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Abstract: This study, informed by phenomenology and ethnography, explores urban children’s relationship with their urban environment: In what ways do urban children exhibit “insideness” in their sense of place? This study proposes “insideness” as a conceptual construct to understand urban children’s sense of place in its ecological and dynamic nature. Employing qualitative research methods, the study explores place stories of urban children who live in low-income, immigrant neighborhoods in New York City. The study finds that as children cultivate their sense of place, they construct “insideness” in their sense of place including 1) environmental understanding (i.e., contextualized, comprehensive, and critical understanding of a place), 2) environmental competence (i.e., knowing how to navigate and engage in a place), and 3) diverse, strong affective relationships with a place. Using “insideness” as a conceptual tool, this study discusses children’s emplaced understanding and active and dialogical positionality in the development of their sense of place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We assessed whether asthma is associated with urban children's use of special education services. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 24 randomly selected New York City public elementary schools using a parent-report questionnaire focusing on sociodemographic characteristics, special education enrollment, asthma diagnosis and symptoms, school absences, and use of health care services. Results. Thirty-four percent of children enrolled in special education had been diagnosed with asthma, compared with 19% of children in the general student population. After control for sociodemographic factors, children with asthma were 60% more likely than children without asthma to be enrolled in special education (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22, 2.16). Asthmatic children in special education were significantly more likely to be from low-income families and to have been hospitalized in the previous 12 months than asthmatic children in general education. Conclusions. Inadequate asthma control may contribute to a greater risk of asthmatic children residing in urban areas being placed in special education. School health programs should consider targeting low-income urban children with asthma at risk for enrollment in special education through increased asthma interventions and medical support services. (Am J Public Health. 2006;96: 1593-1598. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.075887) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study examining and evaluating the use of health information technology and rescue medication order forms to supervise and improve the quality of school health care services for students with Asthma in New York City Public schools. The article discusses the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's asthma guidelines, medication administration services, asthma treatments, health education for parents, children, and school employees, and the Open Airways for Schools program.

The primary goal was to develop and implement a school-based, trauma-specific intervention program for inner-city children exposed to the World Trade Center attacks on September 11th, 2001. The feasibility and acceptability of the program, and its research component, were examined. The efficacy of the program was evaluated in a pilot study. Sixty-three children were assessed using measures of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety, depression, and externalizing symptoms, and provided a 10-session, skill-based classroom intervention. Following the classroom intervention, children were re-assessed and those who continued to meet criteria for PTSD were offered an individualized intervention. The assessment was repeated following the individualized intervention. The differential influence of the classroom and individual interventions suggest that each intervention may target a separate group of symptoms. Study limitations are discussed and future directions are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. An apparent increase in incidence of pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis was observed in children in an inner-city community in New York City. This occurred during years in which the case rates of tuberculosis declined in the city and the nation. Two unusual presentations of childhood tuberculosis are described. This experience suggests that physicians should be more aware of the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children and that routine tuberculin skin testing with 5 TU of purified protein derivative (PPD) should be continued, with emphasis on testing in high-risk areas. Adequate funding of detection and treatment programs may prevent reemergence of this disease. Pediatrics 68:647649, 1981; tuberculosis, children, urban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the educational program called "A Sensory and Kinetic Awareness Program," developed by modern dancer Marilyn Wood at the Downtown Community School in New York City. The program used the concept of arts to deepen the educational experience of the students and alert their senses in a coherent and productive way. As part of the said program, school children were sent to the city to record their impressions about the area using their sense of sight, sound and smell. Aside from that, the students were gathered in a beach to make note of the animal tracks and sea patterns as well as other activities including dancing and composing notes. According to the author, the said program reflects a positive human value.

Reports on research of Cryptococcus neoformans in urban children by David A. Goldman and colleagues at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Finding that most children living in the Bronx area of New York City are infected with the fungus, which is associated with pigeon excreta; Implication for planning a vaccination strategy.

Presents an article on the social conditions of children in Harlem, New York City.