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Prison Voicemail: Messages from behind bars

Ruth Evans

August 04, 2020 |

BBC |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: England

Prison Voicemail is a smartphone app that lets incarcerated people in the UK stay connected to their families, improving their mental outlook while imprisoned and their chances of success once they're released. The fee-based app closes gaps left by ordinary pay phones and other means of communication by letting people communicate through recorded messages, rather than when they both happen to be available. Sound clips of families talking in this podcast drive home the profound personal impact of children and parents sharing the routine news of their lives across the barrier of prison walls.

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A.D.A. Now!

Laine Kaplan-Levenson

July 30, 2020 |

NPR |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

Congress' passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 30 years ago made life-changing advances for millions of people with all manner of disabilities. Beyond removing physical barriers and opening education, employment, and public accommodations, it also opened minds to see people with disabilities as fully human – a barrier that had existed historically. The protests and lobbying to put a civil rights lens on these barriers as discrimination got the law enacted, but social change is still a work in progress.

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Kentucky town hires social workers instead of more officers - and the results are surprising

David Mattingly

July 28, 2020 |

WAVE-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alexandria, Kentucky

Alexandria, Kentucky's 17-officer police department avoided the expense of hiring more police officers by adding two social workers to assist police in responding to the types of calls that can often turn into repeat calls to 911. By working with people in domestic disturbances, mental health crises, or with substance abuse issues, the social workers connect families to services immediately, rather than awaiting a referral from the police after the crisis has passed. Repeat calls to 911 are down and the city saves up to $50,000 for each position where a social worker substitutes for a police hire.

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As Prisons Cancel Visitation, The Phone Line Becomes A Life Line

Amanda Peacher

July 27, 2020 |

Boise State Public Radio (KBSX) |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Utah

To alleviate the isolating effects of COVID-19 restrictions in prisons barring outside visitors, some prisons have encouraged phone and video contact with family by waiving the fees normally charged for such services. In Utah, the first 10 calls per week are free. Federal prisons have waived the charges entirely. Maintaining healthy family relationships has been shown to relieve prisoners' loneliness and anxiety, which equates to better behavior. And it reduces future lawbreaking by strengthening bonds that help in finding housing and jobs once the prisoners are released.

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Can simple text messages for parents boost reading scores for kids?

Jackie Mader

July 23, 2020 |

The Hechinger Report |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

Ready4K has turned into a successful combination of technology and education for the San Francisco Unified School District, and for many more schools and districts, after educators saw the effectiveness and accessibility of texting families instead of holding information-heavy workshops. Three times a week, families receive digestible information, tips, and activities to incorporate reading, math, and other topics into daily life. "The program is now used by nearly 130 organizations, including school districts, Head Start agencies, and national organizations."

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Cracking the transportation bottleneck

John Blodgett

July 14, 2020 |

The Boulder Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Whitehall, Montana

In Whitehall, Montana, a senior center and a nonprofit that helps rehabilitate individuals with brain injuries joined together to enhance public transportation services for "multiple constiuencies," including rural, elderly populations and for those who are living with a disability. Although Whitehall Public Transportation was not immediately popular, in 2019, over 27,000 riders utilized this new, free service to run errands, travel to appointments and local events or just to meet other community members.

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Dad school: How to be a better father

Lily Freeston

June 18, 2020 |

BBC |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Rwanda

Fatherhood classes in Rwanda teach men to be better dads and husbands, challenging traditional gender roles. Topics include taking care of babies, resolving domestic conflicts, sharing household decisions, and explaining sexual violence within a marriage. Participants report gaining new understandings and changing their behavior. One study found men who completed the class were half as likely to commit violence towards their wife in the future. 1,700 men have completed the course since it started in 2014, just a small fraction of the population, but there are plans to scale the program countrywide.

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USDA Acts Fast To Help Schools Offer Families Take-Out, Grocery Money

Amanda Peacher

June 02, 2020 |

Boise State Public Radio (KBSX) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has effectively responded to the Covid-19 crisis by quickly helping existing programs provide food aid to families. School lunch programs rapidly moved from providing hot food to children who qualify to a to-go style menu for all children under 18 and offers grocery money to families who can’t pick up food. The USDA also expanded SNAP with increased monthly allowances and options for online shopping. There have been administrative difficulties coordinating aid so quickly that has caused delays to some families getting the food they need.

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Tribe aims to improve dental health by bringing smiles to the dental visit

Madison LaBerge

May 25, 2020 |

Cronkite News - Arizona PBS |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Carlos, Arizona

The San Carlos Apache tribe in Arizona has been able to increase dental healthcare access for children through targeted outreach and an educational marketing campaign. The goal of the multifaceted approach is to address fears, both on the part of the child and parents, through education about going to the dentist. The result has been a significant uptick in the number of children's dentistry appointments and caregivers reporting that their children are no longer afraid.

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Churches are an unlikely ally in solving the rural internet access puzzle

Liora Engel-Smith

May 21, 2020 |

North Carolina Health News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Robbinsville, North Carolina

With the help of a program that enables churches to assess the needs of their community and create solutions, one reverend in North Carolina was able to provide a lifeline: internet access. Rural communities like his in North Carolina struggle with internet access and are unable to schedule vital telehealth visits, complete school work or work from home. The funds paid for internet as well as several old computers and 14 hotspots.

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