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This state will be the first to offer free child care, regardless of income

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 1d

In November, New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to launch a universal free child care program that it’s estimated will save families an average of $13,000 a year.

New Mexico ranks last among all states on child well-being, but its Democratic governor has committed to be the first to offer free universal child care.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 1d

While many people believe that only 3% of young people in foster care graduate from college, that number has actually been outdated for many years and currently 8–12% of youth with foster care experience have earned a degree by their mid to late 20s.

Foster Care Education Outcomes: New Research Challenges the 3% Myth

Foster youth achieve more than outdated stats suggest. New data shows progress in high school and college completion, though barriers remain.

Georgia Law Ends Expulsion for Student Absences | The Imprint

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 1d

“This isn’t just about reducing numbers [of absent students]. It’s about understanding why students aren’t showing up for class. What support are they missing? How can we respond in ways that are compassionate, strategic and effective?”

Georgia Students will no longer be expelled for missing class. Instead, schools must ask where the kids are, and why they're absent.

imprintnews.org

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 2d

Student attendance rates are higher when schools are able to create safe and stable educational environments where young people feel supported and teachers work collaboratively with families.

For Some Kids, Getting to School Is Really Hard. They Still Need to Go Every Day

Chang & Allensworth: How schools in Chicago, Providence, Memphis, Kansas City are reducing chronic absenteeism with data, outreach and support.

Five Minutes With… Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation - NationSwell

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 7d

“Too often, our systems only engage with young people after something has gone wrong — after they’ve dropped out... or landed in foster care. But adolescent brain science tells us prevention isn’t just more humane — it’s also smarter and more cost-effective.” – Casey President & CEO Lisa Lawson

Five Minutes with Lisa Lawson, author of the new book Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children.

nationswell.com

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 7d

Thanks to a new Indiana law, older teens in foster care who aren’t yet adults will be able to open bank accounts without needing their guardian or foster parent to cosign — allowing these youth a level of financial independence and safety that young people in foster care often struggle to access.

New Indiana Law Expands Banking Access for Teens in Foster Care

In Indiana, it's now easier for emancipated youth and older teens in foster care to open their own bank account. Get the details.

How Mental Health Care in Schools Became the Norm in Minnesota

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 8d

“One of the things that’s been really beautiful is when you bring these mental health services into the schools it doesn’t seem like a big deal… Youth feel comfortable coming to a therapist or a social worker and saying, ‘Hey: I’ve got a concern,’ or, ‘I’ve got a concern about my friend.’”

While mental health care is not a given in public schools nationwide, Minnesota has made it a priority.

Michigan child care workers face high stakes, hard work at $15 an hour

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 8d

Despite the essential nature of their job, child care workers are often underpaid and don’t have access to benefits. In Michigan, 40% of child care workers are on Medicaid, and the median hourly wage for child care workers is $13.88.

Like Carla Brown, the people who take care of Michigan’s youngest children — those between birth and 3 years old — receive low pay for a challenging job that plays a critical role in early childhood d...

www.chalkbeat.org

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 9d

“Child health... has been prioritized in the past, and we have seen positive outcomes as a result, including a decline in teen births, more kids with health coverage [and] a decline in infant mortality.” – Monique Stanton, president & CEO at our KIDS COUNT partner @michleague.bsky.social

Michigan Kids Count report highlights education and economic challenges

LANSING, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) —The 2025 Kids Count in Michigan Data Book & Profiles, highlights both improvements and setbacks in the well-being of Michigan's chi

upnorthlive.com

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 9d

“We can’t expect young people to figure it out on their own. They need caring adults, real chances to learn and earn and communities designed to see and foster their potential.” – Lisa Lawson, Casey president and CEO, discussing adolescent brain science and her new book 'Thrive'.

The New Science of Raising Successful Adults

If you’ve ever wondered why young people are drawn to experiences that feel risky to adults—sneaking out to see friends, driving too fast, or saying yes to a wild adventure—you’re not alone. Scientist...

www.theatlantic.com

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 10d

Approximately 30% of U.S. public schools have placed a restriction or ban on cell phone usage during the school year — and based on new policies in states such as California and New York, it’s likely that percentage will only continue to rise.

This School Banned Phones 6 Years Ago. Teachers — and Many Kids — Are Loving it

Some teachers even said if the school were to end the program, they’d leave.

South Carolina Pilot Helps Teens Stay With Families and Out of Foster Care

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 10d

The Foundation is honored to be helping to support the Teen Alternative Pathway Pilot (TAPP), a South Carolina program providing families with crisis support, therapy and community-based services with the aim of helping parents and kids work through conflict and keeping teens out of foster care.

South Carolina is piloting a mix of crisis support, therapy and community-based services to help teens stay out of foster care. Learn more.

From Screen Time to ‘Green Time’: Going Outside to Support Student Well-Being

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 11d

“Kids may not have a park in their backyard or that’s walkable in their neighborhood, but pretty much all kids go to schools and they spend a lot of time there, so the idea is that if you can have green school yards, then that’s a way to provide equitable access to nature for all.”

Through the expansion of outdoor learning, schools are targeting mental health, academic reengagement and the ‘nature gap.’

This is why birth to 5 is a uniquely critical time for brain development in kids

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 11d

Did you know that babies' brains grow in size and strength so rapidly that by the age of 5, 90% of brain development has already occurred?

Parents and early educators play an active role in fostering a child's healthy brain development through responsive caregiving, the Detroit Free Press reports.

www.chalkbeat.org

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 14d

New Mexico has taken its commitment to making child care accessible even further by becoming the first U.S. state to offer universal child care to families starting this November.

New Mexico Will Become the First State to Offer Universal Child Care

A look back at the policy changes that have led the state to this step.

New Book Shows Why Equipping Adolescents to Thrive Is Key to a Brighter Future

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 14d

“If we understand what’s happening in young people’s brains, we can build the systems and support they need to thrive. That’s how we shape a better future — not just for them, but for all of us.” — Lisa Lawson, president & CEO of the Foundation

A new book from Annie E. Casey Foundation's president and CEO calls for a bold shift in supporting adolescent youth. Get the details.

New Census Data Reflect Rising Challenges in Texas on Health Insurance, Poverty, and Income Inequality - Every Texan

Reposted by Annie E. Casey Foundation

MichLeague.bsky.social @michleague.bsky.social · 16d

Michigan, get the facts! The state data profile highlights trends in key indicators from 2018-2024. Get the information: sholink.to/2025stateprofile #KidsCountMI

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 15d

In 2024, 13.6% of Texas kids lacked health insurance — the highest rate of uninsured children across any U.S. state, and nearly triple the rate of states like Massachusetts. Check out our KIDS COUNT partner @everytexan.bsky.social to learn more about the challenges faced by Texas kids.

The U.S. Census Bureau’s newly released 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates provide a fresh look at how families across the country are faring on various economic and social indicato...

everytexan.org

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 15d

“As childhood vaccination rates fall, we’ll see more diseases like measles. And we’ll see more children die — tragically — from diseases that are essentially entirely preventable.”

Data investigation: Childhood vaccination rates are backsliding across the U.S.

A monthslong NBC News data investigation finds that much of the U.S. doesn't have the protection needed to stop the spread of deadly diseases. St. Louis is a window into the problem communities face n...

www.nbcnews.com

American Kids Are Less Likely to Reach Adulthood Than Foreign Peers

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 16d

Babies and children in the U.S. are nearly twice as likely to die before reaching adulthood compared to children in other wealthy countries.

Firearms and premature births are among the leading causes of death.

https://bipartisanpolicy.org/blog/americas-child-care-gap-4-2-million-children-potentially-need-care-stuck-without-formal-child-care-spot/]

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Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 16d

Amidst the rapidly worsening shortage of high-quality and accessible child care, a recent analysis found that more than 1 in 4 young children — about 4.2 million kids — cannot find any child care spots in their communities.

Lisa Lawson explores the neuroscience of adolescence in 'Thrive'

Annie E. Casey Foundation @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social · 17d

Casey president and CEO Lisa Lawson joined @pbsnews.org to discuss her newly released book, "Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children."

The Annie E. Casey Foundation is perhaps best known for its work helping America’s youth. Lisa Lawson, the president and CEO, has done extensive research into the development of teenagers. She joined ...

www.pbs.org

Adriana Galván on the Adolescent Brain, Stress and Systems that Support Young People

Reposted by Annie E. Casey Foundation

UCLA Center for the Developing Adolescent @cda-adolescence.bsky.social · 17d

In the latest episode of The @annieecaseyfdn.bsky.social's podcast #CaseyCast, Co-Executive Director Adriana Galván speaks with the foundation’s CEO, Lisa Lawson, about the adolescent brain, stress, and systems that support young people!

Listen now: www.aecf.org/blog/adriana...

UCLA’s Adriana Galván joins Lisa Lawson to unpack adolescent brain science and how schools, justice and social systems can help young people thrive.