April 30, 2014  Subscribe
Trend Lines Blog
New focus on Hispanic youth

April 30th is El D�a de los Ni�os, a day to celebrate children that now includes a focus on the importance of reading to them. Demographers project that by 2050, 36 percent of children in the U.S. will be Hispanic. Hispanics are a growing economic, cultural, and political force in the U.S., but knowledge of the young Hispanic population is limited. In June, we will launch the Child Trends Hispanic Institute to provide timely, research-based information and guidance to improve outcomes for U.S. Latino children and youth. Read more about the Institute in our latest blog post.

 

Brain science and juvenile sentencing

Because their brains are especially sensitive to dopamine, teenagers are more apt to inflate the positive aspects of thrill-seeking behaviors. Changes in the area of the brain that coordinates impulse control and attention are not completed until we are in our twenties. This knowledge has played a role in some recent court decisions on juvenile sentencing.

International
Engaging youth in development

Child Trends, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development and FHI360 on the Workforce Connections project, is pleased to share a new report that identifies effective approaches to meaningfully engaging youth in programs, policies, and operational practices. As part of the larger Workforce Connections project, Child Trends will be developing a conceptual framework of key soft skills that prepare youth for work.

Early Childhood
Quality Rating and Improvement Systems

Most states are implementing, designing, or piloting a Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). A QRIS is meant to help improve the quality of early care and education, and support parent decision-making through the provision of program ratings. States differ, though, in how they determine program ratings within their QRIS. This new brief compares the three models states use, and discusses the links between program ratings and observed quality. The brief was produced by Child Trends for the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation.

Webcasts and Webinars
Make the Connection: How Positive Youth Development Offers Promise for Teen Health and Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Getting teens involved in activities they're interested in and involving them in communities can improve their health and reduce teen pregnancy rates. May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. To celebrate, learn from an expert panel what positive youth development is, how it's being used in community programs, and the way forward for research in a webcast on Wednesday, May 7th from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, from the Office of Adolescent Health.

Workforce development tools to drive performance
On Thursday, May 22nd, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. ET, join us for a walkthrough of PerformWell workforce development tools. Panelists will explain how they've used tools that track key milestones to success - such as one for tracking employer engagement, and a work readiness evaluation. PerformWell provides measurement tools and knowledge to help human services professionals manage programs' performance. It is a partnership of Child Trends, the Urban Institute, and Social Solutions
Copyright � 2014 by Child Trends