Category: children’s health

An Outdated Tracking System Is a Key Factor in Texas’ Foster Care Shortcomings

The computer program, designed in 1996 to be a secure location for foster children’s medical and school records and histories of neglect and abuse, is older than Google — and has had far fewer updates.

Gun Assault Rates Doubled for Children in 4 Major Cities During the Pandemic, New Data Shows

A study of roughly 2,700 shootings in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia found that racial disparities in gun injuries and deaths widened during the covid-19 pandemic. Researchers looked only at assaults, excluding accidents or incidents of self-harm.

For California Teen, Coverage of Early Psychosis Treatment Proved a Lifesaver

A Medi-Cal patient illustrates how early schizophrenia treatments can yield big benefits. Advocates want California to expand such services to more people living with severe mental illness, which they argue will not only improve lives but also save money over time.

Depressed? Anxious? Air Pollution May Be a Factor

A growing body of research is finding links between air quality and mental health, as therapists report seeing patients with symptoms linked to pollution.

‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools

A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.

‘Hard to Get Sober Young’: Inside One of the Country’s Few Recovery High Schools

A few dozen high schools across the U.S. combine education with recovery treatment for substance use disorders to keep kids sober and in school.

ER’s Error Lands a 4-Year-Old in Collections (For Care He Didn’t Receive)

A Florida woman tried to dispute an emergency room bill, but the hospital and collection agency refused to talk to her — because it was her child’s name on the bill, not hers.

As Colorado Reels From Another School Shooting, Study Finds 1 in 4 Teens Have Quick Access to Guns

The study analyzed Colorado kids’ responses to how quickly they could get their hands on a loaded gun without their parents’ knowledge. More than 1 in 10 said they could do so within 10 minutes.

The US Remains a Grim Leader in Preterm Births. Why? And Can We Fix It?

American women are more likely to deliver their babies prematurely than women in most developed countries. It’s a distinction that coincides with high rates of maternal and infant death, billions of dollars in costs, and even lifelong disabilities for the children who survive.

Pandemic Stress, Gangs, and Utter Fear Fueled a Rise in Teen Shootings

With their brains still developing and poor impulse control, teens who carry firearms might never plan to use them. But some do.