FMD Concerns Growing in South Korea

FMD Concerns Growing in South Korea South Korea last week raised the nation’s foot-and-mouth disease alert status to its highest level, as a second strain of the disease was confirmed at a dairy farm. South Korea also announced plans to vaccinate all cattle in the nation against FMD. The first confirmed FMD case in South Korea in more than a year was confirmed last week, and two other FMD confirmations followed, prompting the alert status and vaccination announcement. South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy, last raised the country’s foot-and-mouth disease alert status to the highest level in 2010 when the country grappled with its worst-ever FMD outbreak, according to Reuters.

For Fathers, It's Quality of Time Rather Than Quantity That Makes a Difference

While recent studies show that today’s fathers are more likely to see parenting as central to their identity than in prior eras, a new study finds that it’s the quality of time, not the quantity, that really matters. This article in Slate also references information from last year’s Journal of Marriage and Family, which looked at the relationship between the amount of parent-child time before the age of 11 and children’s academic achievement. Read more at: http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2016/11/29/study_shows_quality_of_time_between_dad_ and_child_is_more_important_than.html

The Role of Social Networks Among Low-income Fathers

Research shows that people with more social connections are more likely to be "hired, healthy and happy." However, there is less understanding and research around the role of social networks for low-income fathers. This study uses information from the Parents and Children Together (PACT) evaluation to help fill the information gap. - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/pact_secondwave_101216_508.pdf

Effects of Homelessness on Young Children

An individual in the U.S. is most likely to experience homelessness in the first year of life. The Administration for Children & Families examines the increased understanding of the impact homelessness has on families, and especially how it affects young children. - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2016/11/supporting-young-children-and-families-experiencinghomelessness

Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts

Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts: Factsheets for Families Learning to navigate the judicial system can be a necessity for families involved with the child welfare system. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has created fact sheets titled "Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts," which are designed to help explain what families can expect during the various stages of court proceedings. Read more (pdf): https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/cwandcourts.pdf

Fathers' Views of Coparenting Relationships: Findings from the PACT Evaluation

As part of the Parents and Children Together (PACT) evaluation, researchers from Mathematica interviewed fathers who did not live with their children and discovered the complex challenges fathers face when trying to coparent. Roughly seven in ten reported frequent conflict or lack of communication between parents. Read more at: https://www.mathematica-mpr.com/ourpublications-and-findings/publications/fathers-views-of-co-parenting-relationships-findingsfrom-the-pact-evaluation

Mindfulness Meditation in Schools

Officials in some US schools are introducing mindfulness practices in the classroom as an alternative to traditional discipline. At one Baltimore elementary school that has adopted this approach, officials report fewer trips to the principal's office and no suspensions over the past two years. Full Story: U.S. News & World Report - http://health.usnews.com/wellnes