In today’s edition of Squirrel News, US states look to improve outcomes of children’s mental health care following a model from New Jersey, a leukaemia treatment sees success in clinical trials and Missouri funds free period products in schools.
New Jersey’s mental health programmes for children serve as model
US states are eliminating barriers to children’s mental health services, looking to New Jersey’s approach. In the early 2000s, NJ overhauled its system to offer culturally competent services and cut costs.
Thanks to new state funding, students who can’t afford period products no longer have to miss class. Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education offered $1 million to reimburse schools for menstrual hygiene products.
Attorney programme expands after preventing hundreds of evictions
In Kansas City, tenants facing eviction can receive free legal representation regardless of their income level through the right to counsel programme. Kansas City is one of 15 US cities with a programme like this.
Human poop used to create more sustainable heat source
After following in the footsteps of Seattle and Vancouver projects, Toronto is building the world’s largest system to transfer low-carbon energy from raw wastewater.
Phoenix’s 35-year transit plan to sustainably transform city
Through the Transportation 2050 plan passed in 2015, Phoenix plans to add 135 miles of sidewalks, 1,100 miles of bike lanes and 2,000 streetlights, lighting or shade structures at 780 bus stops. It also plans to use only carbon-neutral buses by 2040.
Solar power helps Tunisian schools otherwise poorly funded
Once without clean water, heat or electricity, solar energy now powers the Makthar boarding school and others in northern Tunisia. Excess is sold to the national grid, equating to 6,000 dinars (which is almost $2,000) per year in profit that helps the school pay debts and other expenses.
Women take the wheel for safer tourism in Satpura Tiger Reserve
As part of the ‘Safe Tourism Destination for Women’ project launched by the Madhya Pradesh government, women drivers have been appointed to take tourists on safaris at the Satpura Tiger Reserve.
