Policy News Families Can Use

Here are a few child and family policy-related nuggets from today’s news. How do they affect you and yours?

Health – The journal Pediatrics released 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health data yesterday that found that the rate of autism (also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD) as reported by parents in the U.S. has increased to one in 100 children, up from a previous estimate of 150. The Centers for Disease Control web site backs that research up, and further expresses hope that “these new data might raise awareness about ASDs to help improve early identification and intervention and to provide information for policy and service planning.” According to an Associated Press story, some of the increase is being attributed to earlier diagnosis and a broader definition for Autism.

Education – Raising a current or future college student? The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions is considering raising the amount allowed per student under Pell Grants, federally funded college tuition grants for low income students. Pell Grants are a critical support for low income students and their families because unlike student loans they do not leave graduates in debt. In a Philadelphia Inquirer story, Laura W. Perna, an associate professor at Pennsylvania State University Graduate School of Education, is quoted as saying that two-thirds of students who received Pell Grants in 2007-08 came from families who earned less than $30,000. She also cited recent studies finding that the grants covered “32 percent of the average cost of tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities nationwide in 2007-08, down from 50 percent a decade earlier.”

Food – The Center for Science in the Public Interest looked at Food and Drug Administration (FDA) data on illnesses caused by food, and found that these are the foods most likely to make you sick: leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, sprouts, and berries. Unfortunately, the analysis did not include meat and poultry, because those are regulated by the Agriculture Department, and the Center only looked at FDA regulated foods, but some of the outbreaks included pathogens more commonly found in meat and poultry. Authors think there may be a link to large scale production and processing, so if you haven’t already you might want to get to know your local farmer. According to a Department of Health and Human Services article, Congress is considering a bill that would expand the FDA’s authority over food producers and make it easier to identify and remove tainted foods from grocery stores. In the meantime, eat your veggies but wash them well first!