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Rural areas in the United States face significant healthcare shortages, with 20% of the U.S. population living in rural areas but only about 10% of physicians practicing there. Supporting doctors as small business owners in these areas can address both healthcare access and economic development challenges.

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Veterans are at significantly higher risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD) as compared to non-veterans. As such, there is an increasing need to tailor prevention programs for veterans, in addition to providing integrated support that addresses social determinants of health (e.g., housing and employment).

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Preventing unplanned pregnancies through contraception has led to significant cost savings for government programs, largely by reducing maternity and infant care expenses. Despite improvements in women’s access to contraception, there are barriers to contraceptive access that could be addressed.

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Prenatal substance exposure is a significant public health problem that can lead to multiple negative consequences for infants and their families. Although multifaceted care is critical for the health and well-being of both parents and their children, there are barriers to pregnant individuals receiving care for substance use.

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The stigma and punitive policies surrounding substance use disorders can pose a significant obstacle for pregnant individuals and families in seeking care for their substance use disorder - care which could prevent detrimental outcomes associated with untreated addiction for individuals and their children.

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Healthcare workforce shortages have worsened in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the pandemic placed immense strain on physician and nursing professions that have yet to recover.

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The direct care workforce, such as home health aides and nursing assistants, comprise about 5 million workers.

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Telehealth has evolved from a concierge convenience for private insurance companies into an essential tool for increasing access to care1and improving health equity.2 The benefits and challenges of telehealth and telementoring are documented below, as are recommendations for policymakers to consider to improve individuals’ access to care.

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In September 2022, the Biden Administration awarded $225 million in American Rescue Plan funding to train over 13,000 Community Health Workers (CHWs), the largest ever one-time federal investment in the CHW workforce.

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Heat exposure has killed more people in the U.S. than any other weather-related event over the past 30 years. The human body can only adapt to a narrow range of temperature change.

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Climate change negatively affects food production in non-Arctic areas through altered precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and shifting pest and disease patterns.

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The World Health Organization has identified air pollution as the fifth-largest cause of death globally and “one of the biggest environmental threats to human health.” Pollutants, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, caused approximately 200,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2019–more than those caused by strokes, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

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This month’s episode tackles a fascinating combination of topics involving the impact of biological and social factors on chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes, and the prevention and treatment efforts for those chronic diseases through state and local government programs.

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This month’s episode discusses mental health screenings for adolescents in the K-12 school system. We spoke to Deepa Sekhar, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics at the College of Medicine, and Executive Director, Penn State PRO Wellness; Perri Rosen, PhD, NCSP, Consulting Psychologist, Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Pennsylvania Dept. of Human Services, and Steve Sharp, School Counselor in the Hempfield School District, and K-12 School Counseling Coordinator for the Hempfield School District about why having mental health screenings (or mood screenings) in K-12 schools makes a difference when helping children who might be struggling and getting them the resources that they need to succeed.

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The end of the spring semester marks the release of another episode! This month, we tackled the tough topic of mental health among college students. We talked about how COVID-19 has impacted college students seeking mental health services, the challenges for counselors and administrators working in university mental health centers, policy solutions to the crisis, and other things that have happened as a result of the pandemic like changes in technology.

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The U.S. spends over $29 billion each year to identify and protect victims of child abuse and neglect through various Child Protective Services (CPS) processes and programs. Isolated allegations of child neglect (without concurrent abuse allegations) account for 60% of substantiated CPS allegations (confirmed as true).

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In this month’s episode, we tackled innovations in healthcare. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve seen a focus on various healthcare innovations and technology like artificial intelligence, cloud-enabled solutions, and inpatient telehealth, but other innovations are important, too. Some of these focused on in Pennsylvania include how we can get more value out of the country’s healthcare system without sacrificing the quality of care and lowering barriers for underserved populations.

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According to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, food insecurity is defined as the disruption of food intake or eating patterns because of lack of money or other resources. For example, this could mean cutting down on the number of meals or changing the types of food that you eat to save money.

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COVID-19 has upended the lives of nearly every individual in the United States, with prolonged school closures one of the major driving forces of disruption for youth and families.

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Physical and social distancing due to the pandemic has negatively impacted youths’ mental health. Within the last year, youth have reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression as a result of isolation.

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For our March episode, we explore the Pennsylvania Coordinated Medication-Assisted Treatment Program, or PacMAT, which builds evidence-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for Pennsylvanians suffering from opioid use disorder. Currently, there are 14 PacMAT centers throughout Pennsylvania that utilize a hub-and-spoke model.

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High-quality, affordable, and reliable child care options are not accessible across the country. Child care deserts—areas with an insufficient supply of licensed child care options—are most frequently observed in marginalized and rural communities.

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Excessive alcohol use costs the US an estimated $249 billion each year.[1] The COVID-19 pandemic has affected young people in ways that may increase their risk for heavy alcohol use.

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As part of our new series, The Pandemic Perspective, we spoke with Commissioner Mike Pipe, Centre County Chair of the Board of Commissioners and Co-Chair of the Election Board of Centre County, and Dr. Chris Witko, Associate Director of the School of Public Policy and Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Penn State University. This episode is the second episode of a two-part episode about this topic. Listen to Part 1 here.

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For the second episode of our new series, The Pandemic Perspective, we spoke with Commissioner Mike Pipe, Centre County Chair of the Board of Commissioners and Co-Chair of the Election Board of Centre County, and Dr. Chris Witko, Associate Director of the School of Public Policy and Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Penn State University. This episode is broken into two parts – we had a lot to talk about! – and will be released biweekly.

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Beyond Healthcare Policy: Building the Foundation of Health for Wisconsin Families

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While misinformation has long been a component of traditional print and broadcast media, digital technology allows for the frictionless dissemination of false and manipulated content with, at times, acutely dangerous consequences.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has produced unique challenges for parents with substance use disorders (SUDs). Although some barriers have been alleviated (e.g., medication assisted treatment is more accessible for some and telehealth is broadly available), COVID-19 has still resulted in barriers to support for parents with SUDs.

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Excessive alcohol use is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States[i] and has been made worse by the stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially harmful to members of social groups in the most vulnerable of situations, including youth in foster care and those who have recently exited care.

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What is there left to say about the opioid crisis that has not already been said? It’s claimed thousands of lives, torn apart families and communities, strained our country’s already fractured healthcare system, and cost the economy billions, perhaps trillions, of dollars. If burning a path through communities for the last twenty years was not enough, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many individuals and families to endure joblessness, potential homelessness, and other uncertainties, causing a spike in substance use and subsequently, overdoses.

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More than 2.2. million people are incarcerated in the U.S.; this is more people than in any other country and over half of these individuals are incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Incarcerated populations, correctional staff, and their families are at an especially increased risk to become infected with COVID-19, as the prison environment does not lend itself to be protective against illness.

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The ways to improve minority and underserved communities’ interest and literacy for vaccine trials and contact tracing.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues and unemployment benefits for many Americans decrease significantly at the end of July, many Americans will be unable to pay rents and mortgages and may face eviction. Given the severity of this particular crisis, July’s episode focuses on multiple issues related to housing in America, like the lack of affordable housing and housing as a means to improve overall health and well-being. In this episode, we spoke to Bryce Maretzki, Director of Policy and Planning for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and Selena Ortiz, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration as well as Demography, at Penn State.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has increased risk factors for child maltreatment [1],[2],[3]. It is, therefore, critical that policymakers ensure support in promoting safety, resilience, and overall well-being of vulnerable children and families.

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Among the many distressing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a heightened risk for family violence including both child maltreatment and intimate partner violence.

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Systemic maternal healthcare disparities disproportionately affect Black women and other women of color, particularly those also experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages. Provider training and inter-agency partnerships have the potential to buffer risks and support maternal health.

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In addition to participating in the following interviews, Ann Michelle Daniels, Dara Whalen, and Kamila Alexander also participated in our virtual congressional briefing on this topic.

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Inventory of programs provides a tool to map their implementation across continuum of care

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Violence (e.g., physical, psychological, and sexual) is unfortunately common and often results in victims needing immediate and long-term services.

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Contact tracing is critical to containing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. It is a tried and true, evidence-based mechanism to identify disease patterns during a pandemic. Coordinated federal efforts, including the use of national contact tracing strategies, are effective at containing and mitigating the impact of pandemics.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting people of color, in terms of number of cases, mortality rates, pay cuts, and job loss. The health and economic devastation of this outbreak, in addition to the distress raised by the recent killing of George Floyd and many others, are significantly contributing to the stress of the nation and disproportionately impacting the mental health of people of color.

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Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, an estimated 125,000 additional mental health professionals were required to meet the nation’s mental health needs. Recent events have intensified the need for mental health professionals and the services they provide.

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Pennsylvania is considered one of the most rural states in the nation, and is anchored by Pittsburgh in the southwestern and Philadelphia in the southeastern parts of the state. Across the nation, however, rural counties have much in common in terms of geographic isolation and significant challenges like access to economic development, transportation infrastructure, broadband services, healthcare services, and many others. As the U.S. continues to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, the inadequacy of our country’s healthcare system hangs heavily over rural communities and the people living in them.

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The emergence of COVID-19 is not just a reminder of the digital divide in our community; it also highlights the inequities in accessing technology and online educational resources.

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This issue presents research-informed policy recommendations regarding the effects of COVID-19 on welfare-youth, and human trafficking and exploitation. The prevalence of human trafficking heightens with the growing impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable communities.

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Human trafficking is the crime of using force or fraud for the purpose of compelled labor or a commercial sex act. The United States considers “trafficking in persons,” “human trafficking,” and “modern slavery” to be interchangeable umbrella terms that refer to both sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

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Providing necessary care and social support is critical during the perinatal time period to ensure the health and well-being of parents and children. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, hospitals have limited the number of people who can be present during and following birth.

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Human trafficking involves individuals being compelled to work, provide services or engage in commercial sex through the use of force, fraud or coercion. COVID-19 has negatively impacted the screening and identification of human trafficking victims as well as reduced survivors’ access to the mechanisms associated with successful recovery (e.g., case workers, social workers and legal assistance).

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Contact tracing is a robust public health strategy to address evasive infectious disease outbreaks [i] and requires sensitive interpersonal and cultural competence to cultivate trust with patients and contacts [ii].

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Stressful situations combined with increased drug and alcohol use set the stage for potentially dangerous situations, especially for youth in abusive homes. Youth who consider school a safe haven may now be confined at home with their abusers.

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COVID-19 has created new barriers for students with disabilities. Students receiving special education services toward learning or behavioral goals are already at elevated risk for falling behind in school.

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Youth living in poverty are more impacted by the digital divide. This divide may widen as many schools transition to online learning.

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This issue presents research-informed policy recommendations regarding migrant workers and children. Particularly, attending to the impact of COVID-19 on health and economic disparities among America’s international workforce, as well as implications for educational access and linguistically diverse students

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The U.S. is the new epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic. Mitigation strategies are more critical than they ever were before; however, they may exacerbate socioeconomic inequities and disparities that endanger the health and well-being of families.

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The Coronavirus has forced many families to make significant changes in their daily lives, limiting access to important resources that strengthen family functioning and well-being.

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For this month’s episode, we spoke to Penn State’s Marty Sliwinski, PhD, Director of the Center for Healthy Aging and Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, and Stephanie Cole, Director of Special Projects and Executive Assistant at the Office of the Secretary at Pennsylvania Department of Aging, about challenges and opportunities related to aging.

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Nationwide, stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders have been issued in response to COVID-19 in order to facilitate physical distancing practices.

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In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, many families are facing social shifts, economic uncertainty, and disruptions in their daily life, as well as coping with closures to school and childcare facilities and demands of providing for educational and childcare needs.

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Immigrant families and children who are infected/influenced by COVID-19 face various barriers in seeking healthcare.

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Schools, often a safe refuge for many children with an abusive parent or caregiver [i], are being closed from in-person instruction across the nation.

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COVID-19 is an equal opportunity virus, but exposure to this virus does not take place in an equal opportunity context. Although only some states and counties provide COVID-19 cases and outcomes by race, the data available indicate that disparities are stark.

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All students deserve an appropriate and effective education, including English Learners (ELs) [1] and dual language learners (DLLs) [2], collectively referred to as linguistically diverse students.

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Persons experiencing homelessness are at high risk of infection, transmission, complications and mortality from coronavirus. Persons experiencing homelessness have higher rates of physical and mental health conditions compared to the general public.

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The fast-moving Coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19) has numerous implications on the health and well-being children and families.

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The fast-moving Coronavirus pandemic (also known as COVID-19) has numerous implications on the health and well-being children and families.

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Government and public stakeholders can monitor data and progress on interactive website

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What Do We Know About The Impact of Pandemics on Families?

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Social Isolation Exacerbates the Severity of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders.

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Improve Access to Items Needed to Reduce Harm Associated with Opioid Misuse.

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Strategies to Divert Adolescents with Behavioral Health Needs from the Juvenile Justice System

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Refugees face structural and cultural barriers associated with higher physical and mental health disparities, poverty, and uncertainty about their rights and legal status.

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The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) has led to decreased incidence of diabetes in tribal communities; however, there is room for program improvements.

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Racial disparities are connected to maternal mortality, especially African American women. Inadequate healthcare has been a concern with racism being a primary cause.

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Trauma-informed care (TIC) refers to strategies that agencies, programs, and service providers can use to understand, identify, and respond to individuals who may have experienced trauma.

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Addiction is a complex disease, and there is no “one-size fits all.” Treatment should be personalized, measure progress over time, and develop a long-term strategy for continuing care after treatment.

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Local and county stakeholders benefit from systemic process to identify gaps in services

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We have begun to identify researcher-oriented professionals who have expertise in the following areas...

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This brief summarizes child trauma and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

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Training, implementation monitored to ensure evidence-based services achieve results

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Collaborations with academic partners help governments assess outcomes

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Integrated system provides comprehensive client information to better assess impact

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New guidance provides a standardized approach to measuring outcomes

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State requirement designed to ensure services are delivered as intended

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Panel proposes using evidence-based analyses to determine best approaches

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A national review of the use of administrative data to improve state decision-making

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Unhealthy, Unwealthy: Health Disparities in Massachusetts

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A national assessment

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The Future of Indiana: Reducing Risky Behaviors of Our Youth

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Childhood Obesity: School and Community Solutions

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Aging Out of Foster Care: Fostering Future Into Adulthood

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Taking the Bull by the Horns: Utah and the Upcoming Tsunami of Alzheimer’s Disease

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Reducing Child Abuse and Neglect: Evidence-Based Parent Education and Other Support Programs

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Economic Well-Being of Rhode Island Families: The Promise and Practice of Two-Generation Approaches

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Toxic Stress and Early Childhood: What Policy Makers and Funders Need to Know

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Aging in Iowa: Policy Responses to Changing Demographics

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A Lot on Our Plate: Chronic Health Threats in Massachusetts

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Rural Families and Mental Health

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Strengthening Families

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Racial and Ethnic Infant Mortality: Narrowing the Gap in Michigan

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Racial and Ethnic Infant Mortality: Narrowing the Gap in Michigan

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The Future of Healthcare: The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Iowa Families

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Now What? Implementing Health Care Reform in Indiana

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Building Strong Families for Kentucky Partners in Food and Health

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Team Care Transformations For Family Health

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Military and Veteran Families: Focus on Strategies for Sustainable Housing and Family Well-Being

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Michigan’s Health Care Workforce: Capacity, Demand, and Policy Options

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Guarding All Children in Sleep: New Ideas for Reducing Disparities in Safe Sleep Practices

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Youth at Risk: Part 2

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Jobs: Are we filling the ones we have? Are we ready for the future?

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The New Age of Health Care: Implications for Hoosier Families

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Youth at Risk: Part 1

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Bringing Families Out of Poverty

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Preventing Childhood Obesity: Policy and Practice Strategies for North Carolina

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Men at Risk: The Physical, Psychological, and Social Health of Men in Massachusetts

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Positive Birth Outcomes for Louisiana Families

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Medicaid: How are States Controlling Costs? Are Children at Risk?

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Supporting Georgia’s Military Members and Families: Implications for State Policy

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Health Reform, Rural Communities and You

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The Great Recession and Its Impact on Families

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Health Care and Family Stability: Policy Decisions and Costs

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Illinois Families Under Stress: The Long Term Care Crisis

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The Journey Home: Connecting Soldiers, Families, and Communities

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Georgia Policy Opportunities: Childhood Obesity

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The Future is Now: Long-Term Care Needs of Michigan Families

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Improving Health Care Quality While Controlling Costs: What Can State Policymakers Do?

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Affordable Strategies to Cover the Uninsured: Policy Approaches from Other States

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Financing Healthcare for Indiana Families

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Pharmacy Matters to Marylanders

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Children’s Mental Health: Strategies for Providing High Quality and Cost-Effective Care

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Long-Term Care Reform: Wisconsin’s Experience Compared to Other States

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Gambling: What are the Odds for Indiana Families?

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Medicaid: Who Benefits, How Expensive is It, and What are States Doing to Control Costs?

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Medicaid Cost Containment Strategies in North Carolina and Other States

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Childhood Obesity: The Epidemic’s Impacts and Policy Options

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Improving Health Care Quality While Curbing Costs

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Supporting Children and Families While Controlling Medicaid Costs

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Child Advocacy in Hard Times

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Rising Health Care Costs: Policy Options

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Innovative State and Local Approaches to Health Coverage for Children

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Public Children’s Health Insurance

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Rising Health Care Costs: Employer Purchasing Pools and Other Policy Options

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Prostituted Teens: More than a Runaway Problem

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Ensuring the Health of Long-Term Care: Policy Options

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Promising Approaches to Reduce Youth Violence

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Designing a State Prescription Drug Benefit: Strategies to Control Costs

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Rising Prescription Drug Costs: Reasons, Needs and Policy Responses

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Sign ’em Up: Strategies to Enroll Eligible Children in DC Healthy Families

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Reconnecting DC Families: Involving Low-Income Families in the Lives of Their Children

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Do School-Based Mental Health Services Make Sense?

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Long-Term Care: State Policy Perspectives

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Educating with Peers: Others Do – Should You?

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Building Resiliency and Reducing Risk: What Youth Need from Families and Communities to Succeed

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Feeding Our Families: Community Food Security in the District of Columbia

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Keeping our Kids Safe: Preventing Injury in DC Public Schools

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Teenage Pregnancy Prevention: Programs that Work

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Transitioning from Welfare-to-Work in the District: A Family-Centered Perspective

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Families that Play Together: Recreation and Leisure in the District

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HIV/AIDS: Helping Families Cope

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Welfare Reform: Can Government Promote Parental Self-sufficiency While Ensuring the Well-being of Children?

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Integrating Services for Preventing Teen Pregnancies

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Single Parenthood and Children’s Well-being

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Building Policies That Put Families First: A Wisconsin Perspective