PROP LINKS: Resources for Children's Issues

RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN'S ISSUES

General Children's Issues
Child Care and Early Childhood Education
Child Abuse
Maine-Specific Resources

Local Resources: PROP's Child Care Program
PROP's Head Start Program
PROP's Women, Infants & Children Program

24-hour ChildHelp USA Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD

MAINE Statewide Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-452-1999

24-hour MAINE State Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112

General Children's Resources

>>....Think Tanks and Information Clearinghouses

National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)

The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) invites you to visit the new, improved, and easier to use NCCIC.org —a completely redesigned site to better serve your early care and education information needs. NCCIC.org is an award-winning Web site dedicated to the dissemination of information and resources on early care and education to parents, providers, and national, State and local agencies.

www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm

Children's Defense Fund: "The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities." Issues covered include health, education (including Head Start and child care), poverty, violence, and faith. Offers factsheets, news, actions, research, parenting tips, links, and more. Lots of useful info but the site is not overwhelming.

U.S. Administration for Children and Families (U.S. Government): Good source for up-to-date news on children & youth issues. Topics include adoption/foster care, after-school resources, runaway and homeless youth, children's stats, government Web pages for kids, youth development, welfare reform data, child care, child abuse/neglect, etc. Many factsheets, on topics of Head Start, child welfare, domestic violence, community services programs, child support, TANF, etc. This agency includes a Children's Bureau (see below), a Child Care Bureau, a Head Start Bureau, LIHEAP info, Child Support Enforcement section, Family and Youth Services Bureau, and more.

National Center for Children and Poverty (NY): Well-designed, info-packed site. What's new section, media resources, newsletters, state and local info, child poverty facts, child care and early ed facts, family support and welfare reform info, etc.

Child Welfare League of America: Offers legislative info, background papers, recent literature, links to advocacy agencies, conferences, legislative alerts. Of special interest are a child day care factsheet and a link to Maine's 1999 children's facts and stats on child abuse, child health, child education, child violence, and child poverty, with references.

The American ProspectL Children & Families Special Issue: Articles include: "Support for Working Families," "Decent Child Care at Decent Wages," "Reforming Welfare Reform," "Leave No Child Behind?," "It Takes a Tax Credit to Raise a Child," "Is the New Economy Family-Friendly?," articles on school vouchers, and many others, as well as links to children's advocacy and research organizations.

Zero to Three (National Center for Infants, Toddlers & Families): "ZERO TO THREE is the nation's leading resource on the first three years of life. We are a national non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to strengthen and support families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy development of babies and toddlers." The Web site has two tracks, one for parents and one for professionals. The parent section offers help choosing quality child care, developmental milestones, general parenting info, and a resource list.

National Parent Information Network (ERIC): Features a virtual library with full-text resources, a collection of full-text resources for Urban/Minority Families, summaries of books, descriptions of newsletters and magazines; parent news; special initiatives; and question-answering service; electronic parenting discussion list.

Connect for Kids: Connect for Kids is "a virtual encyclopedia of information for adults who want to make their communities better places for kids." Sections: News and features, Action ideas, State-by-state, References (key reports, data, public opinion poll results, book reviews, A-Z encyclopedia), Newsletters, Discussion.

Macdonald Youth Services

A charitable treatment and support agency in Manitoba, Canada that provides a variety of innovative programming for children, youth and families.

>>....Factsheets, Articles, Reports, Resource Lists, Handbooks & Journals

Radio Series: The Forgotten Fourteen Million (National Public Radio/American Radio Works): This four-part series explores why both government and the free market are failing the most vulnerable young Americans [the 1 in 5 who are growing up poor]. The last article, The Politics of Child Poverty, tries to figure out why Americans tolerate a high rate of child poverty. Series by John Biewen.

Welfare Information Network: Indicators of Child Well-Being: Links to about 50 articles and research summaries (most on-line) concerning the measurement and trend of well-being in American's children.

The Future of Children (The David & Lucile Packard Foundation): Journal published three times a year, to disseminate information on issues related to children's well-being. Site includes list of past journals with thematic topics listed.

Article: Father-Child Relationships in Welfare Reform (Welfare Information Network): Lengthy 1998 article covering policy issues, research findings, innovative state programs, detailed bibliography, lots of links. Article presents programs and policy options that states may want to consider to combat some of the procedural, psychological and physical barriers to paternal involvement in children's lives.

Facts for Families (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry): Links to AACAP's fact sheets on many issues, including: The Adopted Child, Child Abuse, Child Sexual Abuse, The Child with a Long-Term Illness, Children and AIDS, Children and Divorce, Children and Firearms, Children and Grief, Children and Lying, Children and The News, Children and TV Violence, Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, The Depressed Child, Foster Care, Know Your Health Insurance Benefits, Making Day Care a Good Experience, Psychiatric Medication for Children, many more!

Children and Youth Fact Sheets (U.S. Administration for Children and Families): Topics include Head Start, child welfare, domestic violence, community services programs, child support, TANF, etc.

Child Poverty facts (National Center for Children and Poverty - NY)

Article: The Adverse Impact of Divorce on Children (Hudson Institute - Welfare Policy Center): Argument is that divorce (or non-marriage) is a cause of poverty for children. "While the 1996 poverty rate was 6 percent for children in married households, it was 31 percent in cohabiting households."

>>....Statistics, Data, & other numbers

Child Trends: "A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that studies children, youth, and families through research, data collection, and data analysis." Some current projects include The Effects of Welfare Reform on Children; Adolescent Sexual Behavior, Pregnancy, and Childbearing; and Indicators of Children's Well-Being Data and Measurement. Manages a listserv.

>>....Organizations & Agencies

U.S. Administration for Children and Families: Children's Bureau (U.S. Government): This federal site has info on reporting child abuse, children's bureau programs, adoption and foster parenting, reports and statistics on child maltreatment, initiatives, notices and announcements, more.

Annie E. Casey Foundation: This foundation's focus is disadvantaged children. Web site includes section on the foundation's initiatives on foster care, juvenile detention, urban kids' mental health, education reform, rebuilding communities, job. Also KIDS COUNT report, and reports on projects, grant opportunities, publications. The Casey Family Services program, which focuses on foster care and adoption, operates in Portland, ME.

>>....Listservs & Mailing Lists

Electronic Parenting Discussion List (National Parenting Information Network): Info on how to subscribe to PARENTING-L listserv on all parenting issues.

Child Care and Early Childhood Education Resources

>>....Think Tanks and Information Clearinghouses

National Child Care Information Center

"The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) has been established to complement, enhance and promote child care linkages and to serve as a mechanism for supporting quality, comprehensive services for children and families." Site provides

state profiles
info on White House initiatives
info on Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center, Child Care Partnership Project, and Healthy Child Care America
FAQs on starting a child care facility, child care demographics, child care-Head Start collaboration, etc.
resources for many child care topics, such as Brain Development, Infants and Toddlers, Literacy, Choosing Child Care, Public-Private Partnerships, Early Childhood Workforce, Quality Family Child Care, Research, Funding Resources, School-Age Care, Health and Safety, and more
A great page of Child Care-related links, in alphabetical order.

Welfare Information Network's CHILD CARE Section (WIN): Huge section with policy analysis, legislation, news, data, links relevant to child care issues for low-income families. WIN also offers a section on CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

Welfare Information Network's HEAD START Section (WIN): Links and references to over 50 articles and research summaries on Head Start, announcements concerning Head Start. Includes 1999 Head Start Fact Sheet, with all the data about the budget, demographics, state allocations, etc., for that year.

>>....Factsheets, Articles, Reports, Resource Lists, Handbooks & Journals

Children's Defense Fund Child Care Fact Sheets: Including fact sheets on Child Care Challenges: State Fact Sheets; Child Care and Early Education Basics; Expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (PDF); New Investment in Child Care Needed; Child Care is Key to School Readiness; Parents Struggle to Afford Care; Supporting All Parents in Their Child Care Choices; Public and Private Partners Supporting Child Care, Early Education, and After-School; Polls Show Strong Support for Child Care.

Children's Defense Fund Head Start Page

The Carolina Abecedarian Project: The Importance of Quality Pre-School Education (Univ. of North Carolina): Description of the intervention, major findings, policy implications. This was a long-term project where children from low-income families received full-time, high-quality educational intervention in a childcare setting from infancy through age 5. Afterwards, children's progress was monitored over time with follow-up studies conducted at ages 12, 15, and 21.

Article Summary: States Get Serious About Preschool (Nat'l Conference of State Legislatures): Summary of article that researched pre-K programs in the 39 states that fund them, with highlights and link to full report (in .pdf).

Child Day Care Factsheet (Child Welfare League of America)

Child Care and Early Ed Facts (National Center for Children and Poverty)

>>....Statistics, Data, & other numbers

National Child Care Information Center: MAINE Profile: Demographic Information (child poverty rate, % children with working parents, median income, licensed day care centers, etc.), Staff/Child Ratios and Qualifications, Contact Info for child care, Head Start, child abuse reporting, etc. Most data is from 1996-1997. With references.

>>....Curricula, Courses, Reading Lists, and Bibliographies

>>....Organizations & Agencies

HHS's Head Start Site (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services): Info about the Head Start program, announcements, grantees and partners, research and statistics, legislation and policy issues, links, FAQ.

Early Head Start National Resource Center: "The Early Head Start National Resource Center provides training and technical assistance to Head Start's new Early Head Start program, which supports the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and their families, and pregnant women." Website lists grantees, has current events, program support network, calendar, resources.

GO: PROP's Child Care Program
GO: PROP's Head Start Program

Child Abuse Resources

>>....Think Tanks and Information Clearinghouses

National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (DC): "A national resource for professionals seeking information on the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect and related child welfare issues." Site offers prevention resources, information databases, funding sources section, bulletins, free kits, catalog of over 100 publications.

>>....Statistics, Data, & other numbers

>>....Organizations & Agencies

ChildHelp USA: " Childhelp USA is dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of abused and neglected children. It does this by focusing its efforts and resources upon treatment, prevention, and research." Site has info on programs and services, section for kids only, how to report child abuse, definitions and background info on the types of child abuse.

Cumberland County (MAINE) Child Abuse & Neglect Council (Youth Alternatives, Inc.): 400 Congress Street, PO Box 912, Portland, ME 04104
207-874-1120
Mission is "to promote the well-being of children and families by providing leadership in mobilizing the community to prevent child abuse and neglect. This is done by offering training and education to all those who work with children, convening collaborations to improve services to families and children and creating family education and support opportunities throughout" Cumberland County.

Maine-Specific Resources for Children's Issues

>>....Think Tanks and Information Clearinghouses

Connect for Kids: MAINE: "Maine's home for children's issues!" Announcements, state news (sources), reports and data (good info here), directory of organizations, volunteer opportunities.

The Maine Promise Book: " A compilation of resources -- materials, people, time, and money -- available to help Maine communities implement their plans to increase Maine children's access to five fundamental resources:" a Caring Adult, a Healthy Start, a Safe Place with structured activities, Marketable Skills through Effective Education, and Opportunities to Give Back through Community Service.

>>....Factsheets, Articles, Reports, Resource Lists, Handbooks & Journals

Steps To Choosing Child Care (State of Maine - Department of Human Services, Office of Child Care and Head Start): Extensive checklist to use when evaluating child care facilities, practical tips for researching and evaluating child care, contact info for Child Care Resources Development Centers in each county (clearinghouses for child care info and sites), information about child care licensing in Maine.

Maine Child Welfare Fact Sheet (Child Welfare League of America): Maine's 1999 facts and stats on child abuse, child health, child education, child violence, and child poverty, with references.

Maternal and Child Health State Resources: Maine (National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse): Click on "Maine" to open Adobe Acrobat 2-page file listing contact names and numbers for Maine state health departments related to maternal and child health. (Link to free Adobe Acrobat download available on the site.)

>>....Statistics, Data, & other numbers

Children's Defense Fund: 2000 MAINE Profile: Lots of data on how Maine ranks in child education, safety, health, poverty. Also "Every Moment in Maine" chart ("Every 3 hours a baby was born into poverty."), and Maine's Available Funds (including tobacco settlement funds).

KIDS COUNT Profile for Maine (Annie E. Casey Foundation): Lots of data, in charts, including indicators of child well-being (ME vs. US, 1980s vs 1990), demographic change, child health, social and economic characteristics, juvenile justice, and family risk index.

Children's Welfare League: Maine Fact Sheet: For 1999, with facts and stats on child abuse, child health, child education, child violence, and child poverty. Includes references.

National Child Care Information Center: Maine Profile: Demographic Information (child poverty rate, % children with working parents, median income, licensed day care centers, etc.), Staff/Child Ratios and Qualifications, Contact Info for child care, Head Start, child abuse reporting, etc. Most data is from 1996-1997. With references.

The Good Stories About Maine Schools and Youth (State of Maine Dept. of Education): Bulleted items describing Maine's successes with education and kids, as well as the continuing challenges. Dated Aug. 1999

>>....Organizations & Agencies

Maine Children's Alliance: Mission is to improve the lives of all Maine children, youth, and families. Website sections include Who We Are, Ongoing Initiatives, KIDS COUNT, Calendar of Events, Advocacy, Joining the Alliance. Especially good is section on collaborative Start ME Right program, with data on: Employer Supported Child Care in Maine; Comparative Costs for Child Care in Maine; Early Care and Education Facts; Healthy Families Maine: A Historical Perspective.

Communities for Children (State of Maine): Goals are to "measurably improve the well-being of children in every Maine community and to increase educational attainment and achievement levels of all Maine children." Over 200 Maine municipalities participate in this collaborative effort. Site has Vision Statement, How to Become a Partner Community, What's Working, Grant Opportunities, List of Partner Communities, Links, Coming Events and Recent Events, Quarterly Memo, Discussion Area.

The Center for Grieving Children: "A non-profit organization committed to offering a safe environment for children and teens to express and heal their grief." Offers sections on Outreach, Peer Support, TLC Program; and resources page (with crisis info), newsletter, volunteer opportunities, upcoming events, history of the organization, staff listing.

Sweetser Children's Services (Portland): Address: 115 Middle Street, Portland, Maine 04101
Phone: 1-800-434-3000
Provides services related to help improve the behavioral health of children, adolescents, and families in Maine, including crisis services (in Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties); case management; and residential, community-based, and school-based services (generally available statewide). The School at Sweetser and the Experiential Learning Program are located in Saco.

Cumberland County Child Abuse & Neglect Council (Youth Alternatives, Inc.): 400 Congress Street, PO Box 912, Portland, ME 04104
207-874-1120
Mission is "to promote the well-being of children and families by providing leadership in mobilizing the community to prevent child abuse and neglect. This is done by offering training and education to all those who work with children, convening collaborations to improve services to families and children and creating family education and support opportunities throughout" Cumberland County.

East End Children's Workshop: 207-772-5467
Provides comprehensive child care services to children ages 2-15. With the Kennebec Girl Scout Council, offers an after-school program for girls. Also provides services for parents, including access to counseling, parenting and family life education programs, parent groups, and family social/recreational activities.

Mainely Parents: P.O. Box 284, 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
207-767-5506 or 1-800-249-5506
Email: pamaine@javanet.com
Mission is to "prevent child abuse through group support and family education to parents and their children." Also offers Parent Talkline, M-F 9 am - 4 pm, for parents under stress: 1-800-249-5506.

Kids First (Portland): Address: 222 St. John Street, Suite 101, Portland, ME 04101
Contact: Phone - 207-761-2709; Email - peglibby@kidsfirstcenter.org
Center provides education, referral information, and support groups to families going through separation, divorce, and post divorce; also provides resources for professionals working with members of these populations. Provides services to members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities, as well as to victims of domestic violence, incarcerated youth and the island communities regarding divorce and family transition issues. Web site has mission statement, a list of groups/workshops/programs offered, divorce and the law, a section for professionals (as of 11/00, listed an upcoming conference on step-families), and a section listing volunteers opportunities.

PROP is committed to assuring non-discrimination in all aspects of program participation. No one will be denied access to any aspect of participation because of age, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, handicap, veteran status, or political affiliation or belief.

photograph courtesy Philip Greenspun

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