JCCFNews Summary
for November 21, 2014

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"Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents' arms, or are we a nation that values families and works together to keep them together?"

 

President Obama has announced that he will use his executive powers to grant relief to some five million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Read the full transcript of his speech here. Obama's move will likely dominate the Sunday talk shows, as critics alternately charge the President with going too far, or not going far enough, to stem border crossings or end the deportations of non-citizens.


Reporter Melissa del Bosque, winner of a Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, has been on the immigration beat for several years, mostly for the Texas Observer. She recently produced this powerful series - an in-depth exploration of life and death on the U.S. border, published by the Guardian. We recommend you read it, along with this piece by Rachel Greenwald in which del Bosque shares the backstory of her reporting. 



Coz and Effect



It's hard to talk about Bill Cosby. And hard not to. JCCF Director Julie Drizin explains how this "latest episode" of the Cosby show relates to her own family. And, she says it's time for men to lead an anti-rape movement, because posting a hashtag like #notallmen is #notnearlyenough. Read 
more



Have you checked out JCCF's multimedia reporting project about the world of social work and the impact social workers have on people across the lifespan? Dive in, listen to, read, and watch these stories about human needs and the hard work of transformation. And let us know what you think by posting comments on our 
News
News of Note
 
The New York Times, Nicole Godwin | Nov. 20
Once a depressed Iraq war veteran, a mom recounts her experience losing custody of her daughter for six months because of neglect. She says parents in the child welfare system need to be heard, too. 

Rolling Stone, Sabrina Rubin Erdely | Nov. 19
In a system that silences victims of sexual violence, the brutal gang rape of a UVA freshman is seen as just another "bad experience at a party" by peers and school-assigned victim advocates alike.

WBUR, Jessica Yellin | Nov. 19
Up to forty percent of the nation's homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer. Many of them are kicked out, disowned by families who won't accept who they are.

The Bismarck Tribune, Andrew Sheeler | Nov. 18
A report found that American Indian and Alaska Native children share something in common with veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan: Both groups experience post-traumatic stress disorder at triple the rate of the rest of the U.S. population.

Nursing Homes Serving Minorities Offer Less Care than Those Housing Whites

Center for Public Integrity, Jeff Kelly Lowenstein |Nov. 17

This investigation finds disparities in reported registered nurse staff levels that are especially pronounced for blacks and Latinos.


 

Associated Press, David Crary, Lisa Leff | Nov. 17

The nation's high poverty rate, the lack of affordable housing and the effects of pervasive domestic violence could be to blame. Supplement with The Washington Post's maps of where the country's 2.5 million homeless children live.


 

The Washington Post, Reid Wilson | Nov. 17

In Lexington, Virginia, donating 10 cans of food to a local food pantry can now wipe a resident's records clean until Dec. 19.


 

Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, Daryl Khan | Nov. 17

Guns are the second-leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1 through 19, and the number one cause among black children and teens.


Los Angeles Times, Diane Guerrero | Nov. 15
Diane Guerrero was 14 years old when her parents and older brother were deported to Colombia, leaving her to fend for herself. Now, she urges the government to provide deportation relief before another family is split up.

Providence Journal, Amanda Milkovitz | Nov. 15
A victim of sex-trafficking tells her chilling story.

NPR, Matt Bush | Nov. 14

One of the largest public school systems in the country is dropping all mention of religious affiliation for days off on its official calendar.

 

The New York Times, Motoko Rich | Nov. 14

Preschoolers whose parents received text messages with brief tips on reading to their kids or helping them sound out letters and words performed better on literacy tests than children whose parents did not receive such messages.


Washington Post, Danielle Bostick | Nov. 13
Thirty years after suffering sexual abuse at the hands of a swim coach and family friend during her a childhood, a survivor speaks out.
Events
Events

Fordham Law School
Dec. 1, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Ms. Foundation for Women hosts a panel highlighting Young v. UPS, a case that could set a precedent for how pregnant low-wage workers are treated.

Education for Upward Mobility

Thomas Fordham Institute

Dec. 2, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

A core assumption of the education reform movement is that excellent schools can be engines of upward mobility. But what kind of schools and to what end?


 

Ending the Charter Wars: Century and KIPP on School Models that Work

The Century Foundation

Dec. 3, 12 p.m.

An estimated 2.5 million students attend charter schools. Join the foundation for a discussion on serving low-income and minority students, student attrition and more.

 

Generations United 
Dec. 3, 5 - 7 p.m.
A reception and release of a report about grandparents who are serving as the primary caretaker of children in the home. 

 

National Press Foundation
Dec. 3, 1:30 p.m.
Johanna Dwyer, editor-in-chief of Nutrition Today, will discuss keys to quality journalism on healthy eating, from specific nutritional issues to dealing with conflicting advice.
 

Should Affirmative Action Be Colorblind?

Economic Policy Institute

Dec. 5, 10 a.m.

A debate between scholars about affirmative action in higher education. Is race-based affirmative action necessary or is it crucial to address the unique experience of African Americans?


Opportunities
Opportunity: Journalism for Social Change 

 

A new, free, seven-week online course hosted by EdX will help students interested in journalism, social work and public policy to use the media as an agent for social change. Students will learn how to produce solution-based stories through video lectures, writing exercises and interactive games, and will be tasked with writing their own original piece that could be published in "The Chronicle of Social Change." The seven-week course begins January 9. Register now. 

Journalism Center on Children & Families  |  1100 Knight Hall  |  University of Maryland  |  College Park, MD 20742
www.journalismcenter.org