Family & Children

Join the New America Foundation's Workforce and Family Program, the American Psychological Association, and Workplace Flexibility 2010, for a briefing to highlight the interaction between work-life conflict and health outcomes. The event will explore the impact of work-life balance on the health of workers, their families, employers, and communities.

Washington, D.C. May 19, 2009 -- Ten students were named finalists of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest today. 

This year's finalists were selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state. By state, the finalists broke out to 1 Arizona; 1 Colorado; 1 Michigan; 1 New Jersey; 2 New York; 1 North Carolina; 1 Ohio; 2 Pennsylvania.

Twenty-five students were named semifinalists of the New America Foundation's Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest today. 

This year's semifinalists were selected from more than 3,400 entrants, from high schools in every state. By state, the semifinalists broke out to 1 Arkansas; 1 Arizona; 1 California; 1 Colorado; 1 Illinois; 2 Michigan; 1 Minnesota; 1 Mississippi; 1 North Carolina; 1 New Jersey; 3 New York; 1 Ohio; 3 Pennsylvania; 1 Tennessee; 3 Texas; 1 Utah; 1 Washington.

World population will hit 7 billion by 2012, according to a recent United Nations report. Given that we just hit the 6 billion mark in October 1999, it is easy to conclude that there are just too many people in the world. How are we ever going to overcome global warming, feed the masses, get that beachfront property, let alone find parking, if the population keeps jumping by nearly one billion per decade?

America's society is -- and always has been -- completely dependent "on both the quantity and quality of other people's children," say Phillip Longman and David Gray, who study work and family issues at the New America Foundation think tank. ...

Instead, much of the sharing involves what are essentially electronic versions of paper documents, rather than fully sortable and analyzable information databases.

We wanted to find out how parents can encourage their kids’ use of technology without losing control. So we called up two experts in the field. First, Warren Buckleitner, editor of Children’s Technology Review, and author of a recent study on young children’s tech habits, and Lisa Guernsey, senior policy analyst at New America Foundation, and author of the 2007 book Into the Minds of Babes. Link to audio

The problem is this -- America's "social contract" has gotten wildly out of balance, says Phillip Longman, senior fellow at the New America Foundation think tank...

The next generation is already "highly encumbered by poverty, family break-up, a rising national debt," Mr. Longman and David Gray write in their November report, "A Family-Based Social Contract."

"This study is really good news for parents," says Lisa Guernsey, the author of "Into the Minds of Babes: How Screen Time Affects Children From Birth to Age 5." "It’s a study about how much parents matter in some ways. It’s basically telling us that TV used at these very young ages is not having a significant effect for good or for ill if it’s a relatively low amount of TV watching.

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On February 9, 2009, the New America Foundation hosted a daylong conference at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club featuring state and national leaders in the areas of healthcare, economic growth and infrastructure, and higher education. Panelists discussed how the current crisis is challenging states and threatening the economic opportunity and security that is essential to an attainable American Dream.