Abuse or neglect rose in part because more children are living with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and obesity, and amid family stress associated with social and economic problems. And such situations are aggravated by prevention programs being cut or eliminated, the report’s authors said.

Abuse or neglect rose in part because more children are living with chronic health conditions, such as asthma and obesity, and amid family stress associated with social and economic problems. And such situations are aggravated by prevention programs being cut or eliminated, the report’s authors said.

While in residency, I took care of a toddler who was hospitalized following an anaphylactic reaction. During a diaper change at home the child suddenly developed lip swelling and severe difficulty breathing for no apparent reason. The child was urgently brought to the hospital by ambulance and initially treated in the emergency room. By the time I met her on the inpatient floor her breathing and swelling had significantly improved. The first thing I noticed, however, was the child’s bumpy and irritated red skin which was covered with a thick layer of ointment. While I examined her she would claw and scratch at her skin with little relief. She looked miserable. Her mother had been suspecting food allergies and described a frustrating process of selective food avoidance and various skin treatments with little to no improvement.

Keeping in mind that eczema and allergic reactions are in the same family of disease, it was not surprising that this child was more prone to anaphylaxis. While her symptoms improved and she was sent home, the trigger for the severe reaction remained a mystery.

About 6 months later I ran into the child’s mother in clinic. The mystery behind the life threatening illness made this child memorable so I asked how her daughter was doing. Mom was happy to share that her daughter had not had any further allergic reactions and that the skin problems had nearly resolved.

So how did they cure her disease?

They moved.

While in residency, I took care of a toddler who was hospitalized following an anaphylactic reaction. During a diaper change at home the child suddenly developed lip swelling and severe difficulty breathing for no apparent reason. The child was urgently brought to the hospital by ambulance and initially treated in the emergency room. By the time I met her on the inpatient floor her breathing and swelling had significantly improved. The first thing I noticed, however, was the child’s bumpy and irritated red skin which was covered with a thick layer of ointment. While I examined her she would claw and scratch at her skin with little relief. She looked miserable. Her mother had been suspecting food allergies and described a frustrating process of selective food avoidance and various skin treatments with little to no improvement.

Keeping in mind that eczema and allergic reactions are in the same family of disease, it was not surprising that this child was more prone to anaphylaxis. While her symptoms improved and she was sent home, the trigger for the severe reaction remained a mystery.

About 6 months later I ran into the child’s mother in clinic. The mystery behind the life threatening illness made this child memorable so I asked how her daughter was doing. Mom was happy to share that her daughter had not had any further allergic reactions and that the skin problems had nearly resolved.

So how did they cure her disease?

They moved.

Across America, millions of mothers can’t rise because they don’t have adequate support systems as they try to improve their skills. Tens of millions of children have poor life chances because they grow up in disorganized environments that make it hard to acquire the social, organizational and educational skills they will need to become productive workers.

Tens of millions of men have marred life chances because schools are bad at educating boys, because they are not enmeshed in the long-term relationships that instill good habits and because insecure men do stupid and self-destructive things.

Across America, millions of mothers can’t rise because they don’t have adequate support systems as they try to improve their skills. Tens of millions of children have poor life chances because they grow up in disorganized environments that make it hard to acquire the social, organizational and educational skills they will need to become productive workers.

Tens of millions of men have marred life chances because schools are bad at educating boys, because they are not enmeshed in the long-term relationships that instill good habits and because insecure men do stupid and self-destructive things.

At first glance, gang crime in a U.S. city would seem to have little in common with the family conflicts that led to the killing of several women in Canada in recent years.

But one Canadian group is taking ideas gleaned from the streets of Chicago to tackle the troubling phenomenon of so-called honour crimes.

The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration in London, Ont. will announce Tuesday that it has a partnership with the renowned Chicago anti-violence group CeaseFire to develop the Family Honour Project, which its creators hope will soon spread to other communities.

At first glance, gang crime in a U.S. city would seem to have little in common with the family conflicts that led to the killing of several women in Canada in recent years.

But one Canadian group is taking ideas gleaned from the streets of Chicago to tackle the troubling phenomenon of so-called honour crimes.

The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration in London, Ont. will announce Tuesday that it has a partnership with the renowned Chicago anti-violence group CeaseFire to develop the Family Honour Project, which its creators hope will soon spread to other communities.

When it’s 17-year-old Eric Gant’s turn to testify today at an Oakland legislative hearing on the health and welfare of California’s minority men and boys, he will ask for a safe way to get to school.

“Students deserve a safe path to school, like an adult wants a safe path to work,” Gant, who is African American, told California Watch. “A safe pathway is so that you can walk down the street and nothing would happen, so you can get an education and make it home OK.”

When it’s 17-year-old Eric Gant’s turn to testify today at an Oakland legislative hearing on the health and welfare of California’s minority men and boys, he will ask for a safe way to get to school.

“Students deserve a safe path to school, like an adult wants a safe path to work,” Gant, who is African American, told California Watch. “A safe pathway is so that you can walk down the street and nothing would happen, so you can get an education and make it home OK.”

Hunger is often invisible, making it that much more difficult to address, but now resident physicians at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are joining the battle-lines to find and reduce its incidence.

They’re doing so by learning to ask a different type of question.

Dr. Melissa Klein, a lead for the initiative, says she sees this new way of training of resident pediatricians as a powerful means to improving the health-care that’s provided in Cincinnati and beyond.

Hunger is often invisible, making it that much more difficult to address, but now resident physicians at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are joining the battle-lines to find and reduce its incidence.

They’re doing so by learning to ask a different type of question.

Dr. Melissa Klein, a lead for the initiative, says she sees this new way of training of resident pediatricians as a powerful means to improving the health-care that’s provided in Cincinnati and beyond.

The negative effects of homelessness on kids are well-known. In school, homeless children are absent more frequently and tend not to do as well academically. Outside school, because of dangerous living environments and traumatic family experiences, their families are more likely to be involved with child welfare authorities.

But put them and their troubled families into supportive housing and life generally gets better for these children, according to a study released this week by a network of supportive housing programs and the University of Minnesota.

The negative effects of homelessness on kids are well-known. In school, homeless children are absent more frequently and tend not to do as well academically. Outside school, because of dangerous living environments and traumatic family experiences, their families are more likely to be involved with child welfare authorities.

But put them and their troubled families into supportive housing and life generally gets better for these children, according to a study released this week by a network of supportive housing programs and the University of Minnesota.

PERHAPS the most widespread peril children face isn’t guns, swimming pools or speeding cars. Rather, scientists are suggesting that it may be “toxic stress” early in life, or even before birth.

This month, the American Academy of Pediatrics is issuing a landmark warning that this toxic stress can harm children for life. I’m as skeptical as anyone of headlines from new medical studies (Coffee is good for you! Coffee is bad for you!), but that’s not what this is.

Baltimore's Board of Estimates Wednesday morning was expected to approve funds to expand the Safe Streets violence intervention program into a new neighborhood, and officials say there could be an additional two new sites by 2013.

The Safe Streets program, modeled on Chicago's CeaseFire initiative, involves hiring ex-offenders and gang members to mediate conflicts and prevent gun violence. They know who's responsible for the violence and work to get in their corner, but in order to maintain credibility on the street they cann't share what they know with with police or city officials.

First Lady Michelle Obama is constantly promoting her "let's move" message to Americans, and she may be onto something. Physical activity does the body good, and there's growing evidence that it helps the brain too.

Researchers in the Netherlands report that children who get more exercise, whether at school or on their own, tend to have higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests. In a review of 14 studies that looked at physical activity and academic performance, investigators found that the more children moved, the better their grades were in school, particularly in the basic subjects of math, English and reading.

First Lady Michelle Obama is constantly promoting her "let's move" message to Americans, and she may be onto something. Physical activity does the body good, and there's growing evidence that it helps the brain too.

Researchers in the Netherlands report that children who get more exercise, whether at school or on their own, tend to have higher GPAs and better scores on standardized tests. In a review of 14 studies that looked at physical activity and academic performance, investigators found that the more children moved, the better their grades were in school, particularly in the basic subjects of math, English and reading.

Recently, I interviewed Annie Donovan, Chief Operating Officer of NCB Capital Impact, a Community Development Financial Institution. As a national nonprofit mission driving organization, Capital Impact has invested $1.7 billion dollars into underserved communities nationwide to create more economic opportunities. We discussed the founding of the organization, milestone achievements, challenges and opportunities moving forward, leadership lessons, and much more.

Recently, I interviewed Annie Donovan, Chief Operating Officer of NCB Capital Impact, a Community Development Financial Institution. As a national nonprofit mission driving organization, Capital Impact has invested $1.7 billion dollars into underserved communities nationwide to create more economic opportunities. We discussed the founding of the organization, milestone achievements, challenges and opportunities moving forward, leadership lessons, and much more.