Sport and physical activity contribute to the physical movement capabilities of girls, the health status of their bodies, the values and ethical behaviors they develop, and their personal development of a unique identity. This paper offers an overview of contributions and potential challenges related to physiological dimensions and psychosocial…

The expanding needs of children today demand effective prevention and treatment programs. Some model programs that address these needs are described here. Schools are now being called upon to serve a population with a tremendous multiplicity of physical, social, emotional, and academic problems in an atmosphere of public dissatisfaction with…

This report summarizes expert panel presentations and large and small group discussions focused on identifying educational opportunities as part of a public education effort to prevent obesity. Panel 1 reported on the epidemiology of obesity and cardiovascular disease, including obesity in both children and adults. Panel 2 reported on…

The Mass Communication and Society Division section of the proceedings contains the following 12 papers: "Retreads: Recycling American Prime Time Television for Fun and Profit" (Chad Dell); "Partisan and Structural Balance of Election Stories on the 1998 Governor's Race in Michigan" (Frederick Fico and William Cote);…

This sixth annual report card is produced to heighten awareness of the health of the children of North Carolina by summarizing important child health indicators. The report is intended to assist health administrators, legislators, and family advocates in their efforts to improve the health and safety of children statewide. Data are presented for…

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act requires each state to submit a biennial plan to implement the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). This report is based on the approved State Plans for the period October 1, 1999 to September 30, 2001. The analysis includes information from 48 states, the District of Columbia,…

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and threatens to impact the health and wellbeing of numerous children and adolescents. The number of overweight youth has more than doubled since the early 1970s. Today, approximately 13 percent of children and adolescents, nearly 5.3 million youth, are seriously overweight. Since most…

In 1998, Congress authorized implementation of a 3-year pilot breakfast program involving 4,300 students in elementary schools in 6 school districts representing a range of economic and demographic characteristics. The program began in the 2000-01 school year. This lengthy report presents the findings from the pilot's first year. The study had two…

Based on the view that programs with a strong academic component may reduce the substantial educational disparities for American students from disadvantaged backgrounds or in chronically underperforming schools and school districts, this synthesis of research on academic achievement programs describes how such programs may help children and…

National Education Goal One, "All children in America will start school ready to learn," seems simple, but being ready for school requires meeting certain needs related to physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development. Families, schools, and communities each have responsibilities in these areas. Families in…

This book is intended to provide social services welfare professionals a comprehensive discussion from a multidisciplinary perspective of infants and preschool-age children in the child welfare system. Contributors to the book are specialists in the fields of pediatrics, psychology, child welfare, social policy, legal advocacy, speech-language…

Federal funding for children's health insurance may significantly reduce the problem of uninsured children in New York and subsequently improve child outcomes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two program models in educating parents about available sources of health insurance and in increasing enrollment of uninsured children into…

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. This report details the accomplishments and activities of UNICEF for the year 1998. The report begins with the mission statement and…

Based on the view that strategies to eradicate poverty must be centered on the realization of children's rights, this report describes the experiences of the 48 least developed countries (LDCs) during the 1990s. The report defines LDCs and provides a rationale for using progress in ensuring children's rights as a yardstick for measuring poverty.…

This report of the Select Committee on California Children's School Readiness and Health, established in 2001, examines the relationship between the status of a child's health and its impact on school readiness and achievement. The report is intended to promote and facilitate continued dialogue, exploration, and research on student health and…