Workforce and Family Program: Press

Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Kicks into High Gear | The Nation.

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:00 -0500

On Friday, FCIC Chairman Phil Angelides was in DC to deliver a keynote address at a New America Foundation conference on financial reforms, jobs, housing, ...

The Rural Brain Drain | American Conservative Magazine

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:52:00 -0500

Last Thursday's event at the New America Foundation on the “rural brain drain” billed itself as examining a “major policy problem that has largely escaped ...

National Winner Named in New America's 2009 Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest

Communications — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:42:00 -0400

Bedford, N.Y. and Washington, D.C. -- Daniel Robbins, a graduating senior of Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY, was named first place winner of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest.

At the announcement ceremony today, Daniel Robbins received a $2,500 prize for college. Congressman John J. Hall, from the 19th Congressional District in New York, presented the check.

This year's winner was selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state in the country.

One in Five Children Sinking into Poverty | People's Weekly World

Cecille Isidro — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:25:00 -0400

The Child Well-Being Index (CWI) is an annual evidence-based composite measure of trends over time in the quality of life for U.S. children from birth to age 18 conducted by Duke University’s Foundation for Child Development Child and Youth Well-Being Index Project. It tracks changes as compared to 1975 base year values.

10 Finalists Named in New America's 2009 Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest

Communications — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:08:00 -0400

Washington, D.C. May 19, 2009 -- Ten students were named finalists of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest today.

This year's finalists were selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state. By state, the finalists broke out to 1 Arizona; 1 Colorado; 1 Michigan; 1 New Jersey; 2 New York; 1 North Carolina; 1 Ohio; 2 Pennsylvania.

25 Semifinalists Named in New America's 2009 Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest

Communications — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:57:00 -0400

Twenty-five students were named semifinalists of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest today.

This year's semifinalists were selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state. By state, the semifinalists broke out to 1 Arkansas; 1 Arizona; 1 California; 1 Colorado; 1 Illinois; 2 Michigan; 1 Minnesota; 1 Mississippi; 1 North Carolina; 1 New Jersey; 3 New York; 1 Ohio; 3 Pennsylvania; 1 Tennessee; 3 Texas; 1 Utah; 1 Washington.

US Needs Pact Based on Family | Washington Times

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:19:00 -0400

America's society is -- and always has been -- completely dependent "on both the quantity and quality of other people's children," say Phillip Longman and David Gray, who study work and family issues at the New America Foundation think tank. ...

American Family Needs Some Help | Washington Times

Cecille Isidro — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:53:00 -0500

The problem is this -- America's "social contract" has gotten wildly out of balance, says Phillip Longman, senior fellow at the New America Foundation think tank...

The next generation is already "highly encumbered by poverty, family break-up, a rising national debt," Mr. Longman and David Gray write in their November report, "A Family-Based Social Contract."

US Needs for Language Critical | Middle East Times

Communications — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:02:00 -0500

"In a more competitive market where products are increasing in quality," said Gray, who now works at the New America Foundation, a Washington-based think ...

Tongue-Tied: Americans Lack Multi-Lingual Edge

Communications — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:59:00 -0500

David Gray, former Labor Department acting assistant secretary for policy, said one thing is certain to emerge from the retooling of the worldwide financial system – greater global challenges to America’s economic dominance. ... Outside Article

David Gray in The Washington Examiner | 'Mothers-in-Law: A Think Tank’s Take'

Cecille Isidro — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:08:00 -0500

Now that President-elect Barack Obama will be joined by his mother-in-law -- Marian Robinson -- in the White House, the New America Foundation’s David Gray, director of its Workforce and Family Program, is ready and able to give the wonky spin on this unique presidential living situation. “The normal mother-in-law jokes are somewhat mitigated in this instance,” Gray told Yeas & Nays. “Obama will be gone a ton, he has a huge house and he’ll be pretty busy.” Still, “the first family’s situation, while unique in scope, is common throughout our country as a child care option for working parents.” LINK

David Gray on NPR | 'Candidates Differ On Relief For Working Families'

Cecille Isidro — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:05:00 -0400

Both campaigns "defer a lot of costs in this area," said David Gray, director of the Workplace and Family Program for the New America Foundation, a think tank in Washington, D.C. "It's much more difficult to compare the cost-benefit" than with, say, health care.

Gray, who said it was "significant that you have a Republican doing anything in this area," noted that McCain's proposed commission would cost little to establish, and "if you don't implement any recommendations, there's no cost."

In contrast, he says, "Obama has very real numbers: The most conservative is north of $1.6 billion, and it's fair to say it's a lot higher. Here you have one candidate who has very direct solutions and one who has indirect solutions, and we won't know what they are until the recommendations" come through. LINK

David Gray Featured in The Washington Examiner

Cecille Isidro — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 06:15:00 -0400

The Rev. David Gray, 39, is director of the Workforce and Family Program at the New America Foundation and is a parish associate at National Presbyterian Church. He has served as a lawyer and policy aid in both the legislative and executive branches of government, and is preparing to release a paper on the family aspects of America’s Next Social Contract.

Do you consider yourself to be of a specific faith? I was born and raised Presbyterian and am ordained and serve as a Presbyterian pastor. I appreciate the Presbyterian value of balance--between head and heart, word and sacrament, worship and service, creativity and order, vocation and rest, contemplation and action.

As a young person, did any person or event have a unique influence upon your faith or path in life? My parents and grandparents had an important impact on my faith journey.Watching their faithfulness to church and religious practice as sources of personal and social strength influenced me to explore religion more seriously. Along the way, three pastors --a Presbyterian preacher, a Catholic priest and a UCC counselor (sounds like the start of a bad joke, doesn’t it?)--modeled how great joy can come from service.

You’ve spent time studying America’s work force. How do you find your own work-life balance? Work and life balance is one of the emerging issues on the American policy landscape.… more

New America Foundation Essay Contest Highlights the Need for Increased Focus on America's Children

Communications — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:19:00 -0400

The New America Foundation's Workforce and Family Program is announcing a contest for high school seniors to provide their views on the best way to improve the lives of America's young people.

New America will be offering $2,500 to the student who best answers the question, "You have just been elected the President of the United States. What is the most important thing you will do to improve the lives of America's children?" This is the second year of the contest, which is now offered nationally after running in Washington, DC during its initial year.

"In a Presidential election year such as this one, we are all listening intently to what the candidates have to say about the future. This contest provides a unique opportunity for students to articulate their hopes for improving children's lives," stated David Gray, director of the Workforce and Family Program. "It is the student's opportunity to tell parents, teachers, and Washington policymakers what America's priorities should be."

The contest is open to all public and private high school seniors. Essays must be no longer than 600 words and must also be accompanied by the Official Entry Form (available at the link below). The Official Entry Form must be signed by the student, a parent or guardian, and a teacher from the entrant's school certifying that this is an original essay. New America is now accepting entries and the deadline for submission is February 20, 2009.

The top 25 essays as chosen by New America staff will receive recognition as semi-finalists. Ten finalists will receive special recognition. The winning essay will be selected from the finalists by a panel of distinguished judges based on clarity of thought, creativity, practicality, potential to improve the lives of children and potential to draw attention to policies that help young people. The winner will be announced in June 2009 and will receive a $2,500 prize. The winner's essay will be published and distributed by the New America Foundation.

For complete contest guidelines and rules, as well as the Official Entry Form, please visit New America's website: www.newamerica.net/programs/workforce_and_family/essay_contest.

Additional Information:
Essay Rules: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/workforce_and_family/essay_contest

About the Workforce and Family Program: http://www.newamerica.net/programs/workforce_and_family

The New America Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy institute that invests in new thinkers and new ideas to address the next generation of challenges facing the United States. Headquartered in Washington D.C., New America also has offices in California.

Sara Mead in The Morning News - Arkansas | 'Parenting Matters In Achievement Of Boys, Girls'

Communications — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:08:00 -0400

Mandara was joined by Sara Mead, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation, for a public discussion on the education of boys as part of the University of Arkansas education reform department lecture series. About 30 parents and teachers attended the discussion at the Jones Center for Families. The pair will also discuss their research findings on the achievement gap today with graduate students and faculty in the College of Education and Health Professions. In a 2006 report report, titled "The Trust About Boys and Girls," Mead wrote scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress do not show boys lagging behind girls in achievement. LINK

Sara Mead on NPR's On Point with Tom Ashbrook | 'Beyond 'No Child''

Communications — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:36:00 -0400

How to improve under-achieving schools in America’s poorest communities has vexed policy makers for generations. President Bush’s No Child Left Behind law insists on accountability. But critics charge it encourages teaching to the test at the expense of real learning.

The law still sparks a loud argument -- but as one of our guests today writes in the current issue of Harper’s magazine, there’s debate that test-prep companies such as Kaplan are profiting handsomely from the federal mandate to test, and test, and test again.

Featured Guests:

Jeremy Miller, a high school science teacher in Denver. His article “Tyranny of the Test: One year as a Kaplan coach in the public school” appears in the September issue of Harper’s.

Seppy Basili, senior vice president of Learning and Assessment at Kaplan, a $2 billion company that prepares students for standardized tests.

Sara Mead, senior research fellow in the Education Policy Program and Workforce and Family Program at the New America Foundation, where she also writes for the Early Ed Watch blog.

Jordan Meranus, partner at NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy firm that makes investments in organizations serving K-12 public education.

LINK to audio

Sara Mead in Education Week | ' Congress Approves New HEA'

Communications — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:58:00 -0400

The bill would reauthorize the Higher Education Act, which was last renewed in 1998 and has been due for an overhaul since 2003. The HEA governs a broad swath of federal student-aid and other college-level programs.

In addition to tweaking the law’s teacher-training elements, the bill simplifies the main federal student-aid application from seven to three pages and alters eligibility and evaluation components of the college-access programs known as TRIO.

Congress approved the bill on July 31, two days after a conference committee hammered out remaining differences between the House and Senate versions. The bill next heads to the president, who is expected to sign it.

Observers noted that the stiffer teacher-college accountability pieces constitute one of the few parts of the bill to focus on a concrete student-outcome variable, such as test scores.

“The vast majority of the [higher education accountability] debate is focused on college costs and money—the finance piece, rather than focusing on the outcomes we’re getting for that money,” said Sara Mead, a policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a Washington think tank. LINK (subscription required)

The Child Well-Being Index in LATimes.com | Booster Shots: 'Today's teens fatter but less risk-seeking than their parents were'

Communications — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:58:00 -0400

(LA Times.com's Booster Shots Blog)--...The authors of the Child Well-Being Index of 2008* surmise that the late boomers, who "saw up-close the risky behavior of their cohorts," decided they wanted better for their kids. That, in turn, "led parents to more closely monitor the behavior of their adolescent children." Much as it's maligned, that "helicopter parenting" seems to have worked to keep more of Generation Y healthy and safe than their parents had been. Besides, many echo-boomers were probably so busy padding their college applications in anticipation of the fierce competition that they had little time to drink, take drugs or have sex... LINK to article

*The New America Foundation Workforce and Family Program convened an event to release a study, by the Foundation for Child Development, that reports on the Child Well-Being Index. To watch a video of the event, click here.

Foundation for Child Development Finds Quality Of Life Of U.S. Children Stalled Since 2002

Communications — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:09:00 -0400

Washington, DC--The quality of life of American children has been stalled since 2002, according to the Foundation for Child Development (FCD) 2008 Child Well-Being Index (CWI), an annual comprehensive measure of how children are faring in the United States, released today at a New America Foundation event. The CWI calculates the overall status of American children for every year since 1975, and finds less than a three percent improvement for kids over the past generation.

Link to the full report here: www.fcd-us.org/usr_doc/2008AnnualRelease.pdf.

"The slow growth of recent years is troubling; we haven't made enough progress to shield ourselves for the future. Our data show us that the economic recession and slowdown of 2001-2002 hurt children. We also expect that the current challenges in the housing, employment, energy and food sectors will have negative impacts on our children's well-being in years to come," said Kenneth Land, project coordinator of the CWI, and a sociology professor and director of the Center for Population Health and Aging at Duke University.

"Our analysis shows some areas of real improvement from one generation to the next, but the key measure for America's children is not where they've been or where they are, but where they should be. It's time for America to demand better for our children," said Ruby Takanishi, President of the Foundation for Children Development.

"From fiscal 2001 through 2006, overall federal discretionary spending grew very rapidly; even faster than mandatory spending. In such an environment, one would expect large investments in domestic programs that benefit children. However, that has not been the case and a lack of progress in the well-being of children is one result. Modest investments yield modest results," David Gray, director of the New America Foundation's (NAF) Workforce and Family Program.

In addition to noting children's stalled improvement since 2002, the 2008 CWI also compares the well-being of teenagers in the first part of this decade (2003-2005) with the well-being of teenagers in the early years of the study (1975-1977). The teenagers of 1975-1977 are likely to include many who are now the parents of teenagers. Today's teen "Echo Boomers" are less likely to participate in risky behavior (bearing children during teen years, involvement with violent crime, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, illicit drug use) than their parents; are less likely to die from accidents, disease or violence; but are more likely to be overweight or obese and slightly more likely to live below the poverty line than their parents.

The CWI is based on 28 key national indicators across seven quality-of-life domains. Data sources include the U.S. Census, Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Education Statistics, and other vital statistics and sample surveys.

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The Foundation for Child Development is a national, private philanthropy dedicated to the principle that all families should have the social and material resources to raise their children to be healthy, educated and productive members of their communities.

The New America Foundation is a nonprofit public policy institute whose purpose is to bring exceptionally promising new voices and new ideas to the fore of American public discourse. Relying upon a venture capital approach, the Foundation invests in outstanding individuals and policy solutions that transcend the conventional political spectrum. Headquartered in Washington D.C., New America also has offices in California.

The Child Well-Being Index in USA Today | 'Kids today? They're not that different from kids of yesterday'

Communications — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:44:00 -0400

(USA Today)--To a teenager, "When I was your age" usually signals that an adult is about to hold forth on just how different — and awful — the world is these days. But the latest version of an annual study, out today, suggests that since the mid-1970s a few key features of teens' lives have remained essentially the same.

Among the most vivid similarities: Today's teens read about as well (or as poorly) as their parents did a generation ago and aren't much more likely to have earned a high school diploma.

Also unchanged: suicide rates. Then, as now, they were about 4.5%.

The study*, by the Foundation for Child Development, a New York-based private philanthropy group, tracked well-being measures for two groups a generation apart, comparing three-year spreads of statistics from 1975 to 1977 with the same measures in 2003 to 2005.

It found that although a few things have changed substantially — family mobility is down, teen birth rates are down and rates of smoking, drinking and drug use are on the decline — teenagers today read no better than their parents did, though their math skills have improved slightly... LINK to Article

*The New America Foundation Workforce and Family… more