Jan. 5: Quarterly Meeting of WG’s Children, Youth & Families Working Group:
What is a Community and Systems Approach to Mental Health for Low-Income Children and Families?
(for WG members only)
ENVIRONMENT | Farmers and environmental conservationists worked to find common ground during a conference this week put on by the Accokeek Foundation. (Gazette, 12/16) – “Wilton Corkern, the Accokeek Foundation’s president [and WG Board member], said the trust’s support represented a commitment from farmers and environmentalists to collaborate in the future.”
GIVING
- Opinion: “Why we should dial down our enthusiasm for the Giving Pledge” (HuffPo, 12/15) – by Aaron Dorfman, NCRP
- Annual charity survey reveals new trends, change in giving tools (wire, 12/16) – “DAFs now outnumber private foundations by more than two to one.”
HEALTH | Providence receives $100,000 grant from CareFirst to support its efforts to lower infant mortality in Greater Washington (wire, 12/16)
JUVENILE JUSTICE / YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | Regarding DC’s DYRS leadership, youth advocates “now see Hildum’s leaving as a sign that Gray will embrace their vision.” (Examiner, 12/16)
CHILDHOOD OBESITY | Save the Children breaks with soda tax effort (NYTimes, 12/14) – “Officials of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who had encouraged Save the Children to advocate for soda taxes, are disappointed.” Save the Children’s COO says “there was no connection between the group’s about-face on soda taxes and [funding] discussions with Coke. A $5 million grant from PepsiCo also had no influence on the decision, she said.” [Hmmmmmmmm.]
“The soda companies argue that it is unfair to blame their products for the obesity epidemic, which has complex causes. They say that policies should be focused instead on getting people to exercise more.” [Because problems always have a single solution and are never caused by a combination of factors?]
PUBLIC EDUCATION | Under Gov. McDonnell plan, Virginia taxpayers wouldn’t fund state’s public broadcasting, reports the WaPo (12/16). “McDonnell made a similar proposal in the spring, but legislators restored the cuts to public TV and radio after broadcasters argued that most state aid to public broadcasting is actually used to teach children in public schools.” SO, you might logically ask, how much of the aid is used to teach children in schools? What are the facts of this situation? Who knows! More journalism required!
