Making the United States Child Friendly

UNICEF recently released its report comparing the lives of children in 21 industrial nations around the world. At the top of the list are the nations that take the best care of their children - the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. At the bottom of the list are the United States (20) and the United Kingdom (21). It found that American and British youth are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, use drugs, fight and bully, and be sexually active than youngsters elsewhere.

The report assessed whether children feel loved, cherished, special and supported within the family and community, and whether the family and community are being supported in this task by public policy and resources. This global study measured 40 factors, such as poverty, deprivation, relationships with family and peers, happiness and risky behavior.

Another recent study by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health polled Bay Area parents and found that their greatest concern is the emotional health of their children. This finding is important because emotional health is the crux of a child's well-being; it's an indicator of the quality of life.

Emotionally healthy children lead happier lives. They are more confident and optimistic, less stressed and more joyful. Furthermore, they make healthier choices about their drug and alcohol use, sexual behavior, education and the future.

"If parents are worried about their children's medical health, they go to a doctor," says Childhood Matters radio talk show host Rona Renner. "If they're worried about their children's emotional health, they don't know what to do."

What parents can do: Plants need soil, water and sunshine. When those needs are not met, there are problems. Children also have basic needs that must be met on a daily basis. When they are not met, there are problems.

To be physically healthy, children need nutritious food, sufficient sleep, shelter, exercise and safety. To be emotionally healthy, children need to know they are loved, cherished, respected, understood and supported. Simply filling those needs frequently solves the problems. For example, if a child cries because of hunger, tears dry up once he is fed, and smiles return.

We live in stressful times. Fortunately, we can choose how to react or respond to tough situations. We are taught that "fight or flight" are the basic stress reactions, but these are not our only options. Studies have found women's responses to be "tend and befriend." When stressed, women tend to children and reach out to friends. Talking things over can release stress, introduce a different perspective and build connections and supports. It also improves emotional well-being.

Figure out what your own coping skills are and observe those of your children. Make time for kids to talk through troubles. Give them your full attention. Listen to their words-and their feelings. When they finish reflect a feeling back to them. "You must be sad because ...." If you're right on, a smile may light up the face. When you really liste5B4n and reflect, you can amplify their joy, calm their fears and anxiety, and soothe their anger. Doing this well brings a sense of attunement and a profound joy.

Then you might ask, "What can you do?" Help them explore possible options. Think through the consequences of each. Give them support for making good choices. You may hear a sigh of relief as the burden lifts and emotional well-being returns.

Envisioning a child-friendly America: A lot of work needs to be done in the U.S. to get us off the bottom of the list and make our country a child-friendly one. That work needs to be done by all of us - in our homes, in our communities and in the government. "One of the key things is that the role of government is important," said David Parker of UNICEF, "but the entire society must have at its heart the idea of improving child well-being."

© 2008 Dr. Louise Hart is parent educator, author, mom and grandmother.

Louise wrote two books packed with information about improving happiness and self-esteem. Jack Canfield (author of Chicken Soup for the Soul) praised On the Wings of Self-Esteem: "It's a wonderful book! If everyone in America read this book and did the recommended exercises, half of all the pain and suffering we now experience would disappear."

The Winning Family: Increasing Self-Esteem in You477r Children and Yourself, can help you change negative patterns and create more happiness. To find out more about Louise's next Teleclass: "How to Have a Happier Family", visit: http://www.louisehart.info/teleclass.htm To learn more about her books and workshops, or to sign up for the "risk-free" newsletter, go to: http://www.louisehart.info/

Right To Privacy

Hot Legal Issue Of The Day –
By: Richard A. Hall




While a number of topics are currently being discussed in the United States, one of the most controversial is that of the right to privacy. This hot button issue is made more complex in a post 9-11 environment. We struggle to find and maintain a balance between personal rights and public safety.

Most people would vigorously defend the right to privacy, feeling that the accessibility of too much personal information is not only an invasion, but morally wrong, and unconstitutional. After all, prior to September 11th, the United States had not been subjected to the overt terrorism that had plagued other countries.

The events of September 11th pervaded our false sense of security and caused us truly question if the enemy was in a far off country or our next door neighbor. In our post 09/11 world, the government’s responsibility to protect Americans has taken on new meaning. In an aggressive effort to protect us from the threat within, the government has adopted a “by any means necessary” approach even if that means listening in to phone calls, reading emails, reviewing library records or scouring through websites. The recent foiled plot of airline bombings in Britain is an example of how invasion of privacy can in fact keep us safe. The individuals stopped for this heinous crime were discovered first by a tip but second from police monitoring private activity which included phone calls.

In the instance where a terrorism plot is averted because of the invasion of privacy there can be no argument to the validity of the practice. Yet, we also know that innocent people have had their privacy invaded when they did not pose a threat to national security.

The national debate over privacy has repercussions on a smaller level as well. Corporations and employees struggle with privacy issues in the workplace. Companies also are seeking to protect themselves from a different kind of terrorism – that of legal and financial exposure caused by the actions of its employees, whether innocent or intentionally malicious.

Privacy is legally protected by the Constitution of the United States, and at the very core of America’s existence. As politicians, voters and special interest groups debate these constitutional issues, employees and employers seek to understand the rules of engagement within business.

Does an employee have privacy rights at work? How far can employers go in monitoring the activities of employees to ensure that they are protected from liability?

Employers not only have a right to monitor the activities of employees but a responsibility. Computer activity, including e-mails and phone calls can be monitored by the employer. In fact, some degree of monitoring is recommended. Emails are discoverable in legal action exposing employers to a great degree of risk. Even if the employer has a policy that expressly states that personal emails are allowable, the company still has a right to monitor individual emails.

Phone calls, except those placed on designated “for personal use” phones, can also be monitored. Call center and customer service employees are routinely monitored for quality assurance and training. There are however, federal and state regulations which must be adhered to which in many locations including notifying parties that the call is being monitored. Most employees will need to place or receive a personal call from work at some point in time. However, as a best practice, employees should use pay phones or cell phones when they must conduct personal business during the work day.

As we seek to balance privacy and protection on a national stage, we will undoubtedly make adjustments on a more personal level. We have already become accustomed to much of our lives being monitored through security cameras, electronic tracking and internet use so it is possible that what is now viewed as invasion will simply become normal. In the interim, it is wise to assume that what happens in Vegas, may not stay in Vegas!


About The Author

Richard A. Hall is founder and President/CEO of LexTech, Inc., a legal information consulting company. Mr. Hall has a unique breadth of experience which has enabled him to meld technology and sophisticated statistical analysis to produce a technology driven analytical model of the practice of law. As a busy civil trial attorney, he was responsible for the design and implementation of a LAN based litigation database and fully automated document production system for a mid-sized civil defense firm. He developed a task based billing model built on extensive statistical analysis of hundreds of litigated civil matters. In 1994, Mr. Hall invented linguistic modeling software which automatically reads, applies budget codes, budget codes and analyzes legal bill content. He also served as California Director and lecturer for a nationwide bar review. Mr. Hall continues to practice law and perform pro bono services for several Northern California judicial districts.

http://www.lextech.us /