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Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1797] KidsCampaigns Newsletter
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The following is the latest edition of the KidsCampaigns Weekly newsletter.
KidsCampaigns (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/) is published by the Benton
Foundation.
Akeel H. Zaheer
National Center for Family Literacy
Email: azaheer@famlit.org
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KidsCampaigns Weekly--November 30, 1998
Heads Up for December
Native Born and Immigrant Americans Value America
Education News
Holiday Gift Ideas
Product Safety for Tots
A Home for the Holidays
State of Black America 1998
Resources for KidsCampaigners
Focus on the States
Places to Go! Things to Do!
Job Openings
HEADS UP FOR DECEMBER
In addition to the holidays traditionally celebrated this month, December
includes World Aids Day on December 1 and the anniversary of the UN
Declaration of Human Rights on December 10.
A number of annual reports about kids are released in December:
The National Education Goals Panel annual report on how well schools are
reaching the Goals 2000 benchmarks will be released on December 10
(http://www.negp.gov/).
Highlights from the 1998 Monitoring the Future survey of teen drug, alcohol,
and tobacco use will be released in December, and posted on the Monitoring
the Future home page at http://www.isr.umich.edu/src/mtf/.
NATIVE-BORN AND IMMIGRANT AMERICANS VALUE AMERICA
The majority of Americans think America is a very special place, especially
because it guarantees personal freedom. Almost half think they could explain
the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights to their kids without "looking
it up." The overwhelming majority of respondents, particularly among
foreign-born Americans, want the schools to teach kids English as soon as
possible. These are some of the findings from Public Agenda's research
(http://www.publicagenda.org/thankful/thankful.html) on what Americans, both
those born in the US and immigrants, value about our country, and what we
want our kids to value and learn.
Public opinion research that highlights public attitudes toward kids and
kids' issues is posted on KidsCampaigns
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Smart/pubopinion.html), to help
KidsCampaigners understand what matters to the public, and how to engage the
public to improve communities and programs for kids.
EDUCATION NEWS
News reports on the November 1998 report on education from the Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) emphasized how other
industrialized countries are catching up and, in some cases, surpassing the
US in educational achievement measures. A look at the highlights of this
report (http://www.oecd.org/news_and_events/publish/pb98-42a.htm)
also shows similarities in education data across the industrialized
world--the importance of higher education for getting a good job, the
importance of parents' education levels on the achievement levels of their
children, and the increases in public funding as educational expectations
expand and numbers of young people stabilize (after a period of falling
youth populations).
An advisory panel authorized by Congress, operating under the auspices of
the National Research Council, has published "Evaluation of the Voluntary
National Tests: PHASE 1," its first report with recommendations for the
process of developing Voluntary National Tests (VNTs) for 4th-grade reading
and 8th-grade math (http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nattest/).
Recommendations include tying the tests more closely to National Assessment
of Educational Progress (NAEP) achievement-level descriptions and providing
more development time to ensure more valid results for students with
disabilities and for students with limited-English proficiency.
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS
Give a gift to a potential KidsCampaigner. Order a print copy of "101 Things
You Can Do for Our Children's Future," by KidsCampaigns' Senior Editor
Richard Louv, by calling toll-free 1-888-884-1200. Or sign the
KidsCampaigns' guestbook, and get it for free
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/survey/guestbook.cgi)! It's a lot easier than
downloading from KidsCampaigns' Get Started section
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Start/101.html)!
Independent Sector, a Coalition for America's Children member dedicated to
helping volunteer organizations across the country, has published a
"coffee-table" book celebrating in commentary and photographs some moments
in the lives of volunteers and the people they serve. "Voices from the
Heart--In Celebration of America's Volunteers" is available from Jossey-Bass
Publishers (800-956-7739) for $29.95 hardback or $19.95 for paperback.
Proceeds will support the work of Independent Sector.
Ordering a book from amazon.com? Why not enter through the Lion and the Lamb
website (http://www.lionlamb.org/books.html) and support the efforts of Lion
and the Lamb to encourage a more peaceful world for children's play?
"Fido! Friend or Foe?" is an activity coloring book to help parents and kids
learn about dog bite safety. Get a free copy for your kids from State Farm
by calling 1-877-254-FIDO. PTAs, church groups, and child care centers might
want to order multiple copies to give out to the families they serve.
Want to make the world a nicer place for a baby at risk? Find out how you
can contribute to ABC Quilts, a project started by a KidsCampaigner
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Connect/Heroes/abcquilts.html) to comfort
babies with HIV (http://www.jbu.edu/ABCQuilts/).
Tap into your family's creativity by encouraging your kids to make home-made
holiday gifts! Once you've read KidsCampaigns' Arts and Youth Development
feature (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/arts/index.html), you'll see why
creative gifts are gifts that truly give to both the maker and the receiver!
"99 Things You Can Do For Your Community," a poster from the National Civic
League, might be a good gift to your favorite CEO, your local library,
school, and "Y", or your own office! Call 1-800-223-6004 to order.
PRODUCT SAFETY FOR TOTS
If you're buying for an infant or toddler this holiday season, you might
want to check out the Health Canada safety advisory regarding soft vinyl
toys, like rattles, teething toys, and soft crib toys
(http://www.nonprofit-info.org/misc/981027em.html/). Because of research
indicating an association between the phthalate DINP, an ingredient in some
soft vinyl toys, and liver damage, kidney damage, and cancer in animal
research, Greenpeace (http://www.greenpeace.org) and the New York Public
Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) have issued warnings about soft vinyl toys
containing DINP that are likely to find their way into babies' and toddlers'
mouths. NYPIRG has included several popular soft vinyl toys, like the
Teletubby Po doll, on their 1998 list of the most dangerous toys
(212-349-6460). Greenpeace also warns againsts vinyl children's products,
like backpacks, raincoats, and fake food, that contain lead and cadmium.
In one of the largest recall efforts ever, the Consumer Product Safety
Commission is warning about the hazards of playpens with rivets
(http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml99/99026.html). Several toddlers
have been strangled when the strings on their pacifiers or clothing got
caught on the rivets. Repair kits and rebates for destroyed playpens are
available.
In an effort to provide safer and more appropriate guidelines for using
medications for children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
announced final regulations to provide health care practitioners with
specific information on the safe and appropriate use of new drugs and
biologics in children. The regulations require that new drugs and biologics
that are therapeutically important for children, or will be commonly used in
children, have labeling information on safe pediatric use. According to the
FDA (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/1998pres/981127.html), the new rule makes
it more likely that children will receive improved treatment because doctors
will have more complete information on how drugs affect children and what
age- appropriate doses are needed.
Keep up with safety news via KidsCampaigns at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/Early/safety.html.
A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
On the anniversary of the enactment of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of
1997, the federal government has announced progress in finding permanent,
adoptive homes for kids in foster care who are unable to return to their
families of origin (http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/1998pres/981124.html). To
encourage more adoptive families, the Department of Health and Human
Services will be posting a nationwide "adoption" website, to help more
adoptive families link up with the more than 100,000 children awaiting
adoption.
KidsCampaigns is examining the issues that arise when teens in foster care
face"aging out" of the welfare/child welfare system for the first time. Kids
transitioning out of foster care need housing, education, jobs and the life
skills necessary to live independently. If you are involved in an effort to
ease the transition for these kids by providing any of the above, please
contact Susan Kellam at srkellam@concentric.net or 301-263-0325. Since the
KidsCampaigns website is logging about 2000 visitors a day, this is a
wonderful opportunity to publicize your successes.
KidsCampaigns has important information about child abuse and neglect, the
impact of parental substance abuse, and the needs and services for kids
awaiting adoption in our foster care feature
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/fostercare/index.html).
STATE OF BLACK AMERICA 1998
"If the poor academic performances of minority and low-income children are
to improve, aggressive action must be taken to change the caliber and
quantity of the learning opportunities they encounter." This is the
statement of Linda Darling-Hammond in her essay on "New Standards, Old
Inequalities: The Current Challenge for African-American Education." This
essay along with essays on jobless ghettoes by William Julius Wilson, a
common purpose by Lisbeth Schorr, wealth disparities, the changing
workplace, and more are included in this report, "The State of Black America
1998," from the National Urban League. One-page essays summarizing the
report's chapters and ordering information for the full report are online at
http://www.nul.org/soba/.
KidsCampaigns has a menu of key reports on the status and well-being of
America's children posted in the Get Smart section
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Smart/rpreports.html). Recent reports and
research on more narrow topics are listed in the KidsCampaigns news room
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/newsroom.html).
RESOURCES FOR KIDSCAMPAIGNERS
KidsCampaigners are ordinary people volunteering in their communities or
advocating with policy makers and elected officials to improve opportunities
for kids and families. Read about KidsCampaigners on KidsCampaigns at
http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Connect/heroes.html. If you have someone to
nominate for a KidsCampaigner profile, fill out the nomination form
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/share.html).
"A Parent's Guide to the E-Rate" is a brochure with pertinent information
for parents and community activists about the national program designed to
make the Internet and other telecommunications services affordable for
schools and libraries. The brochure has contact information for elected
officials responsible for continuing support for the e-rate program and
organizations working to protect and implement the goal of universal access
to the information superhighway for young people. Copies are available from
the Center for Media Education at 202-331-7833.
KidsCampaigns has guidance and information for parents and community leaders
interested
in helping kids make the most of learning opportunities offered by new
information technologies and the internet
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/Learning/tech.html).
If you're looking for federal funding but don't have the staff to keep track
of the Federal Register, try the Grantsmanship Center (http://www.tgci.com),
which posts daily summaries of new grant announcements from the Federal
Register. At the other end of the scale, you can also find contact
information for your local community foundation, which might be interested
in funding your local efforts, at
http://www.tgci.com/resources/foundations/community/index.html.
Eschool News is looking for people who have made a substantial contribution
to education by using, or helping others use, technology and the internet.
Teachers, superintendents, parents, business leaders, Board members,
students, and public policy champions are potential nominees for the "Top
Leaders in Education Technology" winners. Email Rebecca Flowers
(rflowers@eschoolnews.org) with the name, title, organization/school/company
name, and email address, phone and mailing address, where possible, along
with a brief summary of how this nominee has inspired, empowered, and
ignited K-12 education's entry into the digital age.
A new round of applications for an additional $100 million for after-school
programs funded under the 21st Century Community Learning Center program
will open soon. To request an application, or to find out more about the
program, check out http://www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/21stCCLC. KidsCampaigns'
features on arts and youth development
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Hot/arts/index.html) and after-school programs
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/Whoseside/afterschool.html) have loads of
ideas on how out-of-school programs are helping young people and communities
use out-of-school time wisely to foster resilience and skills.
FOCUS ON THE STATES
Don't forget to check out your state page on KidsCampaigns for one-stop
shopping to information about kids in your state and how you can get
involved (http://www.kidscampaigns.org/states/).
SOUTH CAROLINA (803-256-4670) joins MISSOURI (http://www.umsl.edu/~cmc/),
NEW HAMPSHIRE (Paula at 603-225-0900), DELAWARE (Terry at 302-831-4966), and
IOWA (515-280-9027), in releasing its state Kids Count Databook this
NOVEMBER.
Kids Count Databooks for KENTUCKY (vsalley@kyyouth.org or 502-895-8167),
HAWAII (808-956-4136), MISSISSIPPI (612-355-4911), and NEVADA
(nvkidscnt@aol.com or 702-368-1533) are due to be released in DECEMBER.
Kids Count State Databooks give you a profile of how well kids are faring in
your state, with county by county breakdowns on such benchmarks as high
school dropout rates and low birthweight statistics and child poverty rates.
On December 1, the PENNSYLVANIA KIDS COUNT Partnership will release "The
Economics of Pennsylvania Families: How Does it Add Up for Our Children?"
This report is the second in a series of state Kids Count reports about
PENNSYLVANIA's families. Email pappc@epix.net for more information.
KidsCampaigns is working on the finishing touches for the KidsCampaigns
state pages for NORTH DAKOTA, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, and WEST
VIRGINIA. If you know of a campaign for kids in any of these states--a
statewide, ongoing initiative that ordinary people can get involved with to
improve education, immunizations, child care quality, after school programs,
etc.--let us know immediately! Email jan@benton.org with a description,
along with a web address or contact information for people interested in
finding out more.
PLACES TO GO! THINGS TO DO!
The National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) will be hosting a nationwide
teleconference on December 10 to provide a forum for discussing the results
of its annual report to be released that day. You can arrange to host a
local site, even with a 10-person room, as long as you have a satellite
dish, TV, and telephone! Invite your PTA, business leaders, librarians,
child care administrators to gather to participate! Contact Justin Perras
(202-667-0901 or justinp@twbg.com) for friendly technical assistance. Or if
you just want to be a participant in the teleconference, you can find the
site nearest you via the NEGP website (http://www.negp.gov).
Join an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency teleconference on kids in
the juvenile justice system on DECEMBER 11, 1998. Issues covered by this
live telecast include trends in prosecution of juveniles as adult criminal
offenders, and the impact of these trends on the justice system,
incarcerated youth, and the future. For information about a site near you,
contact Ms. Becky Ritchie at 606-622-6671 or beckytrc@iclub.org. Or
participate from your own computer, from 3 to 4:30 pm, via
http://www.juvenilenet.org.
Plan ahead for a "Safe Night" in your community--a night of no weapons, no
drugs or alcohol, no arguments. Find out more about this PBS special to air
June 5 and community plans to give kids something fun and safe to do by
calling 800-253-1158, or online at http://www.pbs.org/safenight.
JOB OPENINGS
Earth Force, the environmental youth service organization, has openings in
South Carolina and Florida for local community programs. Email
blee@earthforce.org for details.
The advocacy organization, "Fight Crime: Invest in Kids" has several job
openings—for a Media and Communications Director, Development Director,
Field Director, and a computer support coordinator. For full descriptions
and salary ranges, call 202-638-0690 for a fax, or check out the job
descriptions and application form at http://www.fightcrime.org.
Keep in touch, everyone!
Jan Richter, KidsCampaigns Outreach Specialist
jan@benton.org
**************************
About KidsCampaigns
**************************
The KidsCampaigns Weekly is the electronic newsletter of KidsCampaigns
(http://www.kidscampaigns.org/), an action and information center for
citizens, businesses, and parents who want to make their communities work
for kids. The Benton Foundation works to realize the social benefits made
possible by the public interest use of communications.
*********************
How to Subscribe
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