The Family Dinner Table: Implications for Children’s Health and Well-being
The average family meal lasts barely 20 minutes — and that’s a major missed opportunity, according to a new brief from the Society for Research in Child Development. Sharing a meal regularly can boost children’s health and well-being, reducing the likelihood that [...]

Public School Insights Spotlight: Engaging Youth in Civics
In the wake of this historic presidential election, Public School Insights (a project of the Learning First Alliance) turns its attention to civic education. Here are just a few of their new articles:

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on Turning Students into Citizens. Retired Supreme [...]

Schoolyard Bullying: Which Kids Are Most Vulnerable?
By Hilary Hylton
Playground gibes are a rite of passage for most school-age kids, but for some children, teasing at school can turn into outright violence and abuse. Researchers say that as many as 1 in 10 children suffer physical attacks, name-calling and other social aggression at school, and a [...]

Action Kit to Help Cities Create Youth Master Plans
The National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families has a new action kit to help municipal leaders create a master plan that brings together the schools, agencies and organizations working with youth to develop a shared vision and framework [...]

Being involved in your children’s education can be as simple as asking them about their school day or as bold as volunteering once a week for lunchroom duty.
Make a Difference.

Resource Center: Tools and Training for Volunteer and Service Programs
Looking for a “one-stop shop” for tools to strengthen volunteer and service programs? Look no further than this site from the Corporation for National and Community Service. It offers more than 2,500 free downloadable tools, e-courses, and other resources and [...]

ToolFind: Outcomes Evaluation Resources
Toolfind is a free directory from the United Way that connects professionals in youth-serving programs with measurement tools for up to 11 youth outcome areas.

Beyond City Limits: Cross-System Collaboration to Reengage Disconnected Youth
It takes more than a single agency or public system to meet the needs of disconnected youth and help them reconnect to school, work and the right supports and opportunities. Collaboration among city, school, county and state agencies is essential. [...]

Core Principles for Engaging Young People in Community Change
Engaging young people as partners in community change is a compelling idea — but translating it into effective practice requires focused attention to a range issues. This Forum for Youth Investment paper looks at important but simple principles for research and practice [...]

Teen Health & Wellness: Real Life, Real Answers, the inaugural database from Rosen Publishing Online, provides students with comprehensive curricular support and self-help tools on topics including diseases, drugs, alcohol, nutrition, fitness, mental health, diversity, family life, and more.
Developed for teens, with their unique concerns and perspective in mind, [...]