Children

08 May 2008 -- The U.N. Children's Fund estimates one-third of all those killed by Cyclone Nargis in Burma are children. Burmese authorities report more than 22,000 people lost their lives and more than 40,000 are still missing.

The U.N. Children's Fund says in any disaster, children suffer the most. And, the disaster, which hit Burma a few days ago, is no exception.

Deputy Director of UNICEF's Office of Emergency Programs, Pierrette Vu Thi, says children are most at risk from getting sick. During a disaster, she says children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.    » read more »

123 Illinois Sex Offenders from MySpace Discovered on Facebook

May 8, 2008 -- Chicago - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today that Facebook has agreed to make key changes to its social networking site that will better protect children from predators and inappropriate content.

No talking about Facebook: Photo by Alpha (CC)

Madigan joined the attorneys general of 49 other states and the District of Columbia in the agreement resulting in actions by Facebook similar to those MySpace agreed to in January 2008.    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- (Anchorage, AK) -- Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg and the attorneys general of 48 other states and the District of Columbia today announced that Facebook has agreed to changes to better protect children from predators and inappropriate content on the social networking site.

Facebook logo: Photo by Scott Beale / Laughing Squid (CC)

Facebook also agreed to participate in a task force on exploring and developing age and identity verification software. The agreement is similar to one that MySpace reached in January with 49 states and the District of Columbia.    » read more »

Efforts continue to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

April 22, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Backed by rulings on Friday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today sent a letter to the Bush administration urging a withdrawal of a federal directive that prohibits Washington, and other states, from expanding access to health care coverage for tens of thousands of children.

A protester against George W. Bush's attempts to limit children's health insurance: Photo by socaltimes (CC)    » read more »

Harmful to Children and Public Education

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recently outlined his plans to address an ailing economy, and proposed a yearlong moratorium on increases in discretionary federal spending, including education. However, Sen. McCain did not address how his plans will negatively affect children and education.

John McCain protesters at New School graduation: Photo by Josephine (CC)

Statement of NEA President Reg Weaver:    » read more »

April 21, 2008 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced the grand opening of DreamBikes, a non-profit used bicycle store in Madison that employs kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.

“Madison has long been considered one of the most bike friendly cities in the country,” Governor Doyle said.

Children biking: Photo by Karel Hermans (CC)

“It’s great to see the opening of a store like DreamBikes that will not only introduce biking to a new audience, but provide jobs and important skills to area teenagers in need.”    » read more »

Grants Will Help Fund Investigations and Victim Services

April 18, 2008 -- New York Governor Paterson today announced $1.17 million in grants to provide communities with increased resources to improve child safety – allowing more thorough investigation and prosecution of child abuse, neglect and maltreatment cases and enhancing victim services. The grants, 12 in total to organizations in various counties across New York State, reinforce the Governor’s commitment to ensuring the health, safety and well-being of New York’s children.    » read more »

April 18 , 2008 -- Chicago – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today announced her office alerted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to dangerous lead levels detected in hip-charm keychains manufactured exclusively for Wal-Mart stores. As a result, the CPSC and Wal-Mart issued a recall this morning, and the company has removed the product from store shelves.

Attorney General Madigan urged parents to take away the “No Boundaries Hip Charm” keychain from their children immediately. Consumers can call 1-800-WAL-MART for additional information, including instructions on how to obtain a refund.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Push Toys Recalled by Santa’s Toy Corp. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Western Rider Push Toys

Units: About 9,000

Importer: Santa’s Toy Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif.

Hazard: Surface paint on the glove, shirt, and pants of rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

Governor Napolitano Proclaims April 19-26 Infant Immunization Awareness Week in Arizona

April 14, 2008 -- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and state and local health officials are stressing the importance of immunizations in light of a measles outbreak in Pima County.

Vaccination: Photo by Belinda Hankins Miller (CC)

"This outbreak shows that we can’t let our guard down. Forgotten diseases like measles and polio are still out there, and that’s why it’s important to make sure vaccinations are up to date," the Governor said. "Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep Arizona’s children safe, healthy and in school."    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Michaels Stores Recalls Seasonal Writing Pens Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Flower Writers; Christmas Writers; Easter Writers; and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing Pens

Units: About 310,000

Distributor: Michaels Stores Inc., of Irving, Texas

Hazard: The seasonal writing pens' surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

FUNTASTIC Recalls Fake Teeth Due To Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Name of Product: Hillbilly Teeth

Units: About 26,000

Importer: FUNTASTIC, of Houston, Texas

Hazard: The gray surface paint on the teeth contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.    » read more »

Celebrate Health during National Public Health Week April 7-13

April 10, 2008 -- BURLINGTON – Each year, nearly one in five Vermont children and adolescents (nearly 29,000) will have a diagnosable mental health or addictive disorder, or a co-occurrence of both disorders. Without prevention, early screening and intervention, these problems can become more acute and severe and will take longer to heal.

According to the 2008 Health Status of Vermonters, 32 percent of girls in 10th grade reported being depressed in 2005, a rate for girls that is more than double the adult rate for women between the ages of 18 and 59. Young boys also experience a higher rate of depression than adult men (18 percent of 12th grade boys, 8-to-10 percent of men ages 18-59).    » read more »

Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca arrests 32 parents in countywide sweep

April 10, 2008 -- EL PASO – El Paso County Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca has arrested 32 local parents who violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The countywide sweep, which is being conducted in conjunction with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Child Support Division, targets parents who are wanted by authorities for failing to pay their court-ordered child support.    » read more »

Enacted Budget Shifts Focus to Primary and Preventative Care; Controls Costs

April 9, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that the Enacted State Budget ensures that nearly every one of the 400,000 uninsured children in the State will have access to health insurance, reforms the state’s reimbursements system to shift dollars to more effective primary and preventive care, and helps control runaway Medicaid costs.

A child licks a shopping cart handle: Photo by carlosluis (CC)    » read more »