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D.C. offers amnesty to parents who are behind in child support

Michael Alison Chandler

September 07, 2017 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Billions of dollars in child support goes unpaid every year in the United States, but not all of those parents missing payments are negligent deadbeats - many are unemployed, incarcerated, or have disabilities that are prohibitive to earning enough money. A new amnesty program in Washington D.C. is taking a closer look at individual cases to determine which parents may just need an extra boost to help find a job or otherwise make their payments, and is forgiving debt while providing grants and other resources to help them support their children.

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New Zealand Tries a Different Kind of Private Prison

Rikha Sharma Rani

August 31, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: New Zealand, Auckland

The privatized prison system is largely skewed against inmates, as most are funded based on the number of individuals incarcerated, creating a disincentive to invest in the rehabilitation and comprehensive treatment of inmates. But the Wiri prison in Auckland is piloting a new approach that focuses on the greater good: the government pays the prison for positive results based on recidivism rates and improved outcomes for inmates, especially the Maori minority.

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Even with progressive education funding, 'fairness' eludes Berlin schools

Kevin McCorry

August 29, 2017 |

Keystone Crossroads |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Berlin, Berlin

Part 1 of 3 - A progressive funding model has been a boon to schools in Berlin’s poorer neighborhoods, which receive a baseline of staff and resources that would make them the envy of many of their counterparts in Pennsylvania. But schools in poorer neighborhoods face a myriad of struggles that additional resources haven’t been able to quell, due to the deep socioeconomic disparities between the home neighborhoods of wealthy and poor students. This "social wall" lies exactly along the lines of the once physical Berlin wall.

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Trauma and transitions: How San Diego grapples with educating refugees.

Megan Wood Mandy McLaren

August 28, 2017 |

Investigative Reporting Workshop |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

San Diego County public schools have a large number of refugee students and changes such as lowering noise levels (such as school bells) that triggered post-traumatic stress, reducing class sizes, providing daily teacher consistency, and integrating language and academic instruction has helped them feel more comfortable and fill the gaps in their education. Not all of the interventions have led to academic success, but schools are juggling very limited budgets to address the specific needs of refugee students, including extra English language instruction and counseling services.

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An Easy Way to Encourage Businesses to Hire Marginalized Workers?

Neil Parmar

August 27, 2017 |

OZY |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto

A pilot program in Canada is providing increased job opportunities for disadvantaged populations - including refugees, those with disabilities, and laborers who have been unemployed long-term - through a special program that rewards companies hiring them with what is essentially a cash-back rebate on loans covered by the government. The rebate adds up to be significantly less than the cost of paying out unemployment, and has the additional benefits of encouraging workplace diversity and corporate growth.

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How Julián Castro Bet on 4-Year-Olds to Transform San Antonio

Erick Trickey

August 17, 2017 |

Politico |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Antonio, Texas

One of former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro's enduring and controversial legacies will likely be his Pre-K 4 SA initiative. The program provides hands on and play-based preschool for low-income 4 year olds, an approach often reserved for wealthy toddlers. In an effort to highlight the potential long-term gains of the program, Castro frames the plan as a workforce development program: “The best way to make sure a young person gets ahead is to make sure she never gets behind in the first place." Pre-K 4 SA will be truly tested for the first time in 2018, when its inaugural class completes state exams.

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We Went to a 'Form-a-Palooza,' a Hackathon for Better Paperwork

Gracie McKenzie

August 08, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The forms required to receive social services can be long and difficult to navigate, despite their essential nature for many people in need. In D.C., a new team meant to coordinate innovation across agencies gathered wonks and interested residents to figure out how to make those forms clearer and easier to use.

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Rise of the Government Chatbot

Zach Quaintance

August 04, 2017 |

Government Technology |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

City governments have been implementing “chatbots” to provide a way for residents to both communicate with city government as well as receive information about and assistance with services through text or Facebook. Chatbots provide a means for residents to interact with services all day as well as reduces city staff’s workload.

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Counting On Medicaid To Avoid Life In A Nursing Home? That's Now Up To Congress.

Susan Jaffe

July 31, 2017 |

KFF Health News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Congressional Republicans' push to reduce Medicaid funds is a threatening proposition to the people who use its services. Medicaid funds services at home which allows people to live at home instead of in a nursing home by providing minor house renovations, a visiting nurse or other worker, or other home products.

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Free Lunch at the Library

Catherine Saint Louis

July 30, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cincinnati, Ohio

From New York to Ohio to California, librarians have teamed up with the USDA summer food service program, along with other non-profits, to feed kids dependent on free/reduced-price lunches during the school year. Using census data to locate communities of greatest need and data to measure participation trends, the collaborative has witnessed a surge in effectiveness and impact across the states. Families, librarians, and public officials alike express satisfaction and enthusiasm for the initiative and its future.

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