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Meet ROY: Resources Online for Youth!

2/17/2009 11:18:00 AM

It's finally here - central Indiana's new, searchable database of youth activities and opportunities! ROY is now gathering information from youth-serving organizations about their programs and activities. Creating a profile is FAST, EASY and absolutely FREE (music to a non-profit's ears).

Just visit www.roymccoy.org, scroll down to the bottom right and click on "Create a new account". If you can't finish filling out your profile in one setting, it's not a problem. Just log out, then log back in later to fill in the blanks

Need some help getting to know ROY? We have dedicated a page on our website to this very purpose. Click here to learn more about the project and its purposes, download cheat sheets of required information or register for a ROY Profile Party!

-Amelia

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How Children Learn

2/4/2009 3:28:00 PM

The classic, "How Children Learn," is making a resurgence among parents and educators alike lately. In John Holt's book, his thesis is that children want to learn, are natural learners, and will learn more if adults recognize that and let them explore their worlds. Many times, parents and others act like bosses instead of co-learners. That means letting them play and playing with them, but resisting the urge to quiz them on their knowledge or to patronize them.

Most of "How Children Learn" is culled from his diaries, his successes and failures, and later notes from parents and other educators: "She is not afraid of making mistakes. And she is patient. She can tolerate an extraordinary amount of uncertainty, confusion, ignorance, and suspense. She does not have to have instant meaning in any new situation. She is willing and able for meaning to come to her - even if it comes very slowly, which it usually does..."

Click here to read more about the book on Amazon.

-Chris Collins

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Recess Matters, Too

1/30/2009 7:37:00 AM

According to a recent study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, taking recess out of the school day can have serious consequences in child behavior. (Read the full article at Pediatrics or a shorter overview at Science Daily.) The study of more than 10,000 eight- and nine-year-old students indicated that having just a 15 minutes break from the classroom resulted in better behavior.

The study asserts that, as school districts face additional pressure from No Child Left Behind to add more and more time for reading and math, they may be removing an important tool for helping kids stay focused and on task. Removing recess, a great time to release energy, socialize with peers and generally explore the world is correlated with increased negative behaviors during instructional time. The researchers also found that eliminating recess was a more common practice in schools that serve children who are black, come from lower-income homes and live in urban areas.

Of course, several other issues can be related to a lack of recess: obesity, social skill development, perceived safety in school environments... Whatever your perspective on those issues, with our newest State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett, talking a great deal about student behavior, this may be an important factor to consider.

- Kirsten Eamon-Shine

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Youth media brings subjects to life

1/14/2009 1:21:00 PM

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Assessing quality in youth programs

12/11/2008 12:12:00 AM

Around 40 youth development professionals and community leaders gathered recently to learn about the Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA). This is the strategy we’re employing within the Ready by 21 Quality Counts™ initiative to improve the quality and reach of youth programs in Central Indiana. Erica Curry, from the Forum for Youth Investment, presented a dynamic workshop designed to get on board early those organizations who want to pilot the project with MCCOY and build overall quality improvement. YPQA sites will be eligible for comprehensive training and custom technical assistance – all completely free.

If you’re interested in learning more about YPQA or becoming a pilot site, please e-mail Kirsten Eamon-Shine. 

-Chris

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You Get What You Pay For

10/29/2008 9:01:00 AM

It is a well known maxim:  you get what you pay for.

The citizens of Indianapolis who live within the Indianapolis Public Schools boundaries will have the opportunity on November 4^th to choose to make a long term investment in the educational success of children and young people by voting to approve a bond issue that will allow IPS to improve facilities in which one of the most important activities in our community takes place:  the pursuit of knowledge and learning.

Why shouldn’t those facilities be comfortable no matter what the temperature is outside; have adequate spaces for learning, eating, and physical activity; be well-lit, inviting, and welcoming?  We wouldn’t go to a hospital for treatment if it was dingy, sub-standard, cramped, and run-down.  Clearly we want the schools in which our most precious resources are being nurtured and prepared to become the next generation of community leaders, scientists, doctors, and captains of industry to be at least equal to the places where games and sports are played, meaning they should be spacious, well-equipped, and filled with the most modern amenities.

IPS students need to feel that the community really means it when we say we value them and their education. We clearly do this when we provide them with facilities that meet basic standards of comfort and health (which is where most of the bond money will be spent) and when we provide them with access to learn and use modern technology. Computer and internet skills are not a luxury but an absolute necessity in the world today. If we want students to be successful as they move into high school, college, and the world of work, we have to provide them with the tools they need.  

I am confident that the voters of our community will see the wisdom in investing their hard-earned dollars in something that will yield significant returns in the long run---our young people and their education.  After all, you get what you pay for.

-John

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Homeless Youth in Marion County Find Few Options

10/20/2008 2:04:00 PM

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Transportation; a Growing Problem for Young and Old Alike

10/15/2008 10:42:00 AM

   

A simple search for the word "transportation" within the 145-page summary of the United Way's 2008 Community Assessment turned up entries in almost every section, over fifteen in total.

Lack of transportation is a significant barrier to accessing health care and mental health services. Lack of built environments and active modes of transportation contributes significantly to the state's obesity crisis. Lack of transportation limits mobility in seniors over the age of 65 and individuals with disabilities. Lack of transportation poses a barrier to ex-offenders seeking job placement (shown to decrease the likelihood of re-offending).

Lack of transportation options may prevent victims of a disaster such as an earthquake or flood from effectively rebuilding their lives. Lack of transportation means residents living in low-income areas must pay more for basic goods such as groceries, having no access to the larger, low-price stores in outlying areas.

Furthermore, the summary states, "Public transportation is recognized as essential to continued economic growth and expanded employment opportunities, and is supported in all counties of the region."

This is music to the ears of many in the youth development community. Because although the summary makes no mention of the effects a lack of transportation has on young people in central Indiana, we know empirically that it is a monumental barrier to accessing programs that serve the range of youth developmental needs.

How could a comprehensive, affordable and balanced transportation network in central Indiana change the lives of the young people you serve?

-Amelia

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Youth & Sexual Health in Marion County

10/13/2008 2:15:00 PM

According to the Community Health Assessment just released by the Marion County Health Department, compared to adults, youth are at a higher risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection.  While 15-24 year olds make up 25% of the population, they represent half of all newly diagnosed sexually transmitted diseases, infections that lead to cancer, infertility, or death. 

The report asserts, “Aside from abstinence or mutual long-term monogamy between uninfected partners, consistent condom use is the only method available to prevent HIV and other STD infections among sexually active individuals.” Yet the same study tells us that only 62% of Indiana high school students reported using a condom during their most recent sexual intercourse; the proportion of youth using condoms each time they have sex, and using them correctly, is likely to be much lower.

 
                The structure of HIV

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Crunching the Numbers

10/8/2008 3:22:00 PM

In the last week, two reports chock full of information were released by local number crunchers. And the reports might have data that will help (1) organizations appropriately target and make the case for services and (2) the Indianapolis - central Indiana community as a whole discover how much we need to do to improve the lives of young people.

• The Marion County Health Department's Marion County Community Health Assessment has a special section on children's health, but several other areas of the report including access to care, environmental health and social and mental health clearly impact the health of central Indiana's youth.
• The United Way of Central Indiana's 2008 Community Assessment also has a section focused on children and youth, as well as several sections that highlight additional community factors that impact young people.

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Coats for Kids

9/26/2008 12:00:00 AM

Mittens, parkas, and boots-oh my! While we just wrapped up summer, it’s hard to believe pretty soon, snowmen will be made and gloves will be lost. Every kid deserves their basic needs to be provided, yet with the economic downturn we’re in, buying winter coats are another expense that can often be a burden.

While it may feel premature to haul out your winter gear from years past, it is officially fall, and fall means Bob Gregory is trying to collect heavy winter coats for kids. Bob Gregory’s Coats for Kids, in its 22^nd year, has a goal of 10,000 coats this winter. Last year, Coats collected around 8,000 coats for kids in central Indiana. The coat drive started Labor Day and will end October 6. Coat distribution will take place October 11^th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Northwest Pavilion.

What’s great about Coats for Kids is its simplicity for the end user. Everyday people (like you and me) donate coats, Tuchman Cleaners gets the coats fresh and clean, and then parents and their children show up at the Indiana State Fairground to pick one out. Babies, teens, and even parents benefit from these coats being collected, yet parents shouldn’t have to decide between a winter coat or groceries.

Last week at Lucas Oil Stadium, as Colts fans packed in the Stadium to see the Colts take on the Jacksonville Jaguars, donations were only moderate. However, to date, there are only about 2500 coats that have been collected, and with a goal of 10,000 coats by October 6^th, Coats for Kids needs our help. If you do not have the means to donate a new or gently used coat, you may have an office “pitch in” and make a donation that will go towards purchasing a new coat for a deserving child.

To make a donate click here or take your new or gently used heavy winter coat to any Tuchman Cleaner’s location in the city. Winter may be cold, but it doesn’t have to be dreary for a kid without a coat.

-Janine

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Georgia Superintendent Earns a Million

9/16/2008 1:14:00 PM

Do you know who the longest reigning British monarch was? Well, Georgia Superintendent Kathy Cox knew that it was in fact Queen Victoria, and knowing this tidbit of historical trivia won her a whopping one million dollars. On the season premiere of Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Cox answered 10 correct questions, with the assistance of her 5th grade partners, to win the million. Cox intends to give the earnings to the Georgia schools. The superintendent was the first to win the million on the show. Ranked #48 in education, Georgia schools are in need of a shift, and by appearing on 5th Grader, Cox drew some criticism for taking time out to appear on the show. Read more here.

-Janine

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Act Today to Preserve Youth Programs

8/21/2008 12:39:00 PM

• free concerts in neighborhood parks
• arts-related internships for young people at risk
• day camps and arts programs in after-school settings - programs that provide supportive, safe environments to more than 950 Indianapolis kids.

• Join your fellow Provider Council colleagues and others committed to young people's healthy development at tonight's City-County Council meeting in room 260 at the City-County Building at 5:00pm. Show up tonight and be heard!
• Contact the City-Council members to let them know that you think these cuts could hurt our community's kids! Call them at 327-4241, the constituent concern line. The Parks & Recreation subcommittee members will have the greatest impact on this issue.

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Guest Post: Save Indy Parks After-School Programs!

8/20/2008 10:03:00 AM

Today, we're featuring a guest post from Shalom Black, the Director of Community Programs at Young Audiences Indiana. This perspective was originally posted at the Smaller Indiana website. [Editor: Shalom followed up this entry on Smaller Indiana with another AWESOME post about what is accomplished at one of these afterschool programs each day.]

This is it... my first blog entry ever! Before now, I've not felt the need to raise issues in a public forum, but that changed this morning.

When they came for the arts-- I complained to my colleagues.
When they came for our parks-- I complained to my neighbors.
Now they've come for our children, and I'll shout it to anyone who will listen!

This morning, I received an email from David Klinkose, Executive Director of the Indiana Afterschool Network, Chair of the Afterschool Coalition of Indianapolis, former After School Programs Coordinator for Mayor Peterson, and all around wonderful human being. The long and short of his message is that Mayor Ballard of Indianapolis is proposing to eliminate Indy Parks & Recreation afterschool and summer programs, impacting 950 children in 9 IPS schools.

My organization, Young Audiences of Indiana, provides arts-based afterschool programs at the majority of these sites, many of which are in extremely underserved areas of the city. I've amassed copious amounts of research proving the ability of afterschool programs to reduce and prevent youth crime, and prevent many other social problems created when children are left unattended in the afternoons. Wasn't crime prevention one of Ballard's key initiatives? Not only that, but afterschool programs help youth improve academically, giving them help with homework and raising those all- important ISTEP scores!

The Parks & Recreation Committee of the City County Council hearing to discuss this budget is August 21 at 5 pm at the City Council Building, 200 W Washington St, Room 260. There will be an opportunity for the public to speak at this meeting, so join us in advocating for after school funding! Or, if you can't attend, write or call your councillor (see attached form letter): Value of Indy Parks Ltr.doc
The Honorable or Councillor (Name)
241 City-County Building
200 E.Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
327-4242

CONSTITUENT CONCERNS
327-4241

Here's a link to the City council members on this particular committee.

And here's a list of the schools and community sites slated for these proposed funding cuts for Indy Parks After-school & Summer Programs:

Charity Dye, IPS #27 - After-school Program
545 E. 19th, 46202

James Garfield, IPS#31 - After-school Program
307 Lincoln Street, 46225

William Penn, IPS#49 - After-school Program
1720 W. Wilkins, 46221

James Russell Lowell, IPS#51 - After-school and Summer Programs!
3436 Rosselvelt, 46218

Wendell Phillips, IPS#63 - After-school and Summer Programs!
1163 Belmont, 46222

Joyce Kilmer, IPS#69 - After-school Program
3421 N. Keystone Av, 46218

Christian Park, IPS#82 - After-school Program
4700 English AV, 46201

Daniel Webster, IPS#46 - After-school Program
1450 S. Reisner, 46221

Brookside Park - After-school Program
3500 Brookside Parkway S. Drive

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Family Meals Make a Big Difference to Girls

7/28/2008 12:00:00 AM

A report released by the University of Michigan (read the summary or the abstract) reveals that, while boys do not see the same impact, middle school girls who regularly eat meals with their families are at a significantly reduce risk for negative behaviors. In the study of 800 middle school students, girls who ate meals with their family at least five times a week were half as likely to engage in substance abuse five years later.  

The study doesn’t tackle the roots of the disparity or why boys did not demonstrate the same reduced substance abuse. Perhaps society’s heightened emphasis on social interaction for girls bears some role in the difference.

Regardless of this disparity, family meals are an example of how caring relationships with adults support healthy youth development and help young people make positive decisions. Family meals are one way of fostering a connection between youth and caring adults, but there are many more that can achieve similar impacts.

-Kirsten

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Young Indy Entrepreneurs

7/16/2008 11:26:00 AM

With Black Expo's Summer Celebration in full swing, check out this story on the kinds of options available to young people throughout the city to learn entrepreneurial skills.

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Mayor Ballard Endorses Summer Learning

7/11/2008 11:27:00 AM

"What I like about MCCOY is that they bring people together in a concentrated effort," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard on Wednesday morning at the kick-off breakfast for the city's National Summer Learning Day celebration. We're very proud of the official recognition, but even prouder of the public awareness being raised of this important issue.

In addition to the Mayor, Willis Bright of the Lilly Endowment, Ron Fairchild of the Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University and MCCOY's  President, John Brandon, spoke to a room full of youth-serving professionals, elected officials and summer campers about the academic and social benefits of summer programming for young people.

This event, sponsored by MCCOY, will hopefully be the first of many to come. Posters on each table asked guests to consider the role summer programming played in their own personal development.

What did you learn at summer camp that you still apply today?

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Have Your Kid Paint Your House

7/2/2008 1:53:00 PM

From the Parent Hacks blog, a simple, creative, and no-cleanup way for kids to "paint" your house with water.

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No Pregnancy Pact in Massachusetts

6/26/2008 9:13:00 AM

I don't know about you, but I thought there was something a little off as we followed the story out of Gloucester about the uptick in pregnancies at the high school. Recently, 17 young women became pregnant, compared to the four or so that is typical for that school. Yet before the facts could be sorted out, the principal had stated there was a pregnancy "pact" among the girls.

Turns out, many of them decided to help each other out in light of the unrelated pregnancies. The principal was even quoted in Time magazine stating the group got pregnant on purpose.

I'm sure if we wait even a little bit longer, more actual facts will emerge. Here's a story about the story.

- Chris

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Have Eighth Grade Graduations Gone Too Far?

6/23/2008 1:24:00 PM

An article in the New York Times points to a curious trend in adolescence - the prom-ification and exuberant celebration of 8th grade graduations. A quick excerpt:

Modern eighth-grade graduations have become a tangle of outdated definitions of a successful education, inducements to remain in school, and contemporary values about self-esteem and enshrining a child’s many rites of passage. In some communities those rites begin with preschoolers wearing mortarboards. In their blow-out iterations, the eighth-grade bashes borrow from bar and bat mitzvahs for 13-year-olds, quinceañeras for Latina 15-year-olds and sweet 16 parties.

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Roam free!

6/19/2008 11:37:00 AM

A child using her/his imagination to play a game in the woods isn’t just having fun; she’s setting a foundation for future independence, inner strength and an ability to resist stress that will last a lifetime. Check out this article on Adbusters for anecdotal and scientific evidence that kids who spend time outdoors end up healthier for life.

- Amelia

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Students Impacted by Asian-American Stereotypes

6/11/2008 11:55:00 AM

Facts, Not Fiction, a report released Monday by New York University, the College Board and a panel of educators and leaders, indicated that, by grouping diverse communities and experiences into one "Asian-American and Pacific Islander" group, some young people's needs are likely going unnoticed.

The category "Asian-American" can be used for disparate groups - people of Chinese, Japanese and Korean descent, but also those whose families originate in India, Pakistan, Samoa, the Phillipines and Cambodia. The economic and educational background of these groups can vary widely, as do individuals within each group. By adopting the "model minority" stereotype of Asian-American students, schools may be neglecting individual needs. The report further argues that the stereotype positions Asian-American communities against other minority communities, creating the perception that one group is a "solution" and other groups a "problem".

It's all very interesting. And the report points to how our focus on groups more than individuals, as well as our culture's reliance on stereotypes, can often hinder young people's opportunities, even when the stereotypical expectations seem to be positive.

Read the report or a great overview at the NYTimes for more information.
To find out more about Asian-American stereotypes in education, visit this article at Eric Digest.
Wikipedia also provides some interesting overviews of the roots, articulation and impact of a variety of Asian-American stereotypes.

- Kirsten

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Cyber Safety Guide

6/10/2008 10:02:00 AM

"The Internet is here, kids will use it..."

Nancy Willard, Director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, recently delivered this message to parents at a Princeton University forum. Her intent was not to spread gloom and doom, but to talk about appropriate guidelines for Internet use based on age and maturity level.

Because her work is useful to all parents and youth advocates, she has also published a guide, entitled Social Networking Safety: A Guide for Parents, which individuals and organizations are free to use and distribute. The Internet is here and kids are using it. This doesn't have to be a scary thing!

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The Collaboration Prize

5/29/2008 1:37:00 PM

Nominations for The Collaboration Prize will be accepted beginning June 1st (and through July 21st).

"The Collaboration Prize recognizes collaborations among two or more nonprofit organizations that each would otherwise provide the same or similar programs or services and compete for clients, financial resources and staff. The Prize also seeks to build an information base of effective practice models that can be studied and used by academics, nonprofit leaders and grantmakers to inspire and advance their work."

Collaboration over competition...what a novel idea!

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Doodle 4 Google

5/23/2008 9:19:00 AM

The search engine giant Google asked K-12 graders to doodle around the theme, "What if...?" They received over 16,000 entries, and here's a link to some of the finalists. It's really cool to see how creative young people can be when they're given the freedom to just go with a concept.

-Chris

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White House Conference on Child Welfare

5/22/2008 12:51:00 PM

The Child Welfare League of America is calling on youth-serving organizations across the nation to sign on in support of a  White House Conference on Child Welfare, to resume in 2010. Once an event held every ten years and designed to bring the child welfare community to the table to determine common goals and priorities, the government has not come together around this issue since 1970.

Senators Bayh and Lugar and Congressmen Carson and Burton will be receiving a letter from MCCOY in the next few days encouraging them to support the re-establishment of this conference. Additionally, 29 State Representatives and 17 State Senators from central Indiana will receive a request to join us in encouraging support.

MCCOY joins ten other organizations in Indiana and many across the nation who have registered their support with CWLA. We urge you and your organization to do the same.

To get started, feel free to use our Board Resolution of Support as a guide. We've also compiled a list of legislators, including central Indiana's State Representatives and State Senators. All state legislators receive mail at 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204.

- Amelia

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Financing based on outcomes

5/21/2008 9:45:00 AM

A web conference on June 10, 2008 entitled Governing for Children and Families: A Social Policy Web Conference Series will explore the advantages and challenges of performance-based contracting.

States are increasingly using performance-based contracting in a variety of arenas, including youth and family services. This approach shifts incentives so that financing better aligns with outcomes for youth. Learn how providers can implement a performance-based model and use outcomes data to improve services for children within their existing structure.

MCCOY is currently working on an initiative to encourage data-driven program quality assessment and enhancement in central Indiana. Find out more about our Ready by 21™ Quality Counts Initiative by following this link.

- Amelia

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Mother indicted in MySpace hoax

5/20/2008 9:34:00 AM

The Missouri mother -- who faces up to 20 years in prison -- was indicted for her alleged role in the suicide death of a neighborhood teen. This story got the Dateline treatment a few months ago, and here's the CNN article.

-Chris

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Youth Garden Grants

5/19/2008 10:22:00 AM

The National Gardening Association (NGA), in partnership with Home Depot, is accepting proposals through November 1st for its 2009 Youth Garden Grants. NGA will award 125 Youth Garden Grants worth up to $1000 to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs.

Programs emphasizing educational focus or curricular/program integration, nutrition or plant-to-food connections, environmental awareness/education, entrepreneurship and social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support or service-learning will be given priority.

Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups are eligible and will also receive 12 months of NGA supporter benefits, including online gardening and botany courses. Applicants must plan to garden with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18. The complete RFP is available at the NGA website.

- Amelia

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Summer Reading

5/16/2008 1:16:00 PM

The Indiana Department of Education has released its Summer Reading List for young people. You can download it by grade level or in its entirety.

The reading list is a compilation of lists submitted from school districts in Indiana, selections from a wide range of award-winning literature and selections from lists developed and published by professional associations. It's not all-inclusive, but it's a good place to start if you're looking for reading materials for the young people you serve!

- Amelia

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The Long Arm of the Law

5/15/2008 10:19:00 AM

Voices in the fields of juvenile justice and child welfare are starting to be heard above the others calling for children to be kept out of detention centers and foster care whenever possible. The principle behind this call is a simple one - children need their parents.

But even if these leaders triumph over the conservative thinking that has kept these youth-serving systems intact for so many years, many obstacles to families staying together still exist.  Like the adult justice system, as the story of Susan Lefevre, also known as Marie Walsh, illustrates.

Sentenced to 10-20 years in a Michigan prison at age 19 for attempting to sell $200 worth of heroin to an undercover cop, she escaped to California where police caught up with her last month, 32 years later. Michigan authorities say the mother of three, whose husband describes her as "a person of the highest integrity" who had "the full support of her many friends in the area," will serve out the rest of her sentence and possibly an extra sentence for the escape.

Is this justice? And can we ever really do what's best for young people without doing what's best for all people?

- Amelia

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Kids' game adds 500-1,000 words to its forbidden list every day

5/9/2008 12:00:00 AM

The kid-centric online game Club Penguin (acquired by Disney last year) adds 500-1000 words a day to its list of forbidden chat words in an effort to keep things clean. I would be willing to bet that clever kids come up with 2000-4000 new variant spellings a day.

Here's a link to the story.

-Chris

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Parents, get talking!

5/7/2008 12:23:00 PM

On the day after the primary election in Indiana, bloggers, reporters and politicians across the country are speculating about why voters did or did not vote for particular candidates. Fewer voices are discussing why so many voters turned out to vote at all (over 1.6 million).

Some say Hoosier voters felt empowered by the national attention, and certainly this is one reason among many. But the high rate of new voter registration among YOUNG voters (under the age of 30) cannot be overstated.

And what is motivating voters within this demographic? Are they inspired by candidates' MySpace and Facebook pages? Or have they been caught up in the whirlwind of political conversation surrounding a war, rising gas prices, a recession and a historical race between a woman and a black man?

The American Political Science Association published an article last year in their journal explaining how political conversation with peers, teachers and especially parents is a critically important factor in determining the level of a young person's civic engagement.

The article states that parents engaging their adolescent children in discussions about current events and politics is the STRONGEST parent-related indicator of the child's civic development - stronger than income, ethnicity, education, homeownership or employment. Children of such parents are 18 percent more likely to vote.

So get talking, people! We have only six short months until the general election.

- Amelia

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Indy's Rolling Project Safe Place

4/30/2008 12:08:00 PM

Over the course of the past few months, public transportation has been a hot topic of conversation among my youth-serving colleagues (perhaps in small part due to the fact that it's a topic very near and dear to my heart). Again and again I hear comments like, "Well, parents won't just stick their child on a city bus! It's not safe."

In fact, it's not always safe to allow children to get where they need to go using public transportation - but not because the buses themselves are dangerous. Getting to the bus stop safely can be a problem, as many neighborhoods have no sidewalks or cross walks and obstructed views of the roads, and many residents lack regard for and awareness of the pedestrian.

Just how safe are children once on the bus? IndyGo announced today that each and every city bus is now an official "Safe Place", complete with the iconic yellow sign. In partnership with the Children's Bureau, Inc., who has sponsored Project Safe Place in Indiana for 21 years, all IndyGo coach operators have received training on what to do and whom to call when a child boards their bus in need of emergency assistance.

To learn more about the efforts underway to bring sidewalks and safe "built environments" to our communities, visit Health by Design online. If you would like to see more public transportation options for young people in the community, go to CIRTA's website and sign up for the mailing list to be apprised of opportunities to get involved.

- Amelia

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Engineering an Equitable America

4/30/2008 10:51:00 AM

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE), guided by an advisory board of talented young women from across the country, launched a website in 2001 called EngineerGirl, as part of a national project to promote engineering as a career, particularly among girls and women.

Today the website is overflowing with resources for girls of all ages with an interest in the field. The "Fun Facts" section pays homage to the historical achievements of women in engineering, like Ada Byron Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, who designed the very first "computer program" in 1843!

A section called "Games and Puzzles" offers free time activities that stimulate the development of basic engineering skills, and girls can even get a glimpse of what a starting salary for a young woman with an engineering degree might look like - and it's not bad.

To learn more about MCCOY's efforts to increase gender equity in the field of science and to get your organization involved, visit our Great Science for Girls page.

- Amelia

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The Downside of Breakfast

4/24/2008 1:55:00 PM

Food merchants in Baltimore may end up taking the blame for a recent epidemic of school tardies - and are understandably upset about it. Teachers say the food students bring into class with them indicates they're stopping on the way to school and that this is the reason for their tardiness.

Consequently, local Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke has introduced a bill that would extend the normal curfew barring youth from retail establishments to begin at 7:30 rather than 9 a.m., and burden the store owners with the responsibility of keeping kids out. And I thought breakfast was the most important meal of the day.

Restaurant and convenience store owners argue that it's the responsibility of the parents and the students themselves to get to school on time. And what about the schools? Would stricter consequences for arriving late not dissuade students from dragging their feet?

Reporters at wjz.com, the media outlet reporting the story, caught up to a few youths at a McDonald's before school last Monday and when asked what they thought about the new law, which would be punishable up to $50 for parents and $500 for retailers, Shane Richardson responded:

        "I think we should be able to buy food anytime we want to, cause if [we're] going to be late, we might as well have food and be late."

Touché.

- Amelia

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Child Hunger on the Rise in Indiana

4/16/2008 3:58:00 PM

The Indiana Youth Institute's online monthly column for April, "Indiana Children are Still Hungry",  exposes some pretty sickening facts about child hunger and poverty in Indiana. The number of students receiving free and reduced lunches is up 10 percent from 2000 and the child poverty rate in is now 18 percent, up from 11.6 percent 2000.

Peter Dunn, former CEO of Steak 'N Shake and now Chairman of the Board of America's Second Harvest, makes a point in the article that should resonate with all of us who work with young people regardless of the sector when he says "a hungry child cannot learn." The article goes on to point out how hunger affects every aspect of a child's development, as hungry children have a greater likelihood of being suspended or expelled, suffering from depression, having suicidal thoughts and needing more medical care and hospitalization.

Why is this timely now? Because spring and summer are traditionally slow seasons for food banks with the holidays nowhere in sight. And things only get worse when schools close and students who normally receive breakfast and lunch from school are hungrier than ever.

There are 12 food banks in Indiana, many of which are right here in Indianapolis. If you or a group of young people you know are looking for an opportunity to contribute this summer, here are a few websites to get you started:

- Gleaners Food Bank
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank
- Second Helpings

- Amelia

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NPT Offers New Donor Database

4/15/2008 1:27:00 PM

The NonProfit Times and partner company, NOZASEARCH, have recently announced a database of million dollar or greater corporate and individual donations, searchable by business name, location or cause and easily exported to a spreadsheet.

There are two levels of service for this database. The first level is free and requires no registration, granting visitors access to just over 4,000 listings. The second level costs a nominal fee (possibly as low as $25), but allows you to search 30 million donation records. For a limited time, entering the promotional code, "NPTGRANTSEARCH" at checkout will get you a 20% discount.

This could be great news for some of you small non-profits out there with limited funds and a limited contact list!

- Amelia

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Juvenile Detention Center Not Off the Hook Yet

4/14/2008 12:08:00 PM

The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating civil rights abuses at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center for almost two years. The investigation is now complete and a settlement agreement was filed last week, but the detention center is nowhere near off-the-hook. Read the full story in the Indianapolis Star here.

The Justice Department will continue to monitor the detention center for the next three years to make sure improvements are being made in three key areas: security, health and safety and education. The detention center will be held accountable, among other things,  for increasing its suicide prevention efforts and for ensuring that bed and clothing items are properly cleaned to prevent the spread of disease.

For more information about  the state of the  juvenile justice system in Indiana, contact  the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force.

- Amelia

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L.I.F.E for Kids at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital

4/11/2008 11:54:00 AM

Doctors at the new Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent's are tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity with a holistic approach. The L.I.F.E. for Kids program stands for lifetime, individual, fitness and eating and seeks to reverse the serious medical conditions that can arise in overweight children by overhauling each child's lifestyle, one at a time.

Participants and their families meet with doctors fifteen times over the course of one year, during which time they are coached about balancing foods from all food groups, portion-size awareness and managing the eating environment. They are also given recommendations for regular physical activity based on abilities and interests. The goal of the L.I.F.E. for Kids team is the long-term health and well-being of the child.

The website also offers a wealth of nutrition and exercise  resources for the viewing public.

- Amelia

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Getting Out the Non-profit Vote

4/10/2008 3:04:00 PM

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New JCC Teen House Welcomes All Teens

4/9/2008 11:26:00 AM

I recently took a tour of the new JCC Teen House over at 7005 Hoover Road with Director of Youth and Outreach, David Waldman. It’s awesome! Modern ottomans (all donated) dot the place like hip toadstools, and the house has space for everything from competitive ping pong in the kitchen to relaxed hanging out in the living room. The Teen House is now home to all JCC high school programming, and it's available for other teen groups to use.

Most impressive is that everything from the paint color to house governance is youth led and youth driven. Sure, there’s dedicated space for homework, but there’s also fooseball, air hockry, and a large-screen HD TV – oh yeah, and both a Wii and a Playstation.

For more information, get in touch with David Waldman or visit the Teen section of the JCC website.

-Chris

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Storming the House of Lords

4/5/2008 12:00:00 AM

The last chance to vote for the issues to be debated by the UK Youth Parliament when they "storm the House of Lords" on May 2, 2008 is just four short days away. Of course, you can't vote if you're not from the United Kingdom and between the ages of 11 and 18. You can, however, watch it unfold and wonder why it's not happening here.

For nine years, young people across the United Kingdom have been actively participating in the decision-making processes of their government(s). There are currently 500 Members of Youth Parliament (MYP), and in the last two annual elections over 550,000 young people turned out to vote for them.

The UKYP has a guiding Manifesto, it meets once a year as a whole, more often in regional caucuses and as often as possible with MPs and other government offices and assemblies to discuss issues of concern to the young people of the nation, as voted on BY those young people.

The top three issues for 2007 were sex and relationship education, transport, and reducing the voting age to 16. These are serious youth, taking their civic duties seriously. So, what are we waiting for here in the U.S.?

- Amelia

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Education Entrepreneur Fellowship

4/4/2008 12:00:00 AM

You've figured out an innovative solution to the problems facing public education in America. You have a new approach, a fresh idea and a vision, but not the resources or support necessary to bring it to fruition.

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Where Will IndyGo?

4/4/2008 12:00:00 AM

As part of its "First Wednesdays" series, the ACLU hosted a discussion yesterday entitled Buses, Trains & Monorails: Can Mass Transit Make it in Indianapolis? All parties involved seemed to agree that legislators won't likely make a move on the issue until they  hear a cry from the general public, who will most likely remain silent until legislators present it as an option. And critical federal funding is out of the question until there is some show of support locally.

In 1995 the IndyGo METRO Summer Bus Pass was established through MCCOY's intervention and advocacy. Over 1,000 passes were sold in the very first summer to young people, determined not to give up on jobs, classes and community involvement simply because they didn't have a license, a car, or a trusted adult available to lend a ride. Unfortunately, based on size and population, Indianapolis has only half the bus lines of comparable cities like St. Louis and Charlotte, cities that also offer at least one rail option to their citizens.

Interestingly, there was some discussion yesterday about how public transportation in Indianapolis changed dramatically when school buses became an independent operation, cutting public bus routes in half. President of IndyGo, Gil Holmes, a panelist at yesterday's discussion, posited that if the two systems were to successfully merge again (particularly in Center Township), doubling the number of buses available to the general public, Indianapolis might finally have the leverage necessary to garner federal funding for a major expansion.

Could reuniting students and commuters be a logical first step in beefing up mass transit options in Indianapolis?

Panelist Ehren Bingaman, Executive Director of CIRTA (Central Indiana Regional Mass Transit Authority), closed the discussion yesterday by urging anyone interested in joining the discussion to sign up on their website to receive news and alerts.

- Amelia

ADDENDUM, 4/8: The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is another great resource for information about public transportation and its effects on youth and the community at-large. They are currently accepting applications for an ALL EXPENSES PAID conference for incoming high school juniors and seniors entitled,  "Teening" Up for a Greener World Youth Summit, to be held June 22-25, 2008 in Washington, D.C. Click here for more information, and be sure to let MCCOY know if there will be a delegate from central Indiana in attendance - we want a full report!

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Volunteering Could Save Your Life

4/1/2008 10:00:00 AM

We all know that volunteering can make a huge difference in the health of the community. But did you know it can affect the health of the volunteer, as well?

A study by the Corporation for National and Community Service shows that regular volunteering, particularly for those over the age of 65, can actually reduce the risk of depression and heart disease, among other benefits.

Next time a prospective volunteer is on the fence, let him or her know that volunteering could be an actual life-saver!

- Amelia

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Extra, Extra!

4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Hopefully this is old news to most of you, but I just stumbled across this little section on the Indianapolis Star website. The Star sponsors a number of programs for youth, including its Partnership for Young Readers program, supplying area students with newspapers in an effort to promote literacy.

Discovering a new opportunity for community partnership always brings a smile to my face. If you know of a program like this one that you just can't wait to share with our bloggers, please post it below!

- Amelia

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DCS: Child Deaths Decline

3/31/2008 12:00:00 AM

The Indiana Department of Child Services is reporting a significant decrease in the number of deaths of children who were victims of abuse or neglect.  In the 06-07 fiscal year, 36 children died in abusive or neglectful situations, down from 53 deaths in the 05-06 fiscal year.  Two of the 36 children were from Marion County.

The report was released as the DCS and its director, James W. Payne, celebrated the hiring of DCS's 800th case worker.  Find out more details at the IndyStar's article on the report.

For more on how MCCOY has been engaged in Child Welfare system reform, visit this page.

-Kirsten

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Magazine Photographer Trains Lens on Teens

3/28/2008 12:00:00 AM

Photojournalist Robin Bowman -- who's documented conflicts in Bosnia and Darfur -- spent four years and 20,000 miles photographing and interviewing more than 400 American teens. Some of that work is collected in It's Complicated: The American Teenager. Click here for the story on NPR.

- Chris

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Generation Y in '08

3/27/2008 12:00:00 AM

It seems the generation of young people to have recently joined the ranks of the voting public has been seriously underestimated. As this article on mobilize.org explains, "Millennials", "Gen Yers" or "Echo Boomers" (those born roughly between 1980 and 1995) are taking the 2008 presidential election by storm, turning out to vote in certain states' primaries in numbers 25% higher than 2004.

The article also sheds some much-needed light on the motivations of these young people as they enter the polling booth and the work force - job security (as high salaries seem out of the question), quality healthcare for all and innovative, collaborative approaches to problem-solving on all levels. Perhaps young people are not as apathetic and disengaged as many would believe...

For more information on youth voting trends in this year's primaries, visit the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement.

- Amelia

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Out of Sight - Not Necessarily Out of Mind

3/27/2008 12:00:00 AM

City Council men and women in Annapolis, Maryland are in heated debate over imposing a city-wide teen curfew after the murder of  a 17-year old boy becomes the second homicide this year in one of the city's public housing authorities. Read the full story from the Washington Post here.

This is by no means a new approach to what is also not a new problem. Proponents of curfews argue that they give parents a basis for insisting their children come home at a decent hour, and that less time on the street gives young people less of a window for violent crime. Opponents say there is little evidence to support these theories. In fact, one analysis of literature and surveys on the topic reported the following phenomenon when a curfew was imposed in Detroit in the 1970's:

"...diminished incidence of youth misbehavior while under curfew was accompanied by an observable increase in criminal activity between 2 and 4 p.m. Thus, it appears as if youth misconduct was merely displaced to time periods when the curfew ordinance was not in effect."

What type of innovative approach could and/or should the Annapolis City Council, and decision-makers across the country, be taking to protect their youth? Update yourself on the recent history of teen curfew laws in Indiana by checking out the following links:

• Federal court ruling
• New curfew law passed
• Mayor's office announces curfew sweeps

- Amelia

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High School Students Embrace their "Fundraising Prowess"

3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM

Fundraising has never looked like this before. The days of peddling popcorn and wrapping paper in the hopes of winning a limo ride to McDonald's may soon be replaced by a new paradigm: Students uniting behind a cause greater than themselves, and greater than a set of new encyclopedias for the school library, and exercising the freedom to contribute to that cause in whichever way they see fit.

Students at Highland Park High in a suburb of Chicago, and students from high schools across the country, are doing just this, as this article in the New York Times explains.

Why have fundraising efforts like these captured the attention of the national media? What do students and schools themselves stand to gain from supporting such initiatives? And most importantly, how can we duplicate such efforts here in Central Indiana?

For more ideas, visit Youth as Resources (UWCI) or the Midwest Youth Philanthropy Network on the web.

- Amelia

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Campecine Film Festival

3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM

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VH1 & Bright House Donate Instruments to Local Schools

3/18/2008 12:00:00 AM

Kids at eight schools will be the beneficiaries of an instrument donation from VH1's Save the Music and Bright House Networks.  The donation of $240,000 will help schools "jumpstart new music programs."  The full IndyStar article has a few additional details.

For more information about the (pretty impressive) impact of music on learning and development, as well as music education in the US, visit the National Association for Music Education.

(Kirsten)

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Perspectives on Youth Success and the Impact of Online Activity

3/14/2008 12:00:00 AM

Amy Goldwasser at Salon has some interesting thoughts about adults' response to a recent glut of "kids today" articles focusing on educational outcomes and voluntary reading.  She argues against the idea that communicating and consuming online culture is necessarily secondary to more traditional notions of how and what kids should be learning.

An excerpt:

Or is it the older generation that the Internet has seduced -- into the inanities of leveling charges based on fear, ignorance and old-media, multiple-choice testing? So much so that we can't see that the Internet is only a means of communication, and one that has created a generation, perhaps the first, of writers, activists, storytellers? When the world worked in hard copy, no parent or teacher ever begrudged teenagers who disappeared into their rooms to write letters to friends -- or a movie review, or an editorial for the school paper on the first president they'll vote for. Even 15-year-old boys are sharing some part of their feelings with someone out there.

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Indiana's Achievement Gap

3/13/2008 12:00:00 AM

An article in the Indianapolis Star today drew attention to a recent report from the Alliance for Excellent Education that highlights the achievement gaps and the number of young people who fail to pass statewide achievement tests.  View the original report at the Alliance's Indiana page.

How does this educational state impact the young people you serve?  What should our community be doing to improve access to quality education?

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Suburban Decline Catalyzing Social (& Youth) Problems?

3/11/2008 12:00:00 AM

An interesting article from the Atlantic.com points to a real estate trend that could have a significant impact on many young people.  As urban living becomes more popular among professionals, suburbs are increasingly becoming sites for crime and property neglect, environmental factors that can have a negative impact on young people.

From the article:

...the crisis has indeed catalyzed or intensified social problems in many communities. But the story of vacant suburban homes and declining suburban neighborhoods did not begin with the crisis, and will not end with it. A structural change is under way in the housing market—a major shift in the way many Americans want to live and work. It has shaped the current downturn, steering some of the worst problems away from the cities and toward the suburban fringes. And its effects will be felt more strongly, and more broadly, as the years pass. Its ultimate impact on the suburbs, and the cities, will be profound.

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Pay for Grades

3/10/2008 12:00:00 AM

Surely, parents and former-students alike dealt with the topic of paying kids for good grades.  Whether it happens (or happened) in your home or your friends' homes, the debate is a familiar one for many. 

But here's a story with a relatively new twist on the pay-for-grade strategy, from the New York Times: "Where Students Make the Grade and $25 a Week."  Through the featured Red Bank, NY effort, the school identifies "at-risk" youth and offers them the opportunity to get paid for being better students.  Financed through a Federal grant, the program requires students to be punctual, prepared, and present.

What do you think?  Does it work for parents?  Would it work for communities? 

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