News of the Week
Dec 11 2009Children with Deployed Parents are At-Risk for Negative Outcomes
A new study from the RAND Corporation surveyed youth in military families who have a parent deployed overseas, finding that the longer the parent’s deployment, the greater the risk for negative social and emotional outcomes. The New York Times reported on the study. As military personnel face multiple, longer deployments, more and more of their children demonstrate symptoms of anxiety and behavioral difficulties. While the children surveyed for this study were between the ages of 11 and 17, one expects that the findings would be similarly negative for younger children with deployed parents. This raises questions about the how the effects of parental deployment would manifest themselves among young children and the protective factors that military families with children of different ages need reinforced.
Struggles of Second-Generation Latino Families
Two Washington Post articles this week examined the situation of many second generation Latino families from different angles. In the United States, “the offspring of Latino immigrants now account for one of every 10 children,” and disparities in educational achievement other measures of well-being. The first story discusses these challenges in the of a young father who is an immigrant and a dropout. The second examines the struggles of teen parents in the Latino immigrant community, which has an alarmingly high rate of teen pregnancy.
Teen parenthood often adds an extra hurdle for the offspring of Hispanic immigrants. Many are already struggling to get enough education to overcome their mostly Mexican and Central American parents’ high level of poverty, limited schooling and lack of legal status.
Budget Cuts Threaten Family-Strengthening Services around the Country
Dwindling state and local funds continued to threaten early care and education, child abuse prevention, and family support programs this week:
- Indiana: Cuts raise concerns for child programs (South Bend Tribune)
- North Carolina: N.C.’s early education program feels budget pinch (WRAL)
- Ohio: Financially-strapped schools may delay all-day kindergarten (NBC4 Columbus)
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