Because of their involvement with local youth through social services, health, education and juvenile justice systems, counties can play an integral role in improving outcomes for the young people they serve.
Category: Conditions of Children
Conditions of Children
California’s School Meals for All program under threat
By Genoveva Islas On May 22, after an all-night session, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, by 215 to 214 votes, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” outlining a spending plan for the U.S. At this writing, the U.S. Senate is now voting on their […]
Social companion bots need stronger safeguards to protect minors
Interactions between children and companion chatbots could exacerbate mental health problems and addiction and lead to increased risk of self-harm, according to a new study from Common Sense Media and Stanford School of Medicine’s Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation. Companion bots are artificial intelligence […]
Report: Well-being of California children lags more than half of states
Of the 50 states, California ranked 32nd in the country for the overall well-being of its children, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2025 Kids Count Data Book: State Trends in Child Well-Being.
Report: School meals participation is higher when food is free
Participation in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) both increased nationally in 2023–24, promoting health and academic outcomes for students, according to a recent report from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC).
Balancing student illness and school attendance
While families and school leaders alike agree that regularly attending class is vital to strong academic achievement, recent findings from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found parents weigh a number of competing priorities when it comes to keeping their high- […]
Experts detail the pros and cons of AI and young people’s well-being
As the rapid advancement and accessibility of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT transform how children interact, learn and socialize, researchers and parents alike have begun to question the impacts these shifts will have on children’s development and socialization. Despite potential benefits, some […]
Mental Health Awareness Month: Teen survey shows social media’s positive and negative effects
Just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Pew Research Center published its new report, Teens, Social Media and Mental Health, which found that an increasing number of teens find social media harmful.
California and US see less youth in residential placement
While the number of youths in residential placement has been on a steady decline in the U.S. since 2003, an uptick was observed in 2023.
County spotlight: Supporting students and communities through traumatic moments
The Orange County Department of Education’s (OCDE) Crisis Response Network (CSN) has proven critical in recent months in providing students with real-time support during some of the most challenging moments in their lives. A winner of CSBA’s 2023 Golden Bell Award honoring excellence in education […]










