Today at the Idaho Statehouse, a panel will take up the possibility of ending religious exemptions to medical neglect of children. Idaho is one of a handful of states that protects parents if their child is seriously injured or dies because the parents have withheld medical treatment for religious reasons. Linda Martin, a former member of the Followers of Christ Church, one of the most prominent faith-healing communities in Idaho, said she remembers going to funerals of family members and friends as young as age 4. .
The Food and Drug Administration this week has authorized Pfizer booster shots for kids ages 12 to 15, as well as a third shot for younger children who are immunocompromised and might not respond fully to two shots. Experts are encouraging Kentucky parents to consult their pediatrician or family doctor and create a "game plan" for their kids COVID vaccinations. For children with certain conditions, said Ben Chandler, chief executive of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the benefits of the vaccine s protection against the coronavirus far outweigh any potential side effects, "especially if their child has asthma, diabetes or other vulnerabilities. .
New data reveals a promising trend in the well-being of Ohio s kids. In 2020, 16.8% of Ohio children lived in poverty, nearly 423,000 children, the lowest percentage reported since 2000. Emily Campbell, associate director of the Center for Community Solutions, noted the data is a one-year estimate from the Census Bureau s 2020 American Community Survey, which carries some uncertainty because of disruptions caused by the pandemic. .
This week, the holiday break is over for many Indiana students, and local food banks say their goal is to ensure kids have enough to eat this semester. One in every seven Hoosier children faces hunger at home, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. Emily Weikert Bryant - executive director of Feeding Indiana s Hungry - said food banks across the state can help those kids and their families get what they need, on and off school grounds, this semester. .