Mississippi ranks near the bottom among states for children's well-being, at 49th overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The annual report looked at four categories: economic well-being, education, health, and community and family.

Linda Southward, executive director of the Children's Foundation of Mississippi, noted the Magnolia State ranked 30th in education. From timely prenatal care to the importance of early childhood education, she emphasized the critical starting points for kids' overall development and growth.

"Having children ready to learn and providing the supports as needed to help children learn to read by third grade," Southward emphasized. "Because up until third grade, they are learning to read but then by third grade, they are reading so they can learn."

Mississippi has shown improvement over the past five years, as the state's high school graduation rate has increased from 83% in 2018 to 88% and rates have increased across all subgroups.

Southward noted her organization is pleased Mississippi has improved in several of the 16 indicators. Although the state ranks 50th in economic well-being, fewer children are living in poverty and more parents have secure employment now than they did in 2019.

"When children are in households that are more secure economically, they often have more advantages in areas that they may need," Southward outlined. "For extracurricular activities, for having tutoring as they're needed."

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said the report encouraged states and communities to examine a number of approaches to help improve kids' well-being and address some of the pandemic's negative impacts.

"We know some of the things that work," Boissiere pointed out. "Both in remediating or providing additional supports for kids who may have fallen behind such as high-dosage tutoring, creating environments within schools where all kids feel like they can belong and looking at evidence-based curriculum approaches."

Boissiere stressed compared to peer nations, the United States is not equipping its children with the high-level reading, math and digital problem-solving skills needed for many of today's fastest-growing occupations in a competitive global economy.

The California Parent and Youth Helpline turns five years old today - just in time for a brand new study that confirms its effectiveness.

The study, published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, found that 85% of people felt more positive, calmer and less angry after calling in.

Lead author Elizabeth Harris, a sociology professor at Arizona State University, said that kind of result is rare in social science research.

"Parenting interventions are expensive and difficult to do," she said. "Most interventions take months to take effect, so to be able to do an effective intervention in 30 minutes, that's a big deal."

The data also show about one-third of callers improved significantly on the scale - meaning they either went from making all negative statements to feeling 100% neutral, or they started off neutral and said they felt "100% positive" by the end of the call.

Parents and youths in distress can reach a trained counselor at 855-427-2736, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Or they can reach out online at CAparentyouthhelpline.org.

Smith said the data show the helpline is especially effective at making people feel heard.

"Fifty percent of people who are lonely and isolated in their parenting role, they feel less of that by the end of the call," she said. "So, it shows that in less than 30 minutes, it's possible for a trained counselor to make a measurable difference."

She explained that the research used what's called sentiment analysis and secondary qualitative analysis, and validates the approach taken by Parents Anonymous, the group that runs the helpline.

May is National Foster Care Month and In Pennsylvania, more than 15,000 children are waiting for foster families. Their advocates are urging more people to open their homes to help.

Carrie Eckhardt, assistant director of domestic services for Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley, said their goal is to support families and children through quality social services. She shared a quote from the mother of Elle, a girl from a tough background who is now thriving thanks to a foster parent who adopted her.

"She's made honor roll every quarter, tried out for and made a sports team at her school, enjoys her youth group, volunteers with a club of her peers and in our church," Eckhardt outlined. "She handles her homework, manages her emotions, completes her chores, fills up her social calendar. I'm just along for the ride, cheering her on."

Eckhardt pointed out the group focuses on child welfare, refugee help and keeping families together, and aims to have enough homes for the 200 foster care referrals it receives each year.

Diakon Adoption and Foster Care helps around 4,000 children a year in 30 Pennsylvania counties, including support after adoption through the Statewide Adoption Network. The Steel family has been fostering with Diakon for 12 years, caring for 21 kids.

Hannah Steel, an adoptive sibling, said in a Diakon-made video her adopted sister Maya struggled at first but is now doing well.

"When she first came to us, it was a little stressful and a little different for her," Steel recounted. "But as time progressed and everything, we all learned how to live together and understand each other. And I think for her, she's made it a long way."

Patricia Menow, senior director of permanency for Diakon, said they use social media and take part in community events to raise awareness about the ongoing need for foster families and to reach as many people as possible.

"We offer 'Triple P,' which is a positive parenting training program," Menow explained. "That's an ongoing program from the time they start coming through as a resource family, through while they are a foster family."

Alyssa Snyder, executive director of permanency for Diakon, said it is important to understand there is a great need for more foster parents and organizations like hers can support families of all types.

"There's no blueprint for this," Snyder acknowledged. "We support individuals who have this interest and ability, and the youth that are coming into care deserve to live in a family. So, we just want to encourage folks to consider that for all ages of youth."


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Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care, especially in rural communities.

Medicaid provides critical coverage for child care providers, many of whom are low-paid and often go without employer-based insurance.

Brittany Boulton, vice president of the policy and advocacy organization Groundwork Ohio, said it is especially vital for rural families.

"Cuts to Medicaid would make these problems far worse and leave thousands of Ohioans and rural families without access to coverage and care," Boulton pointed out.

A report by the Georgetown University Center on Children and Family Studies said 30% of children in rural Ohio rely on Medicaid for health coverage, placing the state among the top 10 nationally for rural child enrollment.

National experts warned access to health care is essential not only for children but also for those who care for them.

Daniel Hains, chief policy and professional advancement officer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, said there is a clear link between health coverage and workforce stability. He noted about 16% of early educators lack insurance and those who do have coverage are more likely to stay in the field.

"We need more highly qualified, well-supported, well compensated early childhood educators, with 25+ percent of early childhood educators relying on Medicaid for their own health insurance," Hains noted. "With the critical supports the program provides for their education and for the children and families they serve."

Ohio's child care sector has lost nearly 6,000 workers since the pandemic began and Groundwork Ohio said access to Medicaid helps retain educators in a field facing critical staffing shortages.