Youth

November 16, 2009 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced a significant decrease in tobacco sales to Wisconsin minors. The state’s 2009 Synar sales compliance survey, which determines the number of retail outlets that are selling tobacco illegally to minors, shows a noncompliance rate of 5.7 percent—20 percent lower than the 2008 rate of 7.2 percent.

“In Wisconsin, we are working hard to protect our kids from the scourge of tobacco,” Governor Doyle said. “Our state has a long history of preventing youth tobacco sales and I’m pleased our efforts are paying off.”

Governor Doyle also thanked retailers for helping keep tobacco out of the hands of minors and for their dedication to protecting young people from tobacco’s harmful effects.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan issued the following statement on The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2009, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) at Grades 4 and 8:

“Today's results are evidence that we must better equip our schools to improve the knowledge and skills of America's students in mathematics. Our students have made real gains in math over the past two decades, but for the first time since NAEP's mathematics test started in 1990, student achievement in fourth grade has not improved. More must be done to narrow the troubling achievement gap that has persisted in mathematics, and to ensure that America's students make greater gains toward becoming competitive with their peers in other countries.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congressman Paul Hodes today announced his support for legislation that would allow young adults to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until their 27th birthday. Congressman Hodes has written to the chairmen and chairwoman of the committees that have jurisdiction over health insurance reform, urging them to include this provision in the final health insurance reform bill.

"New Hampshire’s young adults should have access to quality, affordable health care," said Congressman Hodes. "This common sense proposal adds low-risk individuals to the insurance pool, while ensuring that young adults across the Granite State have health insurance during these difficult economic times."    » read more »

Team Nutrition Initiative Helps Combat Childhood Obesity, Promote Physical Activity to Enable Better Future for Nation's Youth

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2009 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded approximately $5.8 million in Team Nutrition Training Grants to 18 states to help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles. This funding provides schools with nutrition education materials for children and parents as well as technical assistance for communities and school food service providers.    » read more »

Gov. Nixon reminds young Missourians that state law banning texting while driving takes effect today

August 28, 2009 -- LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - Beginning today, it is illegal for drivers age 21 and under to send, read or write text messages while driving on Missouri roads. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and Missouri State Highway Patrol Assistant Superintendent Lt. Col. Richard Coffey were in Lee's Summit today to remind young drivers and their parents that enforcement of the new Missouri law banning texting while driving is now in effect.    » read more »

Children Uniting Nations event highlights efforts to improve the lives of America's children in foster care.

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today urged lawmakers and youth advocates to expand mentoring programs for children and young adults in foster care. Sen. Landrieu's comments came at a breakfast event kicking off the Children Uniting Nations (CUN) 4th Annual "Keeping the Promise to our Children" conference in Washington, D.C.    » read more »

Services to be available in a total of 10 Maryland jurisdictions

May 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) announced today she is fighting to put $1 million in federal checkbook to expand delinquency and intervention services for at-risk youth to a total of 10 Maryland jurisdictions, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Calvert, Charles, Dorchester, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties, as well as Baltimore City.    » read more »

Funding Will Stimulate Local Economies Across New York; Will Create 50,000 Summer Youth Jobs – more than 27,000 in New York City

May 9, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today was joined byNew York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Gregory Meeks and State and City officials in announcing nearly $100 million in federal funding for job creation, a portion of which will be used to assist New York’s lower-income youth in finding summer employment.    » read more »

$1 Million Grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation Funds Education, Job-Training and Entrepreneurial Support Programs for Women and Girls

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 2009 - The Wal-Mart Foundation today announced a $1 million grant to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Projects funded by this grant will focus on empowering impoverished young women around the world through education, job-training and entrepreneurial support programs.    » read more »

Individuals in HIRE LA’s Youth Start Work Today

05/04/2009 -- Joining Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a press conference in Los Angeles, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the first American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding to begin employing at-risk youth in California. Through the allocation of $20.3 million in Recovery Act funding to Workforce Investment Boards, the city’s existing HIRE LA’s Youth program will expand to employ an additional 7,500 at-risk youth aged 14 to 24, some starting today.    » read more »

ARRA dollars to provide employment and training programs

April 24, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that over $15 million will be distributed to the Commonwealth’s 10 local workforce investment boards. The funds, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will be used to conduct the Kentucky Summer Youth Employment Program and provide other training opportunities to approximately 6,000 at-risk youth and young adults across the state.    » read more »

April 20, 2009 -- HARRISBURG – Unemployed workers and youth seeking summer jobs will get a boost from approximately $74 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

“As Pennsylvanians continue to feel the effects of the national economy, it is imperative that we expand job retraining opportunities for unemployed workers and young people,” Governor Rendell said. “Nearly 500,000 Pennsylvanians were unemployed and looking for work in March. They need the workforce development services that these funds will provide.”    » read more »

03/09/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued the following statement today in support of extending AFDC-FC benefits to California’s foster youth up to the age of 21:

“I am committed to working with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg on a bipartisan solution that ensures our children and youth in foster care are provided with the tools needed to succeed at life. Along with our federal partners, together we can better equip our youth by making sure they continue to have access to important resources and services as they transition into adulthood. I look forward to continue working across the aisle with the legislature and our federal and local partners on an issue important to so many Californians.”    » read more »

Of All Age Groups, 19-to-29-Year-Olds Most Likely to Be Uninsured

May 30, 2008 -- New York — The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006—an increase from 13.3 million in 2005—making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance.

According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.    » read more »

21 May 2008 -- The United States has defended its policy of detaining juveniles in prisons in Iraq, and Afghanistan. The issue is expected to be high on the agenda Thursday when the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child examines U.S. compliance with U.N. rules on dealing with children in armed conflict.

In a report submitted to the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, the United States acknowledges it has detained almost 2,500 youths under the age of 18 since 2002. Almost all have been detained in Iraq under President Bush's anti-terrorism campaign.

Washington says it is holding more than 500 juveniles suspected of being "unlawful enemy combatants" in detention centers in Iraq. Another 10 are being held at the U.S. base at Bagram, Afghanistan.    » read more »