Dateline Sacramento (8/6/2009
Dateline Sacramento
News with a View from the California Capitol
August 6, 2009
New Study Reinforces that Fathers are Critically Important to Child Development
Numerous studies have documented the role of mothers in childrearing, but The California Department of Social Services’ Office of Child Abuse Prevention recently released a study showing that fathers also have a significant impact. Although a predominance of independent studies have reported similar findings over the years, this study, conducted by a state agency, is of particular significance. The study found that fathers who are involved in the lives of their children on a daily basis bring many benefits to the children, including emotional and mental health, and social behavior. It focused on five integral aspects of life: self-esteem, the mother-father relationship, the parent-child relationship, family legacies or rituals, and community support and stressors. The results of this study reiterate and substantiate the fact, once again, that children need and deserve both a mother AND a father in the home.
New Field Poll Examines Changing Voter Demographics in California
The latest Field Poll identifies the most significant shifts in the electorate in California between 1978 and 2009. Among these are:
- As the percentage of white non-Hispanics in the overall population has dropped 26 points from 68.9% to 42.8% over the past three decades, white non-Hispanics’ share of the state’s registered voter population has decreased 18 points from 83.0% to 65.0%.
- These declines are offset by large increases in the proportion of Latinos and Asians. Latinos now comprise 37.0% of the state’s total population (up 18.9% since 1978) and 21% of the state’s registered voters (up 13 points). The percentages of blacks in both the overall population and among registered voters have declined only marginally, but there has been a big increase in the proportions of Asians/others. These voters now comprise 14.2% of the state’s total population (up 8.7 points) and 8.2% of the state’s registered voters (up 5.3 points). Read more.
Local Links
Fewer Refugees Finding Solace in Sacramento County
SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Bee reports that the steady flow of refugees fleeing their homeland because of religious persecution and landing in Sacramento has fallen dramatically. The trend runs counter to the region's reputation as a safe haven. From Stockton Boulevard's mini-Saigon to enclaves in Rancho Cordova and North Highlands where Afghan languages are spoken, more than 100,000 refugees fleeing political and religious persecution have changed the face of Sacramento forever. The region – which Time magazine once called America's most diverse – is home to the nation's largest Slavic evangelical and Iu Mien (Indochinese) communities and one of the largest Hmong populations. The recent economic recession has had a dramatic effect. Read more.
Wait No More: Finding Families for California's Waiting Kids
DOWNEY – Currently, thousands of children and youth in Southern California are waiting for permanent families to welcome them home. On Saturday, September 19, CFC joins with Focus on the Family, Olive Crest Homes, Koinonia Homes, and Bethany Christian Services to make known the tremendous need for Christians to care for orphans. Find out more about the “Wait No More” event at Calvary Chapel of Downey by visiting our website www.californiafamily.org. Join us on Saturday, September 19th to learn more and consider the potential of adoption. You'll hear from adoption experts, a young woman adopted from foster care, and adoptive parents. Plus, agencies will be on site to help you start the process. Southern California alone has nearly 20,000 adoptable children in foster care, and it is our prayer that a large percentage will go into Christian families!
Opportunity “knocks”
RIVERSIDE – California Family Council continues to expand its offerings of the acclaimed Truth Project group leader training seminars. Training in biblical worldview is a prerequisite to living out authentic Christianity in today’s postmodern culture, with its subjective claims of truth.
The next Truth Project group leader training seminar is:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Host Church: Arcadia Presbyterian Church
121 Alice Street
Arcadia, CA 91006
For more information on attending or hosting a seminar, call the California Family Council at 951.354.8362 and ask for Trudy Thomas. You can register online at: www.californiafamily.org
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by California Family Council is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)
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