I have so many things to do.  There not enough time.  I really get mad when I can not do what I want.  I drew this picture about my life and ripped it because I was mad.  My parents said it is Ok to get mad about not being able to do everything I want.  Oh its frustrating. 

From Papa:

Nonprofits can be complex but they provide a simple direction or way to solve a problem.  They are mission focused and not focused on obtaining a financial return.  Breaking even and succeeding in accomplishing the outcomes is their key to success in a complex world.

pic via Robin Hutton

Each day decisions are made on thousands of children in a system of child welfare that is risk adverse.  This aversion to risk is contrary to how most parents balance promoting healthy experiences, independence and growth in their children.  While it might seem heartless by using an insurance risk analysis but every decision carries risk and statistically someone will get hurt.  However, it does not mean that all children have to suffer to decrease risk.  In fact this aversion to risk is harming more youth than helping.  As parents we take into consideration our child’s wants, wishes, feelings, need to learn and balance it to our interpretation of its level of risk.

Since Child Welfare systems are incapable of acting as a parent I would promote that each child have a court appointed child advocate who has the right to challenge decisions that go against what seem to be reasonable goals or preferences by the child.  This should especially be mandated for those children where parental rights have been terminated and the child is 13 or older.

pic by Robin Hutton

Technology opens the door for many tools to be used in education.  However, access to that technology is dependent upon access to the Internet.  It is cheaper to build access to Internet than it is to build more schools, transport students, or hire more teachers.  There is lots of evidence today that education needs to be extended and that students need more 1:1 tutoring.  The Internet has become a tool of unlimited capacity and a low cost alternative.  While it will not be the answer for everyone, it certainly will increase the achievement of many.  The answer should not be that we prefer building schools and hiring teachers and since we can not afford to do so we do nothing.  The answer should be here is the alternative that will impact a greater number of students. 

What I’d really like to know is the actual terms and benefits the proposed federal health insurance coverage will provide to citizens. There has been much speculation over how citizens will leave their employer’s health coverage for federal health coverage since it will be so much cheaper. But with a cheaper coverage, are people really getting the same benefits as private insurance companies offer? Before we all decide to go for the cheaper coverage the White House needs to come up with a coverage plan. Maybe by that time people will see that the federal plan isn’t nearly as good as the one they have now.

Let us know your opinion.

Regarding an Article from the Wall Street Journal:

Wasn’t one of the major selling points for the stimulus package to help people who were falling behind in their mortgage payments? Apperently some of the major banks didnt receive the memo until last month. And even when they did get the memo, the time it takes to get your mortgage modified may take three months if not longer. Congress’ new plan for modifying mortgages Doesnt seem to be much of a relief, seems more like of a headache at the moment.

pic by Robin Hutton

There are a number of proven methods for schools to utilize for achieving high academic standards for its students. There are also some promising techniques to overcoming challenges for those student populations whom historical have been under achieving.  It will not be how you do it that brings recognition but whether you can show the students are achieving academically.

I am projecting that for the next 10 years education will be one of the largest growth areas in the nonprofit sector.  This means if your in education and your students are failing that it is time for drastic change or close your doors.  For those who have been thinking about moving into education now is the time to implement that plan.  The first goal should be a high school diploma for every student.  The second goal should be an associate degree for every student.  Anything short of these two goals is to admit that the student will most likely lead a life of economic struggle.

Massachusetts, while strict in its approval of charter schools, is a good model to look to because it has created many high performing schools.

Massachusetts may be innovative, especially in health care but it is noticably behind the times when it comes to paying for the upkeep of public housing. Massachusetts is one of only two states in the country to rely solely upon state funds to support public housing. The other states rely on federal funds. The benefit for our states economy to take the governement up on their offer would reduce our debt substantially. Boston officials claim the state is abandoning its moral responsibilities to ease our debt. Since when did Boston officials have morals they believed in anyway?

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pic from Nine Inch Nachos

It is my position that Credit Unions are much better at providing the best value for the fees they charged and the services their members receive.  I think it is time for the government to cut the cord of taxpayers supporting the for-profit banking sector.  I would like to hear feedback from the nonprofit community about reasons the organization does not utilize Credit Unions for their banking needs.

So far “I just never thought about them as an option”  has been the strongest response.

Alternative medicine, also known as medical practices that places prescriptions and surgeries at the bottom of the list of options to get us healthy, may finally be getting the attention it deserves. However, this attention is not regarding medical advantages, instead its about saving money. I’m all for saving money, but I’d like some solid proof showing that Alternative medicine will help with arthritis pains compared to prescription drugs that are clinically proven to work.

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Following Obama’s health insurance plan, everything in the medical field, from  research to paying doctors are under scrutiny.  Obama’s knew health insurance plan might just put a tighter hold on medical insurers, resulting in Doctors choosing less expensive procedures, which will lead to smaller fees. However, Doctors all across Europe get paid through a salary, and I’m pretty sure they’re living quite comfortably.

Read more about this topic here.