Child’s Ordeal Shows Dangers of Antipsychotic Drugs
Mina Dixon said: More than 500,000 children and adolescents in America are now taking antipsychotic drugs. Such treatments are indeed needed, some doctors say, to help young children with severe problems stay safe. But many doctors say prescribing them for younger and younger children may pose risks to development of both their brains and their bodies.
Child Care Owner Gets Two Years in Prison
Mina Dixon said: The ongoing Journal Sentinel investigation details how parents and child care providers worked together to scam $350 million from the Wisconsin Shares Program, a state-run child care subsidy program. A woman charged with defrauding the program of nearly $450,000 received two years in prison Wednesday.
With Shooting Death, a Juvenile Justice Success Story Has a Tragic End
Mina Dixon said: Terrence J. Barkley, 19, was touted nationally for overcoming gangs and a juvenile arrest. He was a credit to Missouri’s Division of Youth Services and a stellar example of how therapy and supportive staff could reform a troubled youth. Barkley died in a shooting Monday, closing his success story with a note of tragedy.
Should Cars Warn When There's a Child Inside on Hot Days?
Mina Dixon said: At least 41 children have died already this year in hot cars, more than any previous year. Safety advocates are urging Congress to force carmakers to install warning systems that would prevent distracted parents from leaving children in cars. Automakers say that’s not as easy as it sounds and instead emphasize the need for parents’ constant vigilance.
Method to Grade Teachers Provokes Battles
Mina Dixon said: Use of value-added modeling, a system used to calculate teachers’ effectiveness based on students’ test scores, is exploding nationwide. Hundreds of school systems are already using it to measure teacher performance. But some experts argue that the methodology can be unreliable and caution its use in school systems.
Invisible Families
Mina Dixon said: Parents with kids are the fastest growing yet least visible sector of the homeless population. Families stay hidden away — doubling up with friends or staying in emergency shelters — versus sleeping on the street. The series, produced by The Seattle Times and journalists from the community, follows the stories of several families living in this situation.
He's Beating the Odds
Mina Dixon said: Deion Barnes,17, is a promising student and a nationally-ranked high school football player. With football season fast approaching, he faces his biggest challenges and decisions, some right outside his front door. His North Philadelphia community has been pockmarked by violence and his family has endured tragedy
Los Angeles County Didn't Report Child Deaths
Mina Dixon said: An independent audit finds that Los Angeles County officials have failed to follow state law that requires them to publicly disclose child fatalities resulting from abuse or neglect. The findings raise questions about whether child welfare officials are underreporting deaths of children whose families previously had come to the department's attention.
A Leg Up For Teens In A Tough Job Market
Mina Dixon said: Goodwill's new program for young adults up to age 21 will train Baltimore-area teens in the finer points of retail. Unemployment rates are high for young adults and a lack of employment opportunities early on disproportionately affects low-income families, preventing teens from building resumes and a future.
Camp Helps Children Cope with Grief
Mina Dixon said: At Comfort Zone Camp, children affected by a death in the family gather to experience the typical joys of summer camp. In addition to participating in canoeing, kayaking and arts and crafts, the campers attend support groups to talk openly about grief.
