Government finds higher autism figure: 1 in 100 (Miami Herald) "The concern here is that buried in these numbers is a true increase," said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health. "We're going to have to think very hard about what we're going to do for the 1 in 100."

Study Examines Toll of Preterm Birth: Many Infants Die in Their First Month (Washington Post) Around the world, about one in 10 babies are born prematurely each year, and more than one-quarter of the deaths that occur in the month after birth are the consequence of preterm birth.

Editorial: Child welfare agencies getting new tools for field work (TCPalm) The $10 million project under the Department of Children and Families will allow caseworkers keep better track of clients and for supervisors to keep better track of caseworkers.

Florida lawmakers vow changes after learning of laxness, loopholes (Sun-Sentinel.com) Florida legislators pledged to overhaul state law to require that caregivers for children and the elderly undergo background checks before they begin work and to close loopholes that have let thousands of felons get jobs in day care and nursing homes.

Editorial: Flawed system puts state's most vulnerable at potential risk (Jupiter Courier) Some of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens have been placed at risk due to a flawed screening system that has allowed hundreds of felons to obtain work in day care centers, assisted living facilities and group homes.

Supporters of 10th Annual Nationwide Rally for Afterschool Reflect Diverse Activities Programs Offer (Afterschool Alliance ) Children benefit from afterschool programs in myriad ways. In addition to having a safe, supervised place to go after the school day ends where they get help with homework, afterschool students are exposed to a variety of activities that help them develop new interests and skills.

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville holds Lights On Afterschool Event (Communities in Schools)The city’s largest provider of in-school dropout prevention services. The organization provides case management, after school, literacy, and mentoring services to 6,600 local youth.

Sarasota police statistics show teens are committing more murders (Tampa Tribune) It's the same story across the state. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice reports a 55 percent jump in the number of young adults charged with murder or manslaughter since 2003.

Life in Prison for Minors—Cruel and Unusual? (Wall Street Journal) The court's ruling, expected before July, will clarify the meaning of its last major juvenile justice case, Roper v. Simmons, which in 2005 held it unconstitutional to execute anyone for a crime committed as a juvenile.

Easing 'Zero Tolerance': Texas Changes a Post-Columbine Law (TIME) In 2000 the American Bar Association, in a report on zero tolerance, said the policy casts a "cloud of fear over every student in every classroom."

'Dropout Factories,' including 182 in FL, need help, group says, urging new efforts for struggling high schools (Orlando Sentinel) The Alliance for Excellent Education -- an advocacy group focused on high school reform -- says Congress needs to perform "legislative triage" to push efforts to improve the nation's most-struggling high schools.

Capital ideas: Time to get kids 4-7 in car booster seats for safety (Southwest Florida News-Press) "This has been about as clear-cut an issue as I've been involved in," Altman said. He said smaller children not in booster seats are "five times more likely to have a severe injury in the event of a crash."

Town hall meeting to focus on welfare of children (Tallahassee Democrat) Roy Miller, president and founder of Children's Campaign Inc., an organization devoted to making children's issues a legislative priority, has held events like this around the state to raise awareness on important concerns.