Pediatricians warn about dangers of kids using marijuana

By Kelly Wallace, CNN

This is an update to a story first published in May 2015.

(CNN)My kids are in elementary school, a little young for the "weed talk," but I wonder whether the fact that recreational pot use is now legal in a number of states will complicate things once we start having those conversations.

Sue Scheff, a parent advocate who works with children in at-risk communities, says she's heard from plenty of kids who say, "Well, it's legal, so it must be OK."

"We already have the messaging problem," said Scheff, author of "Wit's End: Advice and Resources for Saving Your Out-of-Control Teen."

Read more HERE.

Rural School Health Education Institute

It is time to register for the 2017 Rural School Health Education Institute in Roswell on March 21^st and 22^nd.

Please join us for this wonderful training opportunity designed specifically for you.  After compiling your survey results, we have sessions addressing Youth at Risk, Wellness Policy, Safe Schools and much more.

Registering early ensures coverage of travel expenses.  Deadline to register is March 3rd. 

Please click the link below to register.

Registration

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in Roswell!

WEBINAR!!!

Role of Data to Support College and Career Readiness and Success for Students in Foster Care

March 1, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m. 

This webinar aims to provide concrete strategies to leverage the data collection and reporting requirements related to students in foster care to achieve college and career readiness and success.

Register HERE

Racial Disproportionality and Disparity in Child Welfare

Issue brief that delves into the prevalence of racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in child welfare, reviews the latest literature on the topic, and highlights current State and local initiatives to address disproportionality.

Read more HERE

Your hotel room photos could help catch sex traffickers

TraffickCam uses image analysis tools to identify hotel rooms used for suspected sex trafficking.

(CNN)A young girl poses provocatively in a dark hotel room. For a set fee, any willing customer can pay to have sex with her.

For investigators attempting to track down sex traffickers and their victims, these online advertisements can contain critical clues.

Read more HERE

Action Alert! Contact your legislator today to support HB 301 & SB 213

CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS

TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 301 (sponsored by Doreen Y. Gallegos & 

Gail Chasey) 

AND SENATE BILL 213 (sponsored by Gay G. Kernan)

Did you know that NMCAN is at the legislative session this year? In partnership with young people and FosterEd New Mexico, they are working to ensure students in foster care get credit for the work they do in school.

You can help make this happen by contacting your legislators to let them know you support Senate Bill 213, which will be discussed during the Senate Education Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 8th at 8:30am.
 

THE ISSUE

Students in foster care are often forced to change schools when they move foster homes or come into care. When students move schools, they typically lose credit for work they did in previous school districts, and each district has unique graduation requirements. As a result, students are not able to graduate on time, and many of them give up and leave school.

THE OPPORTUNITY
SB 213 and HB 301 will address this concern by:

• Allowing high school students who are system-involved and who have moved schools the choice of graduating in four years if they have met state-graduation requirements.
• Ensuring that students in foster care, and other students who move frequently, have the same opportunities as other students.
• Ensuring student records are quickly transferred between districts.

      Learn more and read our FAQs about HB 301 and SB 213 here.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

By Wednesday morning:

1. Call the NM Senate at 505-986-4714 and ask to speak to your Senator's office. Learn who is your legislator here.
2. Tell them: Supporting young people in foster care is important to me. SB 301 is critical to ensuring students in care who move frequently have the same opportunities as other students. They deserve to receive credit for the work they do in school. Please support SB 301.
3. Also call the Senate Education Committee members to reiterate your support of SB 301. Scroll all the way down to see the list of the committee members here.
4. Email Executive Director Ezra Spitzer at Ezra.Spitzer@nmcan.org so he knows you contacted your legislators and so he can keep track of contacts from the NMCAN community.

Providing Shelter, Food, and Services to the Homeless in Roswell

Wings for L.I.F.E.

(Life-skills Imparted to Families through Education)

Providing Shelter, Food, and Services
to the Homeless in Roswell

Presented By:

Jeneva Martinez and Members of Homeless Coalition

505 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
Andy’s Hall
SUNDAY, February 12th, 2017
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Doors Open 5:45 PM
(Childcare available)

For Questions call:  Shelly Currier @ 317-2042

Thinking outside the box on prison sentences

By Diane Dimond / Crime and Justice / ABQ Journal

Change is often a good thing. Thinking outside the box can bring about dynamic and fresh solutions to long-standing problems. That’s why I’m hoping the new Trump Administration – on record as wanting to upend the status quo in Washington – will employ this kind of thinking when the subject of prison sentencing reform comes up.

For too long, politicians have told us that a lengthy prison sentence equals increased public safety and deterrence, that if you give a convict the longest possible prison term, it will keep them from future criminal activity, as well as scare away others from committing a similar crime.

Read more HERE

Repeat maltreatment rates rise in NM

By ABQJournal News Staff

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — What happens to New Mexico children who aren’t taken into state custody after child protective services confirms abuse or neglect by their parents?

Increasingly, they are subjected to repeat maltreatment in as little as six months.

It takes a lot to put a kid in CYFD custody, say former employees. Initially, CYFD tries to find ways to safely keep the children in the home and preserve the family.

“Sometimes that means by the time that child actually gets picked up (by the state), additional trauma has happened to them,” said one former placement worker.

Read more HERE.

CYFD Launches Online Tool to Help Families Determine their Eligibility for Services

SANTA FE -- The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) has launched an online family services tool to help families determine their eligibility for services they may need, such as child care assistance and PreK. The tool, called “Am I Eligible?,” is accessible through the PullTogether.org website and allows families to see what services they’re eligible for.

"Our online family services tool is a great example of how government agencies and non-profits can work together to help our families find the services they need," said Governor Susana Martinez. "By creating this tool, we’re giving families the opportunity to learn more about our programs and how they can sign up for them -- all at the click of a button.”


Read more HERE