Children Now
in the News
Creating Awareness of
Children's Needs
‘Dora’ Special Explores Influence on Children
New York Times, Aug 08, 2010
Dora the Explorer will always be 7 years old, but the animated Latina character who solves every challenge — in English and Spanish — will still celebrate her 10th anniversary on Sunday.
The Gray And The Brown: The Generational Mismatch
National Journal, Jul 24, 2010
A contrast in priorities is arising between nonwhite young voters and white, older voters.
FCC Indecency Policy Rejected on Appeal
New York Times, Jul 13, 2010
A federal appeals court struck down a Federal Communications Commission policy on indecency Tuesday, saying that regulations barring the use of “fleeting expletives” on radio and television violated the First Amendment because they were vague and could inhibit free speech.
Big insurance changes in store for Californians with pre-existing conditions
San Jose Mercury News, Jun 12, 2010
Sometime after July 1, under the terms of the health care reform, California will establish a new, statewide insurance pool that will offer subsidized health insurance to people with pre-existing conditions. Tens of thousands of Californians may participate.
State Lags in Dental Health Care for Children
New York Times, May 23, 2010
In 2007, the last year that data for many reports was available, more than 500,000 California children between the ages of 5 and 17 missed at least one day of school in a year because of dental problems, costing school districts $29.7 million dollars in lost revenue.
Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to 'Healthy Families' violate federal law
Southern California Public Radio, May 10, 2010
Governor Schwarzenegger unveils his revised state budget this week. The number he presents will depend on how much—or how little—tax money the state collected in April. Schwarzenegger might also have to revise proposed cuts to health programs for children.
Law protects kids with pre-existing conditions
San Francisco Chronicle, Mar 31, 2010
A flap between the federal government and some health insurers over a provision in the new health care law that will require them to cover children with pre-existing conditions offered an early look into difficulties of interpreting the complex legislation.
Ranks of those without health insurance soar in California
Sacramento Bee, Mar 17, 2010
One in four Californians, or 8.2 million people, now lack coverage, according to researchers.
U.S. politicians may unite in obesity battle
CNBC (Reuters), Mar 09, 2010
One way to achieve bipartisanship in Washington may be to tackle an issue everyone can agree on--the childhood obesity epidemic.
Children Now gives California health, education low grade
SFGate.com, "In Alameda", Feb 11, 2010
If you're not already depressed about a) Governor Schwarzenegger's No-Oops-I-Mean-$1.5-Billion-Cuts-to-K12-Education Plan or b) the possibility that AUSD will be facing a $25 million deficit within three years, Children Now released a report last month that shows just how dismal the situation for children in this state really is.
School Matters: California Must Raise Latino Student Achievement
New America Media, Jan 22, 2010
Whether as parents, students, teachers or employers, a D is unacceptable and should be met with a clear plan for intervention and improvement.
Another dismal report card
San Jose Mercury News, Jan 07, 2010
No one ever gets good grades in Ted Lempert's class. The report cards he hands out every year are laden with D+s and C-s, with an occasional B+ thrown in more for effort than achievement.
Companies fall short in advertising healthy foods to children
Los Angeles Times, Dec 15, 2009
More than a dozen major companies pledged to push healthier foods two years ago, but study found ads for sugary cereals, fast food and sweet snacks made up more than 70% of the total.
Panel hears thoughts on food marketing to kids
Washington Post, Sep 23, 2009
Combating the growing obesity problem among children will require stronger action at all levels from food makers to governments and schools, witnesses told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday at a hearing about how foods are marketed to kids.
Budget leaves kids' health out to dry
San Jose Mercury News, Sep 20, 2009
Letter to the editor on the 2008-09 California budget, which will result in 300,000 children being dropped from health coverage.
Deal may keep Healthy Families kids on rolls
Sacramento Bee, Aug 28, 2009
California legislators have apparently reached a bipartisan solution to prevent more than half a million children from being cut from the Healthy Families public health insurance program.
Schwarzenegger cuts $500 million more as he signs budget
Los Angeles Times, Jul 29, 2009
The governor reduces funding to programs for children's healthcare, the elderly, and AIDS treatment and prevention. Angry Democratic leaders challenge his use of the veto in this situation.
10,000 Sonoma County kids could be denied health coverage
Press Democrat, Jul 27, 2009
More than 6,000 local children currently enrolled in the state’s low-cost Healthy Families Program could lose their coverage when their annual renewal dates come up. An additional 4,178 children would be denied coverage because of an enrollment freeze issued by the state July 17.
California, other states face tough budget choices
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jun 30, 2009
Lawmakers around the nation spent Tuesday in grueling, around-the-clock budget sessions as they struggled to avoid government shutdowns and other painful cuts, with the most dramatic negotiations unfolding in California amid a historic $24.3 billion deficit.
California comtemplating rewrite of social contract
San Diego Union-Tribune, Jun 07, 2009
With empty pockets and maxed-out credit, California is debating whether it can continue honoring all parts of its social contract with the state's most vulnerable residents.
Kids' futures imperiled, report says
Los Angeles Daily News, Jan 06, 2009
A combination of deficient policies and a lack of investment in improving the health and education of children is undermining the economic prosperity of California, according to a report set to be released today by Children Now.
Health plan for kids threatened
Sacramento Bee, Nov 13, 2008
As California sheds jobs at an alarming rate, increasing the ranks of the uninsured, the state-run Healthy Families program for children is preparing to close enrollment for the first time in its 10-year history.
"Educational" TV Falls Short, Study Says
Advertising Age, Nov 12, 2008
How educational are children’s educational TV shows on commercial channels? Not very, suggests a new study by Children’s Now.
Students' well-being tracked to improve lives
San Francisco Chronicle, Oct 23, 2008
Fewer kids in Napa County visit the dentist regularly than kids in other California counties. More San Francisco children teeter on the brink of depression than other children do. These are among hundreds of illuminating and sometimes heart-wrenching facts revealed in a new county-by-county study.
California, White House in Standoff Over SCHIP Directive
California Healthline, Sep 08, 2008
Six days before new guidelines were to take effect governing the federal State Children's Health Insurance Program, California formally and officially said, "No."
Spend on healthcare, not paperwork
Los Angeles Times, Jun 27, 2008
With the state budget in such dismal shape, it's all the more important to spend money wisely, on those who need it most--and not on increasing paperwork.
Parents asked to show proof at kindergarten registration
Record Searchlight, May 11, 2008
When starting school, kindergartners need to know their numbers, letters and how to use the bathroom. They need to be inoculated, provide a birth certificate and should be able to play well with others. That can be a lot for a 5-year-old.
Proposed budget cuts stir up more protests than usual this spring
Ventura County Star, Apr 12, 2008
When the California State Parks Foundation staged a statehouse rally last week to decry proposed budget cuts that would result in the closing of 48 state parks, organizers brought with them a number of props, including a camping tent pitched on the Capitol lawn.
Stanislaus receives poor health rating
Modesto Bee, Apr 09, 2008
Babies in Stanislaus County still die too often, children and adults still weigh too much and there's too much diabetes and heart disease.
Schwarzenegger should take real steps toward real education reform in '08
San Jose Mercury News, Jan 14, 2008
There's been so much talk for so long about reforming California's ailing public education system -- to so little effect -- that it's no surprise some pundits were declaring the "Year of Education Reform" dead even before the governor finished his State of the State address Tuesday.
California's kids deserve better
San Jose Mercury News, Jan 08, 2008
California has 9.5 million children, and one out of every eight children in the United States lives in the Golden State. So, how well California educates and takes care of its children plays an important role in the state--and nation's--future.
California's kids deserve better
San Jose Mercury News, Jan 08, 2008
California has 9.5 million children, and one out of every eight children in the United States lives in the Golden State. So, how well California educates and takes care of its children plays an important role in the state--and nation's--future.
State receives poor grades on well-being of children
MediaNews, Jan 03, 2008
A new report card on child well-being gives California near-failing grades for its rates of pediatric obesity and violence against children.
Child health program pledged
Ventura County Star, Aug 30, 2007
Top state officials on Wednesday vowed that universal health coverage for children will be enacted in California, and assailed President Bush for putting up roadblocks that will make it more difficult to achieve that goal.
State's ranking for child well-being drops
San Francisco Chronicle, Jul 25, 2007
California slipped one spot to No. 19 in an annual state-by-state analysis of child well-being -- a report that some advocates said raises concerns about the state's education system and the availability of health care for children.
Kids from rich counties better off
San Francisco Chronicle, Jun 20, 2007
Children who grow up in the Bay Area are more likely to be enrolled in preschool, have health insurance and score better on standardized school tests, according to a study to be released today by Children Now.
Rural kids face gaps in health care, schooling, survey finds
Sacramento Bee, Jun 20, 2007
Children in rural reaches of the Sacramento region have less access to quality health care and education than urban counterparts, according to a statewide survey of child health.
Accountability and money crucial to schools' success
San Jose Mercury News, Mar 22, 2007
Like canines marking trees, some big dogs in California education predictably staked out their turf last week.