Canadian Social Research Newsletter
September 2, 2007

Welcome to the weekly Canadian Social Research Newsletter,
a listing of the new links added to the Canadian Social Research Links website in the past week.

The e-mail version of this week's issue of the newsletter is going out to 1773 subscribers.

Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see some notes and a disclaimer.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Canadian Content

1. New from Human Resources and Social Development Canada:
--- Pan-Canadian Study of First Year College Students: Report 1 - Student Characteristics and the College Experience - August 2007
--- A Study of Poverty and Working Poverty among Recent Immigrants to Canada - July 2007
--- The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2006 - May 2007
--- Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 - June 2007
--- Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 - June 2007
--- Call for proposals for Education Savings Community Outreach
--- Addressing the challenges and opportunities of aging in Canada - July 2007
2. New from the Saskatchewan Department of Community Resources:
--- Province boosts support for foster families - August 31
--- Government provides support for housing costs and launches information line - August 29
3.  Improving the Health of Canadians 2007-2008: Mental Health and Homelessness (Canadian Institute for Health Information) - August 30
+ Prime Minister launches national Mental Health Commission - August 31
4. More recent releases from the Canadian Institute for Health Information - August 28
--- Drug Expenditure in Canada 1985-2006 - Spring 2007
--- Health Indicators, 2007 - May 30
--- Hospital Report 2007: Acute Care - August 24
5. New from Statistics Canada:
--- Study: Long-term productivity growth in Canada and the United States, 1961 to 2006 - August 28
--- Payroll employment, earnings and hours, June 2007 - August 28
--- Study: Participation of older workers, 2006 - August 24
--- Study: Public pensions and work, 1995 to 2003- August 24
6. National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO) launches its new website! - August 24
7. Ottawa Street Survival – meeting street survivors of Canada’s capital city (A NAPO affiliate website) - June 29
8. What's New - from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU- University of Toronto) - August 31

International Content

9. Poverty Dispatch: U.S. media coverage of social issues and programs
10. New from the U.S. Census Bureau - August 28
--- Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006
--- income, poverty and earnings data from the 2006 American Community Survey
PLUS : analysis/commentary by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute
11. A fair go for all Australians: International Comparisons, 2007 (Australia Fair) - August 30
12. Australian Policy Online Weekly Briefing - recent content (various sources)
13. Ireland can teach [Australia] a thing or two about compassion (The Sydney Morning Herald) - September 1
14. Information Service Bulletin n°135 (Council for Employment, Income and Social Cohesion - Paris) - September 3

Have a great week!

What's new from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC):

* Pan-Canadian Study of First Year College Students:
Report 1 - Student Characteristics and the College Experience
August 2007
This joint-study, between Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), provides the most comprehensive national description of first-year students in Canadian colleges, institutes, cégeps and university colleges to date.

* A Study of Poverty and Working Poverty among Recent Immigrants to Canada
July 2007
This research examines the characteristics of recent immigrants who were living in low income in 2004 and pays particular attention to their labour market participation.

* The Well-Being of Canada’s Young Children: Government of Canada Report 2006
May 2007 (date on PDF file)
NOTE: Chapter 8 of this report deals with the well-being of Aboriginal children in Canada

Two reports in one:
* Early Childhood Development Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, and
* Early Learning and Child Care Activities and Expenditures: Government of Canada Report 2004-2005 and 2005-2006
June 2007 (date on PDF file)
These reports are co-published by Human Resources and Social Development Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

* HRSDC is launching a call for proposals for Education Savings Community Outreach.
For more information, visit Education Savings Community Outreach (ESCO 2007) - Call For Proposals

* Addressing the challenges and opportunities of aging in Canada (July 2007) is now available online. This report, prepared for the UN Commission for Social Development, focuses on new federal action taken and the further development of existing programs around seniors and population ageing.

- Go to the Human Resources and Social Development Canada Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/hrsdc.htm
- Go to the Children, Families and Youth Links (Government) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnbkmrk.htm
- Go to the Government Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd.htm

From the Saskatchewan Department of Community Resources:

Province Boosts Support for Vulnerable Children and Families
Foster families will be getting more financial support
August 31, 2007
Foster families will be getting more financial support, Community Resources Minister Kevin Yates announced today. The funding is part of an $18 million package to increase support for vulnerable children and families in the province.

Also from Community Resources:

Government provides support for
housing costs and launches information line
News Release
August 29, 2007
The provincial government is providing immediate help to address rising housing costs through increased shelter allowances. (...)
The changes include:
• increasing the shelter rate for most Social Assistance Program and Transitional Employment Allowance recipients by $5 to $75 per month;
• increasing the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement by $6 to $21 per month. The supplement is available to lower-income families and people with disabilities, including those who are working in lower paying jobs; and
• increasing the Provincial Training Allowance by $20 to $35 per month. The allowance is available to people enrolled in adult basic education and quick skills programs.
[Backgrounder - small PDF file, one-page overview of Saskatchewan income supports for housing --- the Social Assistance Program, the Transitional Employment Allowance, the Provincial Training Allowance, and the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement.]

Related links:

Saskatchewn shelter allowance hike inadequate, say critics
August 30, 2007
The province is giving low-income people more money to cover their rent, but some say with a housing crisis underway, it's not nearly enough. Combined allowances and supplements are going up by amounts ranging from $11 to $96 a month, the Saskatchewan government announced this week.
Source:
CBC News

Sask. residents to receive boost in welfare benefits
Lori Coolican,
August 30, 2007
Depending on their situation and where they live, some of Saskatchewan's poorest residents will receive up to $96 more in monthly welfare benefits starting Oct. 1. But others will get far less.
Source:
The Saskatoon StarPhoenix

- Go to the Saskatchewan Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/skbkmrk.htm

Improving the Health of Canadians 2007-2008: Mental Health and Homelessness
Date published: August 30, 2007
The Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health and Homelessness report provides an overview of the latest research, surveys and policy initiatives related to mental health and homelessness and, for the first time, presents data on hospital use by homeless Canadians.
- includes links to the complete report and the media release (both of which are reproduced below) as well as links to download individual report sections, related documents and contact info if you wish to order a paper copy of the report

Complete Report:

Improving the Health of Canadians 2007-2008:
Mental Health and Homelessness (PDF file - 458K, 70 pages)

Media Release:

Mental disorders account for more than half of hospital stays among the homeless in Canada:
New CIHI report offers overview of links between mental health, mental illness and homelessness
Media Release
August 30, 2007—Mental disorders accounted for 52% of acute care hospitalizations among the homeless in 2005–2006 (outside Quebec), according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). In addition, the report shows that 35% of visits to selected emergency departments (EDs)—mostly in Ontario—by homeless people were related to mental and behavioural disorders, a proportion that is higher than that for other patients (3%).

Source:
Canadian Population Health Initiative
[ Canadian Institute for Health Information ]

Related links:

Homeless hospitalized more often for mental illness: study
10,000 people in Canada are homeless on any given night
August 30, 2007
Homeless people in Canada have more mental health problems than the rest of the population, leading to higher hospitalization rates, says a new report released Thursday.
Mental disorders accounted for 52 per cent of acute care hospitalizations among the homeless in 2005-2006, said the report, released Thursday by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
Source:
CBC News

Prime Minister launches national Mental Health Commission
August 31, 2007
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the final selection of the Board of Directors for the newly created Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Source:
Office of the New Prime Minister of Canada

Related Web/News/Blog links:

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"CIHI, report, mental health, homelessness"
- Web search results page
- News search results page
- Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

- Go to the Health Links (Canada/International) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/health.htm
- Go to the Homelessness and Housing Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/homeless.htm

What's new from the Canadian Institute for Health Information:

Drug Expenditure in Canada 1985-2006 (PDF file - 1.7MB, 53 pages)
Spring 2007
Drug Expenditure in Canada, 1985 to 2006 is an annual publication and provides updated information on drug expenditure trends in Canada. This publication includes: National drug expenditure; Provincial and territorial drug expenditure; International comparisons; and Factors that may affect drug expenditure. More information on drug expenditure and the methods used in the preparation of this document is available by contacting the Pharmaceuticals unit of CIHI by phone at 613-241-7860 or by email at drugs@cihi.ca

-----------------

Health Indicators, 2007
Date published: May 30, 2007
Health Indicators 2007 is a compilation of selected indicators measuring health status, non-medical determinants of health, health-system performance and community and health-system characteristics. This issue also includes an analytical section that highlights the impact of hip fractures.

- includes links to the complete report and the media release as well as links to download individual report sections, related documents and contact info if you wish to order a paper copy of the report

Complete Report:

Health Indicators, 2007 (PDF file - 1.3MB, 91 pages)

-----------------

Hospital Report 2007: Acute Care
Date published: August 24, 2007
Hospital Report 2007: Acute Care is a system-wide and hospital-specific report that uses a balanced scorecard approach to provide information on the performance of hospitals that provide acute care in Ontario. The objectives of this series of reports are to facilitate local quality-improvement programs, to encourage openness and transparency in reporting and to support hospitals' accountability to the communities they serve.

- includes links to the complete report and the media release as well as links to download individual report sections, related documents and contact info if you wish to order a paper copy of the report

Complete Report:

Hospital Report 2007: Acute Care (PDF file - 884K, 66 pages)

-----------------

- Go to the Health Links (Canada/International) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/health.htm

What's New from The Daily [Statistics Canada]:

August 31, 2007
Canadian economic accounts, second quarter 2007 and June 2007
The Canadian economy posted a second consecutive quarter of strong growth, as real gross domestic product increased 0.8% in the second quarter of 2007, easing from the pace set in the first quarter (+1.0%). Economic activity rose 0.2% in June and 0.3% in May after remaining essentially unchanged in April. A more detailed analysis is available in the Canadian Economic Accounts Quarterly Review.

August 30, 2007
Public sector employment, Second quarter 2007
Public sector employment continues to increase, although its relative importance in the total employed labour force remains constant. The public sector includes federal, provincial, territorial and local governments as well as government business enterprises. Public sector employment totalled 3.2 million in the second quarter of 2007, up 0.9% from the same period in 2006. Public sector employment had reached a low of just under 2.7 million on average in the third quarter of 1999. Since then, public sector employment has grown approximately 2.2% per year from 2000 to 2006. However, employment in the public sector as a share of the total employed labour force has remained relatively constant. Since 2000, public sector employees have represented about 19% of the total employed labour force.

Related link:

TABLE: Public sector employment, Number of employees - 2002 to 2006
NOTE : at the top of the table, you'll find links to the following related tables: Employment and remuneration, Balance sheets, Revenue and expenditures, Government business enterprises, Government financial statistics, Industries, Wages, salaries and other earnings, Employment and unemployment.

August 28, 2007
Study: Long-term productivity growth in Canada and the United States, 1961 to 2006
Labour productivity in the business sector increased at virtually the same pace in Canada and the United States during the past 45 years, but for entirely different reasons, according to a new study.

Related links:

Long-term Productivity Growth in Canada and the United States, 1961 to 2006
1. Abstract 2. Analysis 3. Charts 4. Appendices 5. User information
PDF version of the complete report (288K, 21 pages)
Source:
The Canadian Productivity Review
[ earlier editions of the Review ]

August 28, 2007
Payroll employment, earnings and hours, June 2007
In June, the average weekly earnings of payroll employees (seasonally adjusted) increased $2.27 from May to $769.43. The year-to-date growth, calculated as the average of the first six months of 2007 compared with the average of the same six months in 2006, was 3.1%.

Related links:

Employment, Earnings and Hours
HTML version - brief summary and links to main page, highlights and more info
PDF version of the complete report (2.4MB, 521 pages)
[ earlier editions of this report ]

August 24, 2007
Study: Participation of older workers, 2006
Older workers are staying in the workforce longer and, as a result, may be dampening the threat of a sudden and severe labour shortage as baby boomers retire, a new study suggests.
An estimated 2.1 million individuals aged 55 to 64 were either employed or looking for work in 2006, more than double the total in 1976, according to the study "Participation of older workers," published today in Perspectives on Labour and Income.

Related links:

Participation of older workers
By Katherine Marshall and Vincent Ferrao
Highlights
Complete article:
HTML
PDF (340K, 7 pages)

August 24, 2007
Study: Public pensions and work, 1995 to 2003
The vast majority of workers take up Canada and Quebec Pension Plan (C/QPP) benefits before the age of 65, and an increasing proportion start them at age 60...

Related links:

Public Pensions and Work
By Ted Wannell
Highlights
Complete article:
HTML
PDF (284K, 8 pages)

Source:
Perspectives on Labour and Income - August 2007
[ earlier editions of this report ]

- Go to the Federal Government Department Links (Fisheries and Oceans to Veterans Affairs) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/fedbkmrk2.htm
- Go to the Seniors (Social Research) Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/seniors.htm

NAPO launches its new website!

National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO)
[ version française du site : Organisation nationale anti-pauvreté (ONAP) ]
"The National Anti-Poverty Organization (NAPO) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working for the eradication of poverty in Canada. We strive to:
* Ensure the concerns of low-income people are reflected in federal policy and decision making;
* Defend the human and economic rights of low-income people in Canada; and
* Assist local and regional organizations to bring the voices of low-income people in Canada to decision-making and policy-making processes in their communities. [Excerpt from the NAPO home page)
NAPO is currently focusing on the following actions on behalf of low-income people in Canada: *Leadership development * Guaranteed Adequate Income * Minimum wage/living wage networking * Winnipeg panhandling by-law court challenge * October 17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty." (Excerpt from About NAPO)

- incl. links to: * Home * News * Poverty in Canada * Eradicating Poverty * About NAPO * Contact Us * Support Us * Privacy Policy * Partners

NOTE: If you're an historian, or just someone who's a bit weird because they think that "old" information is still *good* information (that includes me, by the way...), you will by now have begun an appropriate mourning period because of the demise of the "old" NAPO website with its rich content in so many areas of social policy. If you've been a regular on this (Canadian Social Research Links) site, or if you read the weekly newsletter, you'll remember (because I mention it so often)  that you can always count on Archive.org to help you.

Archive.org takes a complete snapshot of websites at different intervals --- all you do is enter the home page (or domain) URL --- http://napo-onap.ca/, in this case --- in the Archive.org box called "The Wayback Machine" and then select one of the older versions of the site. I did just that, and I've copied (below) the link to the latest (August 2006) version of the former NAPO site. There were no updates to the NAPO site after the summer of 2006, so the link below  contains all of the old pages that disappeared with the launch of the new site.

NAPO website (as it was in August 2006) --- from Archive.org
- click on any of the links on that page to access all site content as it existed at that point in time.
[ TIP: you can do this for any website, as long as you know the domain's URL, e.g., /www.canadiansocialresearch.net ]

- Go to the Non-Governmental Organizations Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ngobkmrk.htm

Ottawa Street Survival – meeting street survivors of Canada’s capital city
June 29, 2007
Matthew Murray, a graduate of Carleton University’s social work program, has met, interviewed and with their permission photographed a number of people who survive on the streets of Ottawa. A testimonial to the spirit and resilience of these people has been captured in Matthew’s Ottawa Street Survival presentation.
- Affiliated with the National Anti-Poverty Organization

- Go to the Children, Families and Youth Links (NGO) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/chnngo.htm

What's New - from the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) - University of Toronto

The Childcare Resource and Research Unit offers a free weekly "e-mail news notifier" service.
Here's the content of the latest issue of this bulletin.

For more information about this service, including subscription information,
see http://www.childcarecanada.org

31-Aug-07

---------------------------------------------------
What's New
---------------------------------------------------

CRRU ISSUE FILE: OECD THEMATIC REVIEW OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE
Updated issue file from CRRU collects all the reports now available from the OECD’s Thematic Review, news articles from the release of the Canada Country Note, and related CRRU analyses.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108172

GENDER AND VOTE CHOICE IN THE 2006 CANADIAN ELECTION
Report from the Canada Election Study examines the “modern gender gap” in voting patterns; includes finding that 2/3 of women surveyed favoured publicly funded child care over money paid directly to parents.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108171

CHANGES IN CHILDREN’S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AT THE START OF SCHOOL IN ENGLAND 2000-2006
Report from Durham University uses data from the Performance Indicators in Primary School Assessment to investigate changes in children starting school from 2000-06.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108169

EARLY YEARS EDUCATION HAS “CLEAR ADVANTAGES” FOR CHILDREN
Press release from the Daycare Trust responds to media reports claiming Durham University study shows government investments are failing to improve children’s educational outcomes at school.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108168

GETTING ON WELL: ENJOYING, ACHIEVING AND CONTRIBUTING
Ofsted report for the British government reports on the standards of early childhood settings based on annual government inspections.
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108175

--------------------------------------------------
Child care in the news
--------------------------------------------------

The father of the man [GB]
The Economist, 30 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108161

Swiss cabinet backs child care voucher system [CH]
SwissInfo, 30 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108167

Child care subsidy rate to increase [CA-BC]
Grand Forks Gazette, 29 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108179

Groves shows the ABC of expansion [AU]
Sydney Morning Herald, 28 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108160

Child care wage increase 'an insult' [CA-YT]
Yukon News, 27 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108164

We must solve child care crisis [CA-BC]
Daily News (Nanaimo), 25 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108162

Harper misses his chance to woo women [CA]
Montreal Gazette, 16 Aug 07
http://action.web.ca/home/crru/rsrcs_crru_full.shtml?x=108176

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
This message was forwarded through the Childcare Resource
and Research Unit e-mail news notifier. For information on the
CRRU e-mail notifier, including instructions for (un)subscribing,
see http://www.childcarecanada.org

The Childcare Resource and Research Unit
University of Toronto, Canada
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Related Links:

Links to child care sites in Canada and elsewhere
CRRU Publications - briefing notes, factsheets, occasional papers and other publications
ISSUE files - theme pages, each filled with contextual information and links to further info

Link to the CRRU home page:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) - University of Toronto

- Go to the Non-Governmental Early Learning and Child Care Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/ecd2.htm

Poverty Dispatch (U.S). ===> the content of this link changes each week
- links to news items from the American press about poverty, welfare reform, child welfare, education, health, hunger, Medicare and Medicaid, etc.

Source:
Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP)
[ University of Wisconsin-Madison ]

This week's issues of Poverty Dispatch:

August 30, 2007
* Census Report: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the US 2006
* Census Report: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage - Midwest States
* Census Report: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage - Other States
* Opinions: Census Report Results and Methods
* Editorials: State Children's Health Insurance Program
* Medicaid and Mental Health Coverage - North Carolina
* Privatization of Social Services - Indiana
* Nonprofit Payday Lending - Wisconsin
* Temporary Assistance Enrollment - Pennsylvania
* Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program - Arizona

August 27, 2007
* State Children's Health Insurance Program
* Editorials: State Children's Health Insurance Program
* State Health Plans - Illinois, California
* Medicaid and Dental Coverage - Texas
* Low-income Tax Credits - Wisconsin, Michigan
* Conditional Cash Transfer Program - New York City
* Utility Assistance Programs - Ohio, Rhode Island
* Poverty and Housing in South Texas
* Homelessness - Portland, OR, Kalamazoo, MI
* Teacher Turnover and Merit Pay

Search Poverty Dispatches

IRP compiles and distributes Poverty Dispatches, links to Web-based news items dealing with poverty, welfare reform, and related topics twice a week. Each Dispatch lists links to current news in popular print media. Persons wishing to receive Poverty Dispatches by e-mail should send a request to rsnell@ssc.wisc.edu.

Past Poverty Dispatches
- links to two dispatches a week back to June 2006

Poverty Dispatch Digest Archive - archive of weekly digests* of dispatches from August 2005 to May 2006
(*For a few years prior to the creation of this new web page for the Dispatch, I was compiling a weekly digest of the e-mails and redistributing the digest to my mailing list with IRP's permission.
This is my own archive of weekly issues of the digest back to August 2005, and most of them have 50+ links per issue. I'll be deleting this archive from my site gradually, as the links to older articles expire.)

- Go to the Links to American Government Social Research page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (A-J) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us2.htm
- Go to the Links to American Non-Governmental Social Research (M-Z) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us3.htm

What's new from the
U.S. Census Bureau:

Household Income Rises, Poverty Rate Declines,
Number of Uninsured Up
Press Release
August 28, 2007
- includes a detailed backgrounder
Real median household income in the United States climbed between 2005 and 2006, reaching $48,200, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. This is the second consecutive year that income has risen. Meanwhile, the nation’s official poverty rate declined for the first time this decade, from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006. There were 36.5 million people in poverty in 2006, not statistically different from 2005.

The number of people without health insurance coverage rose from 44.8 million (15.3 percent) in 2005 to 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006.

These findings are contained in the Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 report [PDF file - 3MB, 78 pages]. The data were compiled from information collected in the 2007 Current Population Survey (CPS) Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC).

Also released today were income, poverty and earnings data from the 2006 American Community Survey (ACS) for states and metropolitan areas, counties, cities and American Indian/Alaska Native areas of 65,000 population or more and all congressional districts. (This year marks the first time that the population in group quarters --- such as prisons, college dorms, military barracks and nursing homes --- is included, so the 2006 estimates are not fully comparable to the 2005 estimates.)

Income, Earnings and Poverty in the United States: 2006 [PDF file - 1.5MB, 40 pages)]
August 2007

Data tables
Income data
Poverty data
Health Insurance data

Source:
American Community Survey (ACS)
The American Community Survey is a nationwide survey designed to provide communities a fresh look at how they are changing.

Related links:

From the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Statement by Robert Greenstein, Executive Director, Center on Buget and Policy Priorities, on the new Census Bureau Data on Poverty, Income and Health Insurance
August 28, 2007
The new Census figures are disappointing for the fifth year of an economic recovery —showing a significant decline in poverty for people over 65 but no significant decline in poverty for children or adults aged 18 to 64, and only a modest improvement in median income. In 2006, the poverty rate remained higher, and median income for non-elderly households remained $1,300 lower, than in 2001, when the last recession hit bottom. It is virtually unprecedented for poverty to be higher and the income of working-age households lower in the fifth year of a recovery than in the last year of the previous recession.

Number and Percentage of Americans who are uninsured climbs again : Poverty Edges Down but Remains Higher,
and Median Income for Working-Age Households Remains Lower, than When Recession Hit Bottom in 2001
August 28, 2007
New Census data show that in 2006, both the number and the percentage of Americans who are uninsured hit their highest levels since 1999, the first year for which comparable data are available, with 2.2 million more Americans — and 600,000 more children — joining the ranks of the uninsured in 2006.

More Americans , including more children, now lack health insurance
August 28, 2007
The number of uninsured Americans rose for the sixth consecutive year in 2006, to 47.0 million,[1], [2] and the number of uninsured children rose for the second straight year, to 8.7 million, according to Census data released today

From the Economic Policy Institute:

Census Data Find Income Up, Poverty Down but Health Coverage and Earnings Down
NewsFlash: August 28, 2007
This morning’s annual Census Bureau data release shows real income gains for the median household and a decline in poverty, but the reality is many working Americans are just working more at lower wages. An EPI analysis on the new data [see the next link below] finds many challenges, including median annual earnings by full-time workers down for the third year in a row and an increase of 8.6 million Americans without health care coverage since 2000.

Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance trends in 2006
August 28, 2007
by Jared Bernstein, Elise Gould, and Lawrence Mishel
Reflecting the fifth year of an economic expansion, the percent of the nation in poverty fell last year, and the income of the median household grew (after inflation) by about $360, or just under one percent (0.7%), according to data released today by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. This is the second year of real income gains for the median household, and the first significant decline in poverty since 2000.

For more media coverage and analysis of Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance trends in 2006,
see the August 30, 2007 issue of the (U.S.) Poverty Dispatch (home page link)

Related Web/News/Blog links:

Google Search Results Links - always current results!
Using the following search terms (without the quote marks):
"Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage"
Web search results page
News search results page
Blog Search Results page
Source:
Google.ca

Unrelated (but actually quite related) link:

Quotes from the The American Taliban
- memorable quotes from Ann Coulter, Jerry Falwell, Laura Schlessinger and other American Conservative quotables.

- Go to the Links to American Government Social Research Links page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/us.htm

Australia slipping behind other rich nations
News Release
August 30, 2007
A new Australia Fair report shows that the number of Australians living in poverty has increased over the past 10 years. Using an international poverty line of 50% of median income, the numbers increased from 7.6% to 9.9% of the population between 1994 and 2004, or nearly 2 million Australians.

Complete report:

A fair go for all Australians:
International Comparisons, 2007 (PDF file - 1.7MB, 60 pages)
"... looks at how Australia compares with other OECD nations [including Canada]. The report examines 10 areas such as health, education, housing and work, which were identified by the Australian public as essential to ensure a fair go for all Australians. The report compares Australia’s economic performance with that of other OECD nations, outlines the latest research on the number of Australians living below poverty lines and identifies where Australia is falling behind other nations in realising a fair go for all its people.

Source:
Australia Fair
"Australia Fair is a new national initiative which gives ordinary people the chance to talk about “the fair go for all” in Australia. Australia Fair is supported by many organisations providing services to well over 4 million
Australians. Australia Fair seeks to draw together organisations and individuals concerned about issues of fairness and is currently inviting their involvement in its presentation to the general public." [Excerpt from About Australia Fair]

- Go to the Social Research Links in Other Countries (Non-Government) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/internatngo.htm

APO Weekly Briefing
The content of this page changes each week, and it includes links to a few book/report reviews, about two dozen new reports, a few job ads and 60+ events (mostly conferences) of interest to social researchers...
Source:
Australian Policy Online (APO)
With nearly 120 member centres and institutes, Australian Policy Online offers easy access to much of the best Australian social, economic, cultural and political research available online.
NOTE: the APO home page includes links to the five most popular reports on the APO website, and this list is updated each week.

- Go to the Social Research Links in Other Countries (Non-Government) page: http://www.canadiansocialresearch.net/internatngo.htm

Ireland can teach us [Australia] a thing or two about compassion
By Adele Horin
September 1, 2007
"(...) Ireland introduced a national anti-poverty plan in 1997 and success has been dramatic. In 10 years it has slashed what it calls its "consistent poverty" rate from 15 per cent to less than 5 per cent. Now it aims to cut that to below 2 per cent. Ireland is among 22 of 30 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries to implement a specific national strategy to reduce disadvantage. The Australian Government is one of the hold-outs. It has steadfastly resisted all entreaties to adopt a similar, concerted, whole-of-government assault on poverty. It is time to reconsider that stance.
Source:
The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

CERC Information Service bulletin n°135
September 3, 2007
Click the link above to access the articles and reports listed below - and many more...
* (U.S.) Concentrated poverty : Dynamics of change, G. T. Kingsley and K. L. S. Pettit, The Urban Institute, Washington, Neighborhood change in urban America, n° 5, August, 16 p., (2007).
* The dynamics and persistence of poverty : evidence from Italy, F. Devicienti and V. Gualtieri, Laboratorio R. Revelli, Moncalieri, Working paper, n° 63, August, 47 p., (2007).
* Income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States : 2006, C. DeNavas, B. D. Proctor and J. Smith, Census Bureau, Washington, August, 78 p., (2007).
* The evolution of inequality in productivity and wages : Panel data evidence, G. Faggio, K. G. Salvanes and J. Van Reenen, Centre for Economic Performance, London, CEP discussion paper, n° 0821, August, 66 p., (2007).
* Rescaling social welfare policies in Denmark : national report, C. Thorgaard and H. Vinther, The Danish National Centre for Social Research, Copenhagen, Working paper, n° 10, August, 58 p., (2007).

Of special interest to welfare reform researchers:

* Welfare reforms and child well-being in the US and UK, (PDF file - 164K, 61 pages), J. Waldfogel, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, London, CASE/126, July, 31 p., (2007).
Summary : This paper examines the effects of recent welfare reforms in the US and UK on the well-being of children in low-income families, looking specifically at the effects on poverty, family expenditures, and child health and development. The paper finds some commonalities but also some notable differences. Common to both countries is a sizable reduction in child poverty, although the reduction in child poverty in the US has been less, and some families appear to have been left behind. Expenditure data also point to divergence across the two countries. In the UK, low-income families affected by the reforms are spending more money on items related to children and are more likely to own a car and a phone, while in the US, families affected by welfare reforms are primarily spending more money on items related to employment but not items for children. Finally, a common finding across countries is a relative dearth of more direct evidence on the well-being of children, and specifically how the reforms have affected child health and development. Identifying such effects remains an important topic for further research.

From the Council for Employment, Income and Social Cohesion - Paris
Conseil de l'emploi, des revenus et de la cohésion sociale - CERC [version française]

CERC Bulletin - links to all CERC semi-monthly bulletins
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Online Information Service
Information and online resources organized under five themes: Poverty * Social minima * In-work benefits * Minimum wage * Unemployment and return to work .
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CERC Bulletins/Reports/Studies/Working papers
- Click on the links in the left margin of the CERC website home page for access to a large collection of online resources

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And in closing...

A Compendium of 150 Monty Python Sketches
http://onemansblog.com/2006/12/01/a-compendium-of-150-monty-python-sketches/

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