Youth Policy

Lessons to learn from University research on disadvantaged children

By Cynthia Boyd, MinnPost

Children who grow up to drop out of school likely have parents who are “emotionally unavailable’’ and are poor at setting limits and providing structure in that child’s life. (Warren B./Creative Commons)

Megan Gunnar is a familiar face at the state Capitol. Already this session she’s testified three times before legislators to share research on early child development conducted by her and her colleagues at the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota.

MORE »

Welfare rights group pleads for Minnesota cash assistance increases

By Susan Hegarty, Session Weekly/Session Daily

Since 1986, cash payments to the poorest of the state’s poor have not increased. Welfare advocates say they have a plan that would double payments without costing more money. However, it would mean shifting funds from other welfare programs in order to raise cash payments.

MORE »

Recovery school programs seek aid increase

By Sarah Lemagie, Session Weekly/Session Daily

School programs for students recovering from alcohol or drug abuse make up a small but important slice of alternative public education in Minnesota, but their future is in doubt, advocates told the House Education Finance Committee on Wednesday. In the past four years, six recovery schools have closed, leaving just seven operating this year, said Paul McGlynn, who directs Sobriety High Charter School. The enrollment capacity of those schools is 278 — far fewer than the number of young Minnesotans who are struggling with drug addiction, he said.

MORE »

Newtown, CT shootings prompt new legislative focus on mental health in Minnesota

By Paul Brohaugh, Dale Connelly and Mark Koerner, KFAI Radio

The tragic attack on students and teachers in Newtown, Connecticut last year has focused decision makers in federal and state government on improving mental health services, especially for young people. The attacker in Newtown, Adam Lanza, is thought to have been a young adult living with a mental illness.

MORE »

Gov. Dayton appoints the first Minnesota Somali woman to serve on the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee

By Ibrahim Hirsi, TC Daily Planet

Saciido Shaie has long had a dream that her thoughts and actions would one day become a reason for Minnesota youth to excel in education and life. That’s why she’s spent many years of leadership and advocacy in building a better place for Twin Cities’ young minorities.

MORE »

Options sought for school-linked mental health care

By Sarah Lemagie, Session Weekly/Session Daily

To treat more young people suffering from mental illness, advocates are pushing hard this session for one solution that they say is already working: Reaching children and teens at school.

MORE »

Dayton budget funds innovative scholarships for low-income preschoolers

By Cynthia Boyd, MinnPost

The importance of early childhood education has long been recognized, but the political will and financing to implement programs for all children in Minnesota is building slowly. (Photo credit: CC/Flickr/a.pasquier)

Buried in Gov. Mark Dayton $37.9 billion proposed budget is a creative idea to improve the lives of the state’s most educationally vulnerable children: state-funded scholarships for preschoolers from low-income families.

MORE »

To close achievement gap, lawmakers want to catch kids young

By Sarah Lemagie, Session Weekly/Session Daily

In its ongoing quest to narrow the achievement gap, the House Education Finance Committee heard testimony Tuesday on prekindergarten and other early childhood services for Minnesota’s youngest learners.

MORE »

Their Story: How they got off the streets

By SPNN Youth, SPNN

"Their Story: How they got off the streets," is about youth involved with crime and gangs who are looking for ways to take a new path in life. This production group, including interns LaMyiah, Michaela, Tia, and Sandra, worked with community partner, Youth in Transition (YIT) to take the audience on an emotional journey with a group of St. Paul youth who are struggling to overcome stereotypes, peer pressure, and prove that people can change their track in life.

Syndicate content