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Sep 28, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
An excellent investigative article from the Georgia Public Policy Foundation examines a problem that my clients have been talking about for quite a while — the climbing cost of insurance. It is getting harder, if not impossible, for childcare centers and other youth serving organizations to obtain insurance. Premiums are rising because of high jury verdict and settlements, and childcare centers have to pass the costs on to customers.
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Sep 25, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
A recent study analyzing health records of more than 4,000 patients found a strong link between high dosages of prescribed amphetamines and the onset of psychosis. While correlation is not causation, this study found a very concerning dose-response relationship, meaning that the risk rose as the dosage amount rose. The study was limited to amphetamines, such as Adderall, and did not include Ritalin, which is not an amphetamine.
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Sep 23, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
The South Carolina Supreme Court has decided in a 3-2 opinion that a program allowing parents to use public funds to pay for private education violates the state constitution. The South Carolina constitution states that:No money shall be paid from public funds nor shall thecredit of the State or any of its political subdivisions beused for the direct benefit of any religious or other privateeducational institution.
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Sep 21, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
One area that we're seeing many youth organizations get caught these days is lack of clear rules about contact between adults and young people on social media. Social media is an area where groups can encourage positive communications. Welcome messages, group chats and email lists can be great ways to build morale among team members or classrooms. Social media groups can help keep campers tied into seasonal camps and coming back in later years.
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Sep 18, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
A story from Nashville illustrates why youth organizations need to have rules against private communications between adults and students. In this case, a teen with a history of sexual abuse allegedly developed a crush on her teacher. The teacher responded by sharing details of his personal life, including the state of his marriage. When the teen disclosed her history of sexual abuse, the teacher did not report the incidents as Tennessee's mandated reporter law allows.
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Sep 11, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
A claim of sexual abuse against a Minnesota teacher details a common pattern of predatory grooming. There’s no way to know at this point whether the teacher is guilty of the charges, but the alleged facts, if true, follow a very common trajectory. The teacher, who was respected enough to be named Teacher of the Year right before the alleged relationship began, allegedly cultivated a close and trusting relationship with the student’s mother.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
From Texas, we have a report of accusations against a church staff member, and an illustration of a church that did almost everything right. According to the news report, authorities have charged a youth pastor with sexually assaulting a minor. The church where he was employed a the time issued a statement with a timeline indicating that it responded correctly to the crisis. The church suspended the pastor, prevented any continuing interaction with minors, and notified law enforcement.
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Aug 31, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
Another federal court, this one in Texas, has ruled that the U.S. Department of Education cannot enforce its most recent Title IX guidance. Unlike earlier cases, this ruling is not a preliminary injunction, but granted judgment to the State of Texas on the merits in a 113-page decision. The court first noted that the State of Texas was challenging not formal rules, but “guidance documents” consisting of a “Dear Colleague” letter, a Fact Sheet, and a Notice of Interpretation.
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Aug 28, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
The Washington Post a few weeks ago had an interesting article about the many benefits that children receive from being outdoors. The physical benefits are well-known, ranging from increased levels of Vitamin D from sunshine to better fitness from exercise. More recent studies, however, show mental health benefits. Outdoor exercise and interactions with nature can help reduce anxiety and depression in children, as well as increase their resilience.
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Aug 26, 2024 | 
insights.taylorenglish.com | Debbie Ausburn
A story from California illustrates a couple of important principles that youth organizations should follow when dealing with disclosures of long-ago abuse. In this instance, an adult approached the owner of a gymnastics school and told him that one of the instructors, who was her cousin, had sexually abused her when she was a child. She already had reported the incident to the police.
