Press Releases

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Apr 3, 2008

Marketing of Unproven Genetic Tests a Threat to Public Health

No mechanism currently exists to ensure that genetic tests are supported by adequate evidence before they go to market, or that marketing claims are truthful and not misleading, according to a policy analysis to be published April 4 in Science. Misleading claims about genetic tests may lead health-care providers and patients to make inappropriate decisions about which tests to take and how to use genetic tests that have potential for profound medical consequences, the authors argue.

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Feb 27, 2008

Kids Are Waiting Urges Congress to Reform Foster Care Financing

On Capitol Hill today, the youth and parents most impacted by the nation's foster care system joined child welfare advocates and others at a Congressional hearing to emphasize that now is the time for federal foster care reform. Convened by the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the hearing featured testimony by Hope Cooper of the national Kids Are Waiting campaign, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Health Topics
Jan 29, 2008

Child Abuse and Neglect Cost Nation over $100 Billion per Year

An economic impact analysis released today estimates the costs of child abuse and neglect to society were nearly $104 billion last year, and a companion report highlights the unavailability of federal child welfare funding for programs and services known to be effective at reducing incidences of child abuse and neglect.

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Health Topics
Dec 12, 2007

“Hoping for a Home for the Holidays” Highlights Experiences of Foster Children without a Safe, Permanent Family

Many current and former foster youth say that celebrating holidays without a permanent family is a tremendous challenge.  Today, former foster youth from across the country joined policy makers and child welfare advocates to stuff holiday stockings for children currently in the foster care system at a Congressional reception sponsored by FosterClub.  The event also marked release of a new brief, “Hoping for a Home for the Holidays,” by FosterClub and Kids Are Waiting, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Health Topics
Nov 19, 2007

American Indian Children Overrepresented in Nation's Foster Care System, New Report Finds

American Indian and Alaskan Native children are overrepresented in the nation's foster care system at more than 1.6 times the expected level, according to a new report by the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) and the national, nonpartisan Kids Are Waiting campaign, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Yet tribal governments are excluded from some of the largest sources of federal child welfare funding.

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Health Topics
Oct 17, 2007

Report Finds Major Gaps Exist in U.S. Pediatric Pandemic Preparations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) issued a new report today, Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk, which finds that children and teens between the ages of 0-19 account for nearly 46 percent of all H5N1 “bird” flu cases and deaths. The report also identifies gaps in U.S. preparedness for treating and caring for children during a possible pandemic flu outbreak.

Four key areas of concern raised in the report include: child-appropriate doses of vaccine and medications; management and treatment of children who become ill; including children in strategies to slow the spread of influenza in communities; and caring for and supervising the health of children if schools and childcare facilities are closed for extended periods of time.

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Sep 24, 2007

Two Pew Scholars Receive New Innovator Award From NIH

Drs. Ekaterina Heldwein and Michael Rape, 2007 Pew Scholars in the Biomedical Sciences, each will receive $1.5 million over a five-year period to further their innovative biomedical research as part of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) New Innovator Award Program.

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Biomedical Research
Sep 24, 2007

Peer-Reviewed, Online Database Showcases Pandemic Plans

Public health planners have a new tool to help them prepare for one of the most daunting public health emergencies: an influenza pandemic. PandemicPractices.org, launched today by the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota and the Pew Center on the States (PCS), a division of The Pew Charitable Trusts, brings together more than 130 peer-reviewed promising practices from four countries, 22 states and 33 counties. Compiled as a resource to save communities and states time and resources, the database enables public health professionals to learn from each other and to build on their own pandemic plans.

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Aug 30, 2007

Federal Agency Rejects Enhanced Oversight of Genetic Tests, Places Cost Considerations Above Public Health Concerns

In a decision that places cost concerns above public health, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has rejected a petition filed by a coalition of health and consumer groups calling for the agency to strengthen standards for genetic testing laboratories. Citing cost concerns, the agency told petitioners in a recent letter that it would not pursue the safety standards.

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Jun 26, 2007

Pew Announces New Investment to Prevent Irresponsible Subprime Mortgage Practices

The Pew Charitable Trusts announced a new effort today to protect American families from dangerous “exploding” subprime mortgages linked to the current record number of home foreclosures.

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