Children's Health, News & Research

MediaPulse is a joint project of the Media Awareness Network and the Canadian Paediatric Society designed to "raise awareness among health care professionals of the influence of media on the healthy development of children and youth." (Media Awareness Network) Its Web site provides educational resources and a community action section to stimulate communication between health practitioners and the media.

This searchable online version of the widely-used reference book represents the latest printed version, published in 1999, but includes color plates, audio clips, and updates that the print version does not.

This Web site offers concrete tips and techniques for talking with young children, ages 8 to 12, about sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, drugs and alcohol. A good list of organizations, books, and other helpful Web sites is on the site. It also offers a brief guide for community organizers.

A coalition of community organizations in Kansas City, MO is fighting to reduce substance abuse problems, especially among the youth in their city. City government agencies, churches, health agencies, the police department, and non-government organizations are working together as part of Robert Wood Johnson's "Fighting Back" project.

Find clear and practical strategies for talking to critically ill children when they want to know what is happening to them, what will be done to them, and what will it feel like.
Many other resources--some designed especially for parents (in English and Spanish) and others for teachers can be found on this rich Public Broadcasting Web site.

A survey published by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that peer pressure, drugs, and alcohol push teens toward sex. "One in five teens said they have had unprotected sex after drinking or using illicit drugs. In addition, eight in 10 teens said most of their peers drink or use illicit drugs before having sex." (Join Together news summary)

According to NPR's May 22 Morning Edition program, middle school students say sex is already a big part of their lives. 20 percent of teens were reported as sexually active before the age of 15. Although many parents dread talking to young teens about sex they may have a critical role in influencing their children's sexual behavior. Listen to the Morning Edition report at npr.org or read one of their source documents on teen pregnancy published by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

A report released on May 7, 2003 by Save the Children, ranked the United States as 11th based on 10 factors related to women's and children's health, education, and political status. Key in the U.S. ranking was its lifetime risk of maternal mortality and its infant mortality rate. The U.S. lags behind Sweden, Denmark, Finland and other countries when it comes to the political status of women. The report has consistently shown a strong link between the health and education of women and the health of children.

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth reports that Hispanic young people in the U. S. have more alcohol advertising delivered to them than the youth population as a whole. The Center's systematic audit found that alcohol and tobacco companies habitually use Hispanic culture and history to market their products to Hispanics--the fastest growing minority group in the U.S

The latest fact sheet from the Kaiser Family Foundation tells of the impact of news on children. It reports on children's reactions to viewing broadcasts of the 9/11 attacks, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The fact sheet includes guidelines for caretakers to help children cope with news coverage of traumatic events. (pdf)