Is It Feasible for All American Working Parents to Meet the Health and Educational Needs of Their Ch

1
Is It Feasible for All American Working Parents
to Meet the Health and Educational Needs of Their
Children?
Jody Heymann, M.D., Ph.D. May 3, 2003
2
Importance of Parental Involvement for
Educational Achievement

• When parents are involved in their childrens
  education, children achieve more in elementary
  school, junior high school, and high school.
• Parental involvement is associated with
  childrens higher achievement in language and
  mathematics, improved behavior, greater academic
  persistence, and lower dropout rates.

3
(No Transcript)
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Meeting Basic Educational Needs

• For every hour a parent works between 600 and
  900 P.M., his or her child is 1.17 times as
  likely to score in the bottom quartile on math
  tests.
• The children of parents who work nights are 2.72
  times as likely to have gotten into trouble and
  been suspended from school.

7
Importance of Parents in Caring for Childrens
Health

• Studies have shown that sick children have
  shorter recovery periods, better vital signs, and
  fewer symptoms when their parents participate in
  their care.
• The presence of parents has been shown to reduce
  hospital stays by 31. When parents are involved
  in childrens care, children recover more rapidly
  from outpatient procedures as well.
• Research has shown that parents play important
  roles in the care of children with chronic as
  well as acute conditions.
• Receiving care from their parents is important
  for childrens mental as well as physical health.
  The detrimental effects of separating young
  children from their parents when they are sick
  have been repeatedly demonstrated.

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
The Work, Family and Democracy Index

• Defining and Measuring Success in Public Policies
  for Working Families

12
Purposes of the Index

• Define essential goals for work family policy
• Measure progress in implementing public policies
  for working families
• Compare US progress to international standards

13
Four Major Areas of Concern

• Children of Working Parents
• Do children have access to care and education
  when parents are working?
• Elderly and Disabled Americans
• Can the elderly and disabled get care and support
  from their working family members?
• Working Caregivers
• Can working adults work for pay without
  sacrificing caring for their families?
• Equal Opportunity
• Do all adults have equal opportunities to succeed
  at their work and family lives?

14
Work, Family, and Democracy Index Items
Work, Children, and Public Policy Measure
1) paid maternity and paternity leave 2) care for
infants and toddlers 3) early childhood
education 4) adequate parental availability on a
routine basis 5) educational opportunities during
the day 6) educational opportunities during the
year 7) health and developmental supports for
children with special needs 8) access of children
with special needs to educational and community
activities 9) paid Leave for Childrens Health
Needs 10) paid Leave for Childrens Educational
Needs
15
Preliminary Findings Does the U.S. Measure Up?