http://www.rwjf.org/vulnerablepopulations/digestrss.jsp This frequently updated news digest on the subject of Vulnerable Populations highlights key articles from major journals and news publications. en-us Copyright 2000-2012 RWJF Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:28:08 EST webmail@rwjf.org
For years, the battle against homelessness was fought against symptoms. The answer to getting people off the streets, it was believed, was treating the underlying problems that faced the homeless, such as mental illness or drug and alcohol addiction.

But last year, the number of so-called permanent supportive housing units in the United States exceeded the number of emergency shelters for the first time. The reason is simple, advocates say: Permanent supportive housing not only removes the stigma of homelessness but is also cheaper than other alternatives, studies show.
]]> http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0125/How-to-curb-chronic-homelessness-First-a-home?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2012/0125/How-to-curb-chronic-homelessness-First-a-home webmail@rwjf.org Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-27/health-wellness/30675869_1_gunshot-wound-stab-violence?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://articles.boston.com/2012-01-27/health-wellness/30675869_1_gunshot-wound-stab-violence webmail@rwjf.org Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST
They, along with national experts on homelessness, social workers and community activists, gathered at the Chicago Temple last week for a candid discussion about Chicago’s homeless problem and new ways for the city to address it.

Some wanted answers. Many wanted help. But most simply wanted to be heard.
]]> http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/chicago-homeless-seek-help-from-new-plan-2-0.html?_r=3?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/us/chicago-homeless-seek-help-from-new-plan-2-0.html?_r=3 webmail@rwjf.org Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST
While most of the additional anti-gang money went to law enforcement, County Executive Dow Constantine said in announcing the effort, "We know we can't arrest our way out of crime."

Prevention is the smartest response, and that's where the nurses come in.

The county's Nurse-Family Partnership now has 24 registered nurses who work with girls and young women during their first pregnancies and through the baby's second birthday.
]]> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2017335569_jdl26.html?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jerrylarge/2017335569_jdl26.html webmail@rwjf.org Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST
The Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration (MRC) which helped develop the Call to Action to Eradicate Domestic Violence statement recently issued by Canadian Muslim organizations is starting the Family Honour Project.

“If you have effective strategies for identifying the risk factors of so-called honor-related violence, you can reduce the possibility of honor killing,” Mohammed Baobaid, Executive Director of MRC, told The Globe and Mail.

The model for the project is the CeaseFire Project of Chicago, Illinois, which has been working with street gangs for 11 years to prevent violence before it occurs. ]]> http://iqra.ca/2012/muslim-agency-targets-honor-related-domestic-violence/?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://iqra.ca/2012/muslim-agency-targets-honor-related-domestic-violence/ webmail@rwjf.org Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST
But that’s not the case everywhere. In more than 2,000 schools throughout the country, students can get free comprehensive medical, mental health and sometimes dental care without ever leaving school property. School-based health centers (SBHCs) are fully staffed clinics located in or on school property. Each one is different, but most offer a full range of services, including primary care, mental health and social services. Most are in schools that serve the neediest students and are funded by state governments, the feds and private foundations. A variety of players -- such as community health centers, hospitals and local health departments -- typically manage the centers, but always in cooperation with the schools. SBHCs began in urban school districts, but have gradually spread to rural areas where faraway clinics and poor public transit make health care less accessible for students from low-income families. ]]> http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-school-based-health-centers-reap-benefits.html?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-school-based-health-centers-reap-benefits.html webmail@rwjf.org Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST
Recess!

Freedom! Agony!

Twenty precious minutes to play, run, dodge punches, be shunned.

Remember recess? If you are a popular kid, it is a glimmery vacation from the school day. If you are an outcast, it is a torture chamber. There are statistics to prove this, but we all know it just as reindeer know when the herd is turning. Recess is the wilderness outside the protective wires of orderly desks, mechanical pencil sharpeners and patrolling adults.
]]> http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1122916--porter-brock-university-professor-tries-to-stop-bullying-by-changing-recess-in-st-catharines-schools?bn=1?cid=xrs_rss-nd http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1122916--porter-brock-university-professor-tries-to-stop-bullying-by-changing-recess-in-st-catharines-schools?bn=1 webmail@rwjf.org Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST