Amid school re-openings and 6 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S., new data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that instances of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths among children and teens are increasing at a more rapid pace than the general public. According to an article from the New York Times, while […]
COVID-19 Affecting Decisions About Having Children
The current COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a shift in the decision making processes of those considering having children. Originally when the pandemic began, many suggested that there would be a “baby boom” in nine months, especially as research suggests a spike in births after certain forms of disasters, especially in cases in which individuals are […]
Schools Offer Drive-Thru and Pick-Up Lunches for Vulnerable Students
For nearly 30 million children across the United States, the closure of schools to slow the spread of coronavirus created a critical disruption: no more lunch. These children benefit from the National School Lunch Program, the nation’s second largest food and nutrition assistance program behind SNAP. But with hundreds of thousands of schools closing, kids […]
Makers of Barbie Release Gender-Neutral Dolls
Mattel, the makers of Barbie, is releasing a new line titled “Creatable World,” where all the dolls are young and gender-neutral. Creatable World dolls are available in different skin tones and each doll comes with two wigs, one short and one long, with several clothing options, including skirts and pants. The different hair styles come […]
Mayors Across the Country Condemn Trump Food Stamp Plan
Mayors from across the US came together today to sign a letter condemning Trump’s proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program which would potentially disqualify 3 million people from receiving food stamps. According to the letter, the changes to SNAP would harm the most vulnerable populations in the U.S.: children, seniors, and people with […]
School District Threatens to Send Children into Foster Care over School Lunch Debt
Forty parents in the Pennsylvania Wyoming Valley West School District received letters this week from district officials threatening to remove their child from their home and place their child in foster care if they do not pay their child’s school lunch debt. Out of the district’s annual 80 million dollar budget, $22,000 dollars is owed […]
Taliban Car Bomb Shakes Kabul as “Peace” Talks with U.S. Continue
Today, after a relatively peaceful period in Afghanistan, the Taliban detonated a car bomb during morning rush hour in Kabul. The car bomb is said to have rocked the entire city, killing at least 16 people and injuring 105 people, including 51 children and five women. The United Nations, NGOs working in Afghanistan, and the […]
Trump Administration hosts Concentration Camps at the Texas Border
This week, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a link to an Esquire article titled “An Expert on Concentration Camps Says That’s Exactly What the U.S. Is Running at the Border” which sparked controversy over the Trump administration’s handling of refugees. AOC captioned her tweet “This administration has established concentration camps on the southern border of the United […]
Court Rules TikTok Video App No Longer Permitted in India
The TikTok App has been removed from Indian Google and Apple Stores this week, as a result of a state court ruling. The app was determined to be exposing children to inappropriate content. The Indian Supreme Court Tuesday allowed for the lower court ruling on blocking Tik Tok downloads to stand. The state court of […]
Pope Issues New Mandate Regarding Children and Abuse Survivors
On Friday, Pope Francis issued a new requirement mandating that Vatican officials report suspected sexual abuse to the Vatican judicial authorities. If they fail to do so, they will face fines or jail time. Francis says that this cooperation is absolutely necessary “in the activities of prevention.” This comes after the Pope admitted last month […]
Trump Considering New Family Detention and Separation Policy
On Friday, the Washington Post reported that rather than reviving the forced separation policy that separated over 2,500 children from their parents in May and June, the Trump administration is considering a new family separation plan called the Binary Choice.
New Concerns Arise as Trump Signs Order to Allegedly End Family Separation Policy
President Trump signed an executive order today, claiming it will end the family separation policy his administration implemented in April. But legal analysts have voiced concern over language in the order that could allow for the indefinite detention of children with their parents, a practice that until now has been forbidden due to a 20 day legal limit on children’s stays in immigration facilities.
Boy Scouts Drops Ban on Admitting Transgender Boys
Moving forward, the program will base admission off of the gender listed by the child or parent on the application, rather than the sex listed on the child’s birth certificate, as was the practice previously.
New York City’s Youngest Residents Head to Free Preschool
Thousands of pre-schoolers in New York City will begin school this week, in the second year of the City’s fully-funded pre-kindergarten program.
Senate Votes to Reauthorize Child Care Bill
The Senate voted 96-2 last week to pass the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 (CCDBG), a federal grant program that provides child care assistance to families and funding for child care initiatives.
Outrage Over Continuing Child Marriage in Nigeria
There has been outrage since the Nigerian Senate votedon July 16th to allow girls to marry without age restrictions.
Children Die of Poisoning in India after Eating a Free School Meal
At least 22 students in Bihar, one of the poorest and most populous states in India, have died after eating a free school meal. The children, between the ages of 4 and 12 had eaten a lunch prepared by the school as a part of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.