The good news? Fewer kids are living in poverty. The bad news? STD rates are way up.

By J. Dale Shoemaker | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Children in New Jersey generally are better off than they were six years ago, new data shows: Fewer are living in poverty. Fewer live with families receiving benefits such as food stamps. And fewer are testing positive for high levels of lead in their blood. … Continue reading The good news? Fewer kids are living in poverty. The bad news? STD rates are way up. →

N.J. pledges $6M to combat teen suicide in response to NJ.com investigation

By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com New Jersey will spend $6 million on mental health training for school and college employees in response toan NJ Advance Media investigation of the state’s rising suicide rate among teens and young adults. The state will also form a working group of experts to develop mental … Continue reading N.J. pledges $6M to combat teen suicide in response to NJ.com investigation →

Gone At Fifteen

More NJ teens are killing themselves in a crisis no one was prepared for https://projects.nj.com/features/depression/index.html By Adam Clark| NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The last time Jeremy Fries and his girlfriend, Ally, saw each other, they were holding hands in the high school cafeteria just like they did virtually every day during lunch.