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Focus Magazine

Browse Publications: Health


Aging Out of the Foster Care System to Adulthood: Findings, Challenges, and Recommendations - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A report prepared by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute

To enhance our knowledge about youth who age out of the nation’s foster care systems, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (in collaboration with Black Administrators in Child Welfare Inc.) conducted reconnaissance on the unmet needs of these youth. A literature review, a telephone survey (with 800 social workers), and listening sessions with youth and stakeholders in the foster care systems in three cities (Jacksonville, FL; Houston, TX; and Chicago, IL) were conducted to gather information about youth who age out of foster care. The full report based on these findings is available for downloading from the Joint Center website.


Aging Out of the Foster Care System to Adulthood: Findings, Challenges, and Recommendations

A report prepared by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Health Policy Institute

To enhance our knowledge about youth who age out of the nation’s foster care systems, the Joint Center Health Policy Institute (in collaboration with Black Administrators in Child Welfare Inc.) conducted reconnaissance on the unmet needs of these youth. A literature review, a telephone survey (with 800 social workers), and listening sessions with youth and stakeholders in the foster care systems in three cities (Jacksonville, FL; Houston, TX; and Chicago, IL) were conducted to gather information about youth who age out of foster care. The full report based on these findings is available for downloading from the Joint Center website.


African American Women and Breastfeeding

To better understand the issues and to inform its deliberation in formulating recommendations for policy, research, and practice, the Commission asked experts in various fields related to maternal and child health and infant mortality to prepare background papers on specific issues. This background paper examines the critical relationship between breastfeeding and infant mortality among African Americans, the racial/ethnic group with the lowest rate of breastfeeding. The authors explore the benefits of breastfeeding and the issues associated with racial/ethnic disparities in breastfeeding, concluding with an action plan for closing the gap through promotion of breastfeeding based on education, training, awareness, support, and research.

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Did You Know?

About 10.4 million workers may be potentially affected by the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (FMWA). Among the 7.7 million workers whose earnings may increase exclusively as a result of the proposed federal increases, about half (52.6 percent, or 4 million) are whites, about one in six (17.7 percent, or 1.4 million) are African Americans, nearly one quarter (23.9 percent, or 1.8 million) are Hispanics, 2.5 percent are Asians or Pacific Islanders, and 1.3 percent are American Indians and Alaska Natives. The other group is made up of 2.7 million workers who may first benefit from minimum wage increases in their states, and then later benefit from the FMWA as it raises the minimum wage to $6.55 by 2008 and $7.25 by 2009.Learn More