One in five (20 percent) U.S. children has at least one foreign-born parent; they are the fastest growing segment of the child population. Four in five are U.S. citizens and three in four are fluent in English, a 2007 research brief from Child Trends and the Center for Social and Demographic Analysis says. (See “Children in America's Newcomer Families.”) Census projects that non-Hispanic white children will be the minority after 2030.
The total number of births to unmarried mothers rose nearly 8 percent to 1.6 million in 2006 – a 20 percent jump from 2002, when the recent upswing in nonmarital births began. The biggest increase (10 percent) was among unmarried women aged 25-29. The average maternal age at first birth was 25 in 2005, the most recent year for which the National Center for Health Statistics has statistics. The number of births to non-hispanic white women decreased 1 percent in 2005, whereas births increased by 1 percent for non-Hispanic black women, and 4 percent for Hispanic women. Births also increased for Asian or Pacific Islander women and American Indian or Alaska Native women, by 1 and 2 percent, respectively.
The teen birth rate, which had been declining for 15 years, rose in 2006. The Centers for Disease Control reported 41.9 births per 1,000 teens aged 15 through 19 in 2006, a 3 percent increase from the previous year. The rate had peaked at 61.8 births per 1,000 teens in 1991.
.
In 2005, 51,278 children were adopted from the U.S. public child welfare system and another 22,710 from other countries, the Child Welfare League of America reported in November 2007. The CWLA brief notes no information is available on private domestic adoptions, because there are
no reporting requirements.
Children today spend considerably less time playing outdoors than their mothers did as children, according to a 2004 report on outdoor play. In 1969, 42 percent of children 5 to 18 years of age walked or biked to school, compared to just 16 percent in 2001, according to Safe Routes to School. Yet, the percentage of youth who feared attack at school or on the way to and from school decreased significantly between 1995 and 2005, from 12 percent in 1995 to 6 percent in 2005.
Fatal injuries have declined over the past two decades; unintentional injuries are the primary cause of death for children ages 1–4 and ages 5–14. Nearly 2,100 children younger than 15 die each year as a result of injuries sustained at home.
Child abduction cases are exceedingly rare, according to the latest federal data (NISMART-2, 2002). Of 797,500 children reported missing in 1999, most were runaways (45 percent) or temporarily missing for benign reasons (43 percent), such as a miscommunication. Eight percent were lost or injured, 7 percent were abducted by a family member and 2 percent were deemed missing in a nonfamily abduction. Only 115 of abductions constituted "stereotypical kidnappings."
Among adolescents, religious involvement is patterned by gender and race, according to the National Study of Youth and Religion’s 2003 report, “Religion in the Lives of American Adolescents.” On average, girls are consistently “more religious” than boys. Blacks are more likely than whites to attend religious services regularly (40 percent vs. 29 percent) and vastly more likely to indicate that religion has high importance in their lives (55 percent vs. 24 percent).
Forty-four percent of those born between 1981 and 1988 identified themselves as Protestants, 25 percent are Roman Catholic, and less than 10 percent are affiliated with some other religion, according to "A Portrait of 'Generation Next',” a 2006 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center and The Generation Next Initiative. Among Americans ages 18-29, one in four say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion, according to a 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
Demographics/Immigration
Government Sources
Board on Children, Youth and Families, The National Academies; http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bocyf/
The BOCYF addresses policy-relevant issues related to the health and development of children, youth and families. Its research encompasses: child health and health care services; family support, child care and early child development; preschool education; youth development; child abuse, family violence and child welfare; and preventing underage drinking and other risky behaviors. The board is a joint collaborative of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine.
Contact: Rosemary Chalk, director, 202.334.1935; rchalk@nas.edu
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics; www.ChildStats.gov
A collaboration of federal agencies and departments, the forum fosters coordination in collecting and reporting federal statistics on family and social environment, economic circumstances, health and health care, physical environment and safety, behavior and education. Data are compiled in the forum’s annual report, “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-being,” released each July. (2007 data)
Contact: Shara Godiwalla, forum director, 301.458.4256; sgodiwalla@cdc.gov. Or contact agency representatives.
National Center for Health Statistics; http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
Part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the center tracks births, deaths, marriages and divorces. It includes profiles by state.
Contact: 301.458.4800; paoquery@cdc.gov
U.S. Census Bureau; www.census.gov
Demographic characteristics of the nation’s households and families, including its foreign-born population, are collected annually in the March Current Population Survey. More detail on household and family characteristics for states, metropolitan areas and other geographic locations is collected in the decennial census.
Contact: Public information, 301.763.3030; pio@census.gov
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, USCIS provides several resources on the immigrant population:
-Statistics on legal immigrants, refugees, asylees, temporary admissions, naturalization, and enforcement;
-Information on processing immigrant visas, naturalization and more.
Other Sources and Resources
Annie E. Casey Foundation; www.aecf.org
The Baltimore-based foundation’s primary mission is to foster public policies, human-service reforms and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of vulnerable children and families. Its annual Kids Count Data Book compiles national and state-by-state indicators of child well-being. Its investments in immigrant and refugee families aim to increase English proficiency; improve access to public benefits, work supports and quality schools; and help those with limited English proficiency develop strong credit histories.
Contact: Sue Lin Chong, public affairs manager, 410.223.2836; media@aecf.org
The Brookings Institution; www.brookings.edu
The nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank conducts high-quality, independent research. Its Center on Children and Families – directed by Ron Haskins and Isabel V. Sawhill – studies policies on the well-being of America’s children and their parents, especially children in less-advantaged families. Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy Program provides information on the changing demographic composition of urban areas and states as well as the country overall. It also weighs in on naturalization and citizenship issues, international migration, immigration policy and urban and metropolitan change.
Contact: press office, 202.797.6105; communications@brookings.edu
Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire; www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu
The institute conducts research into challenges facing families and communities in New England and across the nation. It sponsors interdisciplinary research documenting trends and conditions in rural America, including those affecting children.
Contact: Amy Sterndale, communications director, 603.862.4650; amy.sterndale@unh.edu
CensusScope.org; www.censusscope.org
A tool for investigating Census 2000 and U.S. demographic trends, the site offers data and charts dating to at least 1980 and sometimes earlier. It has information on an expanding list of topics, including population growth, population by race, age structure, family structure and income. It includes multirace profiles. The site is a product of the Social Science Data Network, based at the University of Michigan’s Population Studies Center (see below) and directed by demographer William H. Frey.
Contact: 734.763.4935
Center for Immigration Studies; www.cis.org
The center supports admitting fewer immigrants to the United States but providing “a warmer welcome” for those who’ve been admitted. It conducts research and policy analysis of the economic, social, demographic, fiscal and other impacts of immigration on the U.S. Research director Steven Camarota is author of the report that found that immigrants and their U.S.-born children account for one in four people living in poverty, and have contributed to nearly three-fourths of the increase in the uninsured population since 1989.
Contact: 202.466-8185; center@cis.org
Child Trends; www.childtrends.org
The nonprofit organization conducts social science research on children and youth. Its many research areas include those on indicators of child well-being plus marriage and family. Its data bank contains statistics and data sources on foster care, child poverty and numerous other subjects.
Contact: David Carrier, outreach director, 202.572.6138; DCarrier@childtrends.org
Federation for American Immigration Reform; www.fairus.org
The national, nonprofit membership organization pushes to tighten border security and to stop illegal immigration.
Contact: Bob Dane, communications director, 202.328.7004; bdane@fairus.org
Foundation for Child Development; www.fcd-us.org
Based in New York City, the private philanthropy seeks to understand children, particularly the disadvantaged, and to promote their well-being. Its PK-3 Initiative supports preschool and encourages aligning curricula to meet children’s developmental needs, especially through third grade. The foundation’s New American Children Initiative focuses on the special challenges facing children in immigrant families. And its Child Well-Being Index paints a composite picture of children over time.
Immigrant Policy Project, National Conference of State Legislatures; www.ncsl.org
The nonpartisan project represents the interests of local and state governments in dealing with federal immigration policies and programs. Based at NCSL’s offices in Washington, D.C., it’s a collaborative effort with five other organizations: the National Governors’ Association, the National Association of Counties, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities and the American Public Human Services Association.
Contact: Ann Morse, program manager, 202.624.8697; ann.morse@ncsl.org. Or, contact media relations, 202.624.8667 (Washington) or 303.856.1412 (Denver); press-room@ncsl.org
Immigration Studies, New York University; http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/immigration/
Immigration Studies @ NYU is devoted to the scholarly study of immigration with a focus on children, youth and families. It conducts basic research that is comparative, interdisciplinary and longitudinal. Its co-directors are Carola Suarez-Orozco, professor of applied psychology, and Marcelo M. Suarez-Orozco, a professor of globalization and education. Earlier, she co-directed the Harvard Longitudinal Immigrant Student Adaptation Study, examining adjustments of Central American, Chinese, Dominican, Haitian and Mexican immigrant adolescents to U.S. schools.
Contact: 212.998.5282; cso2@nyu.edu or 212.998.5284; mso3@nyu.edu
The nonpartisan nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C., focuses on the movement of people worldwide. MPI analyzes and evaluates migration and refugee policies at the local, national and international levels. Its MPI Data Hub helps journalists localize stories with in-depth data on immigrants
in each state. It also has maps showing settlement patterns of the foreign-born from Mexico, China and seven other areas. Michael Fix, vice president and director of studies, has extensively studied immigrant children.
Contact: 202.266.1908; communciations@migrationpolicy.org
National Council of La Raza; www.nclr.org
NCLR is the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. It conducts research, policy analysis and advocacy, providing a Latino perspective in five key areas: assets/investments, civil rights/immigration, education, employment and economic status, and health. It looks at every stage in the education pipeline – from early childhood education to higher education – to ensure that Latino students have equitable access to opportunities. Founded in 1968, the nonprofit organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Contact: Office of public information, 202.785.1670; opi@nclr.org
Pew Hispanic Center; www.pewhispanic.org
The nonpartisan research center works to improve understanding of the U.S. Hispanic population and to chronicle Latinos’ growing impact on the entire nation. It conducts and commissions studies on a wide range of issues, and it conducts public opinion surveys that aim to illuminate Latino views on social matters and public policy. Demography, education, identity and immigration are among its eight key subject areas.
Contact: 202.419.3600; info@pewhispanic.org
Population Reference Bureau; www.prb.org
The nonprofit research center analyzes complex demographic data and research to provide objective, accurate and timely information on domestic and global populations. Its work focuses on four themes: reproductive health and fertility; children and families; population and the environment; and population futures (aging, inequality and poverty, migration and urbanization, and gender).
Contact: Ellen Carnevale, communications director, 202.939.5407; ecarnavale@prb.org
Population Studies Center, University of Michigan; www.psc.isr.umich.edu
The demographic research center was established in 1961 to study fertility and family. Its researchers have created large-scale data collections such as the Intergenerational Panel Study of Parents and Children, the National Survey of Family Growth and the child development supplement to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. Research addresses: marriage, divorce and cohabitation; fertility, contraception and sexual behavior; household structure and intergenerational dynamics; child, adolescent and adult transitions; and race and gender issues.
Contact: 734.763.1543; isr-info@isr.umich.edu
RAND Corp.; www.rand.org/research_areas/children/
The nonprofit research organization provides analysis and effective solutions addressing challenges around the world. Its child policy division supports research and publications on issues from prenatal to age 18, yielding information to improve decisions and policies. Its Promising Practices Network on Children, Families and Communities, identifies programs that improve outcomes. Its Center for Research on Immigration Policy examines issues including: the effects of immigration on receiving and sending countries; integration of immigrants in the United States; access to and use of public services by immigrants; and the education of immigrants and their children.
Contact: media relations, 703.413.1100, Ext. 5117 (Arlington, Va.) or 310.451.6913 (Santa Monica., Calif.); media@rand.org
Urban Institute; www.urban.org
The nonpartisan center analyzes policies, evaluates programs and informs community development to improve social, civic and economic well-being. It aims to promote sound social policy and public debate. Its many research areas include work on children, families, adolescents and race-ethnicity, early childhood education, immigration and more. In late October 2007, Urban released a report, “Paying the Price: the Impact of Immigration Raids on America’s Children”.
Contact: Public affairs, 202.261.5709; paffairs@ui.urban.org
The national organization represents a network of nonprofit state and local child advocacy organizations. It advocates for the well-being of children at the federal, state and local levels of government.
Contact: Halle Czechowski, communications vice president, 202.289.0777, Ext. 211; czechowski@voices.org
Additional Information
Future of Children: Children of Immigrant Families, Vol. 14, No. 2 – Summer 2004
http://www.futureofchildren.org/pubs-info2825/
pubs-info_show.htm?doc_id=240166
Scholars, advocates and others focus on demographics, education, economics, health and general well-being of children in newcomer families. It also looks at the early years, middle childhood and adolescence. This Future of Children issue was the last published by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation; the twice-yearly journal is now produced by Princeton University and the Brookings Institution.
HEALTH / SAFETY
General Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
www.cdc.gov
The CDC, based in Atlanta, Ga., covers the spectrum of child and youth disease prevention and health issues. It provides information on birth defects; vaccinations; health and safety; nutrition, overweight and obesity; reproductive and sexual health; and disease outbreaks or threats. Its well-organized Web site breaks out information in many ways, including by life stages. It also offers state fact sheets on healthy youth and provides health tips for college student.
Among its components are:
It tracks incidents, where they occur and how
to avoid or minimize them. Its violence
prevention division provides statistics and
background on child maltreatment, youth and
intimate partner violence, sexual violence and
suicide.
It tracks Information on childhood lead poisoning
and many other hazards.
Contact: 404.639.3286; in.the.news@cdc.gov
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics; www.ChildStats.gov
A collaboration of federal agencies and departments, the forum fosters coordination in collecting and reporting federal statistics on family and social environment, economic circumstances, health and health care, physical environment and safety, behavior and education. Such data are compiled in the forum’s annual report, “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-being,” released each July. For 2007 data, see here.
Contact: Shara Godiwalla, forum director, 301.458.4256; sgodiwalla@cdc.gov. Or, reach agency representatives via the Childstats contact page.
National Center for Safe Routes to School; http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
Established in 2006, the center assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. It’s maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
Contact: Katy Jones, 919.843.7007; jones@hsrc.unc.edu
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
The federal agency, based at North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, aims to understand how the environment influences human health and how to reduce illness and disability. Its research addresses reproductive health, air pollution and child lung development, autism, lead, mold, pesticides and much more. Its Web site includes a section devoted to child health.
Contact: Robin Mackar, news director, 919.541.0073; rmackar@niehs.nih.gov
National Institute of Mental Health; www.nimh.nih.gov
Part of the National Institutes of Health, NIMH devotes considerable research and support to child and adolescent mental health. Its Web site provides background on mental health, disorders (such as autism and depression) and treatments. It provides information on coping with violence and traumatic events, and it links to current research and reports. NIMH also produces “The Numbers Count,” a fact sheet on the prevalence of mental disorders.
Contact: 301.443.4536; nimhpress@mail.nih.gov
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; http://ojjdp.ncjrs.org/index.html
OJJDP, a component of the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, supports states, local communities and tribal jurisdictions in their efforts to develop and implement effective programs to prevent and reduce the impact of family and community violence on young children and their families. One such program is the Crimes Against Children Research Center, based at the University of New Hampshire, which provides research and statistics to the public, policymakers and child welfare practitioners. The center focuses on children and adolescents who have been victimized, both within and outside the family.
Contact: Earl Appleby, Communications Unit; 202-616-3554; earl.appleby@usdoj.gov
Additional Resources
Annie E. Casey Foundation; www.aecf.org
The nonprofit foundation, based in Baltimore, aims to foster public policies, human-service reforms and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. Its Kids Count Data Center, an outgrowth of the child well-being report it releases each summer, contains state- and city-level data for over 100 measures of child well-being, including health.
Contact: Laura Beavers, research associate, 410.223.2975; lbeavers@aecf.org
Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence; http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/
The University of Colorado at Boulder research program was founded in 1992 to enhance the understanding and prevention of violence, particularly adolescent violence. Along with conducting research, the center provides technical assistance in evaluating and developing prevention and intervention programs. It’s doing research on crisis planning for the federal Homeland Security in Schools program. Its Web site has extensive links, by topic, to other resources.
Contact: Susan Lineberry, communications director, 303.492.1032; lineberry@colorado.edu
The Children & Nature Network (C&NN); http://www.cnaturenet.org/
C&NN was created to encourage those working to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being.
Contact: info@cnaturenet.org
Children’s Environmental Health Network; www.cehn.org
The national organization aims to protect the fetus and child from environmental health hazards and to promote a healthy environment. It works to safeguard children from harmful substances, whether pesticide residue in food, air pollutants that can cause asthma, or plastic additives that can distort hormones. It provides training to health care providers, religious leaders and others; supports and disseminates research; and advocates on behalf of children’s environmental health.
Contact: Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, executive director, 202.543.4033, Ext. 14; noot@cehn.org
Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research; http://www.jhsph.edu/gunpolicy/
Part of the Baltimore university’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, the center promotes research and public policy efforts to reduce gun-related injuries and deaths. It studies the public health effects of guns in society, led by co-directors Jon Vernick and Daniel Webster. Its Separating Kids and Guns program looked at adolescent development and risk assessment. Contact: Vernick, 410.955.7982; jvernick@jhsph.edu
National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety; research.marshfieldclinic.org/children/
The center strives to improve the health of children and youths living in rural areas and working in agricultural environments. It supports research and promotes issues such as safe-play areas on farms, avoiding youth tractor crashes, and establishing the National Agricultural Safety Database’s child safety section.
Contact: Scott Heiberger, communications specialist, 715.389.7541 or 800.662.6900, Ext. 7; heiberger.scott@mcrf.mfldclin.edu
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education; http://nrc.uchsc.edu/
The center – based at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver – promotes health and safety in out-of-home child care settings nationwide. It’s funded by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau.
Contact: 800.598.KIDS (5437); natl.child.res.ctr@uchsc.edu
PARENTING
Government Sources
Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; www.acf.hhs.gov
ACF funds state, territory, local and tribal organizations to improve the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities. It oversees roughly 60 programs involving child welfare and child support, Head Start, child care, family violence, and fatherhood and marriage.
Contact: 202.401.9215; officeofpublicaffairs@acf.hhs.gov
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics; www.ChildStats.gov
A collaboration of federal agencies and departments, the forum fosters coordination in collecting and reporting federal statistics on family and social environment, economic circumstances, health and health care, physical environment and safety, behavior and education. Such data are compiled in the forum’s annual report, “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-being,” released each July. July 2007 data is available.
Contact: Shara Godiwalla, forum director, 301.458.4256; sgodiwalla@cdc.gov; reach agency representatives.
U.S. Census Bureau; www.census.gov
Demographic characteristics of the nation’s households and families, including its foreign-born population, are collected annually in the March Current Population Survey. More detail on household and family characteristics for states, metropolitan areas and other geographic locations is collected in the decennial census.
Contact: Public information, 301.763.3030; pio@census.gov
Other Sources and Resources
AVANCE; www.avance.org
The nonprofit organization, based in San Antonio, Texas, is dedicated to helping immigrant parents become their children’s first teacher, best advocate and critical education partner. It uses a research-based approach to school readiness.
Contact: Syliva Garcia, president, 210.270.4630; sgarcia.nat@avance.org
Bendheim-Thoman Center for Research on Child Wellbeing; http://crcw.princeton.edu/
The Princeton University interdisciplinary center conducts research on children’s health, education, income and family structure. It aims to stimulate basic research, educate faculty and students about children’s policy issues, and influence policymakers and practitioners at all levels. CRCW supports two initiatives: the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, following a longitudinal birth cohort of nearly 5,000 children; and The Future of Children, a twice-yearly journal published with the Brookings Institution. Its fall 2007 volume focused on “The Next Generation of Antipoverty Policies.” CRCW’s director is Sara McLanahan.
Contact: 609.258.5894; crcw@princeton.edu
Child Study Center, New York University; http://www.aboutourkids.org/
The center, developed in collaboration with the NYU School of Medicine, provides parents and children with information, research, resources and treatment related to psychiatric disorders. Its Web site offers an A-to-Z guide of disorders and treatments, plus a mental health dictionary. The center publishes several newsletters for parents and others. Its founding director is Harold S. Koplewicz.
Contact: 212.263.6622; press@AboutOurKids.org
Child Trends Inc.; www.childtrends.org
Based in Washington, D.C., the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization provides data-driven, evidence-based guidance on policy and practice, and it tracks trends and identifies emerging issues. Its 13 areas of study include those on: fatherhood and parenting; marriage and family; and teen sex and pregnancy. Its data bank contains statistics and data sources on these and numerous other subjects.
Contact: David Carrier, outreach director, 202.572.6138; DCarrier@childtrends.org
Council on Contemporary Families; www.contemporaryfamilies.org/
The national nonprofit organization, housed at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was founded in 1996 to enhance the American conversation about contemporary families’ needs and how to meet them. Its members include noted family researchers, mental health and social work practitioners and clinicians. The council maintains a list of family scholars and practitioners.
Contact: Stephanie Coontz, director of public education, 360.352.8117 or 360.556.9223 cell; coontzs@msn.com
Family Equality Council; www.familyequality.org
Formerly known as the Family Pride Coalition, the national advocacy organization is committed to securing family equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents, guardians and allies. Based in Boston, the nonprofit organization supports parents through with publications, parent groups, experts and LGBTQ family research.
Contact: Cathy Renna, communications, 917.757.6123; cathy@rennacommunications.com
Family Research Council; www.frc.org
FRC promotes the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system upon which it is built. It opposes abortion, homosexuality and same-sex marriage. It produces and disseminates policy papers through its Center for Marriage and Family Studies. FRC’s president is Tony Perkins. Its offices are in Washington, D.C., and Holland, Mich.
Contact: Maria Donovan, media coordinator, 202.637.4615; mcd@frc.org
Family Voices Inc.; www.familyvoices.org
The national, grassroots network supports family-centered, community-based services for children with special health care needs. The Boston-based organization serves as a national clearinghouse for information and education. It promotes comprehensive and culturally competent services in supporting essential partnerships between families and professionals. It’s based in Albuquerque, N.M.
Contact: 505.872.4774
Focus on the Family; www.family.org
The organization is devoted to spreading Christian doctrine and preserving traditional family values, particularly the institution of marriage. It was founded by James Dobson and is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Contact: Gary Schneeberger, media director, 719.548.5853; press@family.org
Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study; http://www.fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/Index.asp The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study is following a cohort of nearly 5,000 children born in large U.S. cities between 1998 and 2000 (roughly three-quarters of whom were born to unmarried parents). The study is a joint effort by Princeton University’s Center for Research on Child Wellbeing and Center for Health and Wellbeing, and Columbia University's Social Indicators Survey Center and The National Center for Children and Families. The principal investigators are Sara McLanahan and Christina Paxson at Princeton University and Irwin Garfinkel, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, Ron Mincy, and Jane Waldfogel at Columbia University. Contact: Princeton University, ffdatahelp@opr.princeton.edu; Columbia University, siscenter@columbia.edu
Heritage Foundation; www.heritage.org
The think tank formulates and promotes conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom and traditional American values. Its domestic research covers family and marriage, economics, education, health care and more. In October 2007, it released Robert E. Moffit’s report, “The More Children, More Choices Act of 2007: Middle-Class Tax Relief for Families with Kids.”
Contact: Media affairs, 202.675.1761
Institute for American Values; www.americanvalues.org
The private, nonpartisan organization is devoted to strengthening families and civil societies in the United States and world. Its projects concern motherhood, marriage, the effects of divorce on children, and civil society. It advocates removing financial disincentives for low-income parents to marry.
Contact: 212.246.3942; info@americanvalues.org
National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy; http://www.teenpregnancy.org/
The nonprofit, nonpartisan campaign promotes values, behavior and policies that reduce both teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among young adults. It conducts polls and other research, synthesizing and disseminating information. It has data on births by the mother’s age, race/ethnicity and more, at both national and state levels. It also has information on promising programs and practices.
Contact: Bill Albert, deputy director, 202.478.8500; balbert@teenpregnancy.org
National Center on Fathers and Families; http://www.ncoff.gse.upenn.edu/
NCOFF is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to research and policy analysis on father involvement and family development. Its focus includes child support enforcement, support for young fathers, the effects of joblessness and systemic barriers to fathers’ involvement. Its research database includes more than 9,000 entries.
Contact: Vivian Gadsden, director, 215.573.5500; viviang@gse.upenn.edu
National Marriage Project; http://marriage.rutgers.edu
The project, based at Rutgers University, provides research and analysis in two areas: the state of marriage in America, and the social, economic and cultural conditions affecting marital success and child well-being. Its co-directors are David Popenoe and Barbara Dafoe Whitehead.
Contact: 732.445.7922; marriage@rci.rutgers.edu
Parents Anonymous; www.parentsanonymous.org
The nation’s oldest child abuse-prevention organization is dedicated to nurturing children by strengthening families and their communities. Parents, children and youth learn new behaviors. It’s based in Claremont, Calif.
Contact: Barbara Meltzer, media affairs, 323.964.9555; barbara@meltzerpr.com
Parents Helping Parents; www.php.com
PHP is a family resource center that advocates for children with special needs. This includes children of all ages who need special social, educational or other services because of but not limited to illness, accidents, birth defects, neurological conditions, premature birth, learning or physical disabilities, mental health issues and ADHD. Contact Jane Floethe-Ford, director of education, 408.727.5775, Ext. 115; jane@php.com
Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families; www.zerotothree.org
The nonprofit promotes healthy development of infants and toddlers by strengthening and supporting parents, professionals, programs and policymakers. It publishes research-based information on best practices and the latest developments in the field for professionals, including the bimonthly Zero to Three Journal. Zero to Three is based in Washington, with a regional office in Los Angeles.
Contact: Tom Salyers, communications director, 202.638.1144, Ext. 608; tsalyers@zerotothree.org
RELIGION
Government Sources
The 2007 Statistical Abstract; http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/population/
Tables 73 through 75 of the nation’s annual data book provide information on the adult population’s self-described religious identification, religious bodies, and Christian church adherents and the Jewish population. In 2001, just over three-fourths of the nation’s nearly 208,000 adults identified themselves as Christian.
White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives; www.fbci.gov
The office was created in 2001 to strengthen and expand the role of faith-based efforts in providing social services to the poor. At least 11 federal agencies – including the departments of education, justice, and health and human services – now have Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. These efforts are aimed at helping FBCOs compete more effectively for funds.
Contact: Jake Yunker, associate director, 202.456.7608; jyunker@who.eop.gov
Other Sources
Association of Religion Data Archives; www.thearda.com
Since 1997, ARDA has worked to improve access to the best data on religion. Its Web site shows U.S. religious congregation and membership participation as a whole and by state and county, plus other countries’ religious profiles. It features maps and statistics on attitudes, beliefs and politics, religious behaviors and experiences. It also has an extensive list of recommended links for journalists. Housed at Pennsylvania State University, the archives are funded by the university, the Lilly Endowment and the John Templeton Foundation.
Contact: ARDA at 814.865.6258; arda@pop.psu.edu
Association of Theological Schools; www.ats.edu
ATS is a membership organization of more than 250 U.S. and Canadian graduate schools preparing students for ministry or for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. The Commission on Accrediting of ATS accredits the schools and approves their degree programs. The association is based in Pittsburgh.
Contact: Nancy Merrill, communications director, 412.788.6505, Ext. 234; merrill@ats.edu
Center for Media, Religion and Culture; http://www.colorado.edu/journalism/mcm/mrc/
Part of the University of Colorado's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Boulder center serves as a clearinghouse of information. Its interdisciplinary research team focuses on the intersection of religious and media-related practices in the everyday lives of contemporary adults and their families. Its Web site lists research, public conferences, fellowship opportunities and more.
Contact: Stewart M. Hoover, director, 303.492.5007; hoover@colorado.edu
Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood & Adolescence; www.spiritualdevelopmentcenter.org
A project of the Minneapolis-based Search Institute, it aims to become an international hub of theory, research and practice to advance the scientific study of spiritual development. The institute developed the framework of 40 Developmental Assets, which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy and responsible. The Search Institute cites involvement in faith communities among 40 potential assets for healthy development. The institute has major support from the John Templeton Foundation of Philadelphia.
Contact: Gene Rohlkepartain, co-director, 612.692.5553; gener@search-institute.org
Council on American-Islamic Relations; www.cair.com
CAIR is the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, with 32 chapters in 20 states and one in Canada. The nonprofit organization aims to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions promoting justice and mutual understanding.
Contact: Ibrahim Hooper, communications director, 202.488.8787 or
202.744.7726 (cell); ihooper@cair.com
Faith in Public Life; http://www.faithinpubliclife.org/
The nonprofit organization, founded by diverse religious leaders after the 2004 elections, promotes faith that public life will support social and economic justice. It provides critical organizing and communications resources to support advocacy on national, state and local levels. Its Web site has an interactive U.S. map identify faith groups and their contact information.
Contact: Katie Barge, communications director, 202.481.8147; press@faithinpubliclife.org
Hartford Institute for Religion Research; http://hirr.hartsem.edu/
Part of the Hartford (Conn.) Seminary, the institute has built an international reputation for supporting rigorous, policy-relevant research, anticipating emerging issues and disseminating knowledge. It describes faiths from Anglican to Southern Baptist. Its research encompasses faith communities, urban settings, multiracial congregations, immigrations and much more.
Contact: David Roozen, director, 860.509.9546; roozen@hartsem.edu
Knight Chair in Media and Religion; http://uscmediareligion.org/
Part of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, its Web site serves as a resource for journalists, including journalism educators and students seeking new models for covering politics, science, sex and gender. Its chair, Diane Winston, writes a blog.
Contact: 213.821.5388; dianewin@usc.edu
National Council of Churches; www.ncccusa.org
Since 1950, the New York-based council has been a leading force for ecumenical cooperation among Christians in the United States. Its member faith groups – from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches – include 45 million people among more than 100,000 local congregations.
Contact: Daniel Webster, media relations director, 212.870.2252; dwebster@ncccusa.org
National Study of Youth and Religion; http://www.youthandreligion.org/
The study aims to enhance understanding of American youths’ religious lives from adolescence into young adulthood, through phone surveys and interviews. Based at the University of North Carolina, it began in 2001 with principal funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. and additional support from the John Templeton Foundation. Researchers – led by University of Notre Dame sociology professor Christian Smith and UNC assistant professor Lisa Pearce – began collecting and analyzing the third wave of data in 2007.
Contact: Patricia Snell at Notre Dame, psnell@nd.edu; youthandreligion@unc.edu
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life; http://pewforum.org
A subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, the nonpartisan forum promotes deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. It delivers timely, impartial information to national opinion leaders, including government officials and journalists. Its polling and analytical research focuses on religion and its intersection in four areas: politics, law, domestic policy and world affairs.
Contact: Robbie Mills, communications assistant, 202.419.4564; mills@pewforum.org
Polling Report Inc.; http://www.pollingreport.com/religion.htm
The for-profit corporation, launched in 1985 and based in Santa Barbara, Calif., lists findings from various polls including those on religion. For instance, a June 2007 CBS News poll found that 70 percent of respondents believed it was not appropriate for religious leaders to urge people to vote for or against a political candidate. The answers varied strongly by political affiliation, with that view held by 77 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of independents, compared with 58 percent of Republicans.
Contact: editor@pollingreport.com
Religion News Service; www.religionnews.com
The Washington, D.C.-based secular news and photo service is devoted to unbiased coverage of religion and ethics. Founded in 1934, it’s owned by Newhouse News Service, part of Advance Publishing. RNS material is distributed to U.S. daily and weekly newspapers. Its Web site maintains backgrounders on a handful of major religions and a calendar of religious events.
Contact: 202.463.8777; info@religionnews.com
Religion Newswriters Association; www.rna.org
The independent, nonpartisan organization founded in 1949 to advance the professional standards of religion reporting in the secular press. Its Religion Link Web site is a comprehensive resource to help journalists write informed stories about the ways religion affects public life. It offers source guides, backgrounders and links to Web resources. It includes a thorough tip sheet on covering religion. In summer 2008, RNA is scheduled to move to the University of Missouri School of Journalism, which also houses the Center on Religion and the Professions.
Contact: Debra Mason, executive director, 573.884.6295 or 573.882.2866; MasonDL@missouri.edu
ReligionSource; www.religionsource.org
Subtitled “The Journalist’s Shortcut to 5,000 Scholars,” the referral service has information on religion and politics, social issues, education, popular culture and ethics. It’s a service of the American Academy of Religion, which promotes academic study and has 10,000 members worldwide. AAR also has several contests to honor reporting on religion-related topics. The Atlanta-based service is supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. and The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Contact: 404.727.4725; source@religionsource.org
Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy; http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org
Part of the State University of New York’s Rockefeller Institute of Government, the roundtable aims to increase awareness of critical issues related to faith-based social service programs. It supports in-depth analysis and discussion based on the best social service science, legal and policy research. The roundtable, based in Albany, launched in 2002 with funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Contact: Claire Hughes, media correspondent, 518.l443.5744; hughesc@rockinst.org
Spirituality in Higher Education; http://www.spirituality.ucla.edu/about/index.html
The survey, subtitled “A National Study of College Students’ Search for Meaning and Purpose,” is a project of the University of California-Los Angeles’ Higher Education Research Institute. Since 2003, the project has studied trends, patterns and principles of spirituality and religiousness among college students – and how the college experience influences spiritual development. It has polled at least 112,000 entering freshmen at 236 colleges and universities plus more than 65,000 faculty from 511 institutions nationwide. It’s funded by the John Templeton Foundation.
Contact: Jennifer Lindholm, project director, 310.825.1925; jlindholm@college.ucla.edu
