July 2017

he loss of a job — or the fear a pink slip could arrive at any time — can be catastrophic, not only for the laid-off worker, but also for members of their family. As economic fears grow, teenagers experience an atmosphere of tension and anxiety at a stage of life when stability is critical . Clearly, the best route to economic stability for these kids is a college degree. But recent research reveals a sad irony: The disruption caused by layoffs results in fewer kids from poor families...

Here in Los Angeles County, the extreme shortage of early learning opportunities for children, prenatal to age 5, is an urgent issue. According to the L.A. County Child Care Planning Committee's most recent State of Early Care and Education in Los Angeles County report , 59 percent of preschoolers lack access to state-subsidized early learning opportunities; and 87 percent of working parents with infants and toddlers lack access to a licensed child-care center seat of any kind. The $183...