United States and examines the relationship between poverty and welfare while exploring the demographics of poor Americans, poverty dynamics and the "income gap" in the nation.
PDF: http://www.prb.org/pdf/PovertyInAmerica.pdf
Half of Single Mothers Getting Welfare Have Disabled Child
A recent analysis by the Institute for Women's Policy Research examining disabilities among children and mothers in low-income families indicates that low-income families are almost 50 percent more likely to have a disabled child than higher-income families. Moreover, families receiving welfare benefits are almost twice as likely as high-income families to have a child with a disability or a severe disability. "In the current welfare environment of strict work requirements, limited cash assistance, and reduced benefits for disabled children, low-income single mothers with disabled children are especially likely to face difficult conditions," states IWPR's president.
PDF: http://www.iwpr.org/pdf/d449.pdf
HHS Awards $200 Million In Bonus Payments to States
The Department of Health and Human Services announced $200 million in bonus payments to states which performed best in helping welfare recipients move toward employment in fiscal year 2000. HHS also announced more than 931,000 welfare recipients found new jobs during the fiscal year 2000 performance year. The $200 million in bonuses this year will go to 26 states and the District of Columbia. The annual bonus was enacted as part of the 1996 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2002pres/20020702.html
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The WebClipper Digest is compiled by:
Michael Saunders
HandsNet Executive Officer