AGP Executive Report

Online Safety Policy: France has passed a landmark ban blocking children under 15 from creating new social media accounts starting Sept. 1, with a second stage planned for Jan. 2027, as lawmakers cite mental-health concerns and lawsuits tied to teen suicides. School & Tech Guidance: North Carolina’s DPI released statewide screen-time guidance for school-issued devices, urging “purposeful” use (creating, problem-solving, collaborating) instead of strict grade-based limits. Food & Health: The FDA moved to revoke approval for Orange B and propose revoking Citrus Red No. 2 as food color additives, part of a push away from outdated artificial colors. Parenting & Well-Being: A commentary warns that “snowplow” parenting and AI shortcuts can shield kids from failure, leaving them anxious and unprepared for real life. Child Welfare & Care: Texas children’s hospitals are urging CMS to reconsider Medicaid cuts that could sharply reduce access to pediatric care. Adoption & Fostering: A UK foster-care story spotlights how nontraditional foster parents can still provide safe homes, amid ongoing shortages. Water Safety: Doctors warn drownings are a top killer for young children and urge families to treat rescue as urgent—seconds matter.

Digital Safety Law: France has become the first EU country to ban social media access for kids under 15, with a staged rollout (new accounts from Sept. 1; existing accounts from Jan. 2027) and an added high-school mobile phone restriction. Parenting & Tech: The debate is heating up globally, with some countries pushing blanket bans while others argue for stronger platform safeguards and media literacy instead of a one-size shutdown. Foster Care Updates: Texas is reshuffling its foster care system, replacing EMPOWER with two contracted groups (Our Community Our Kids and Texas Family Care Network) after state concerns about child safety failures. Child Welfare & Safety: Massachusetts lawmakers again face a long-stalled push for missing-children protections, including police training and a universal intake form. Community Support: Local families turned out for a Gifts for Kids resource fair, mixing fun activities with help for low-income households. Health & Climate: Save the Children marks one year since the ICJ climate ruling, urging child-focused climate adaptation funding. Food Recall: Fresh & Ready Foods recalled select spicy breakfast burritos due to undeclared soy. Screen-Time Reality Check: A new reminder for parents: PIP claimants may need to report longer trips abroad to keep benefits.

Digital Parenting & Safety: France is set to approve a two-stage social media ban for kids under 15, blocking new accounts from Sept. 1 and restricting existing ones from Jan. 2027—part of a wider push across Europe as lawmakers cite harms to adolescents. Co-Parenting Through the Teen Years: In the Philippines, Andi Eigenmann says she and ex Jake Ejercito have a “good co-parenting relationship,” but that raising a 15-year-old is now at an “extremely difficult” stage where stability and seeing eye-to-eye matter most. Child Rights Policy Update: Malaysia’s Women, Family and Community Development ministry is reviewing its Child Act 2001 using UN child-rights recommendations, aiming to strengthen protection, care, rehabilitation, and children’s participation. Foster Care & Youth Housing: Chatham’s “Tiny Tiny Homes” founder is building 10 units of transitional, safe, affordable housing for youth leaving care, partnering with Linck Child, Youth & Family Supports. Tech in Early Learning: Malaysia’s KEMAS plans smartboards for kindergarten classes nationwide by end of next year, alongside AI-linked learning for very young children. Family Courts & AI Cheating Claims: A California-focused report says some divorces and custody cases are increasingly citing “affairs” involving AI chatbots, raising new questions about secrecy and parenting impact.

Child Safety & Online Rules: France’s lawmakers struck a compromise on an under-15 social media ban, with a final vote set for Tuesday and a parallel push to limit phones in high schools—another reminder that parents are being asked to manage screen life while governments rewrite the rules. School Tech & AI: In Colorado’s Jeffco district, students can use Google’s Gemini and NotebookLM, but teachers set the limits using a red/yellow/green system—plus a reminder that many educators still don’t feel ready for AI in classrooms. Health Access for Parents: Vermont clinicians are urging higher Medicaid pay for prenatal, labor, and postpartum care, warning that low reimbursement could keep forcing rural maternity units to close. Disability Support: A new hospital-based developmental care hub opened in the Philippines, aiming to bring screening, therapies, and parent education under one roof for children with disabilities. Summer Risk Watch: Jacksonville police report a 12-year-old shot at a park after a dispute between kids, prompting renewed calls for tighter parent supervision during summer break. Parenting in Real Life: A Q&A column offers practical guidance for teens dealing with heat—hydration first, then watching for heat exhaustion signs.

Disability Support: The Philippines opened a hospital-based Developmental Care and Support Services Hub for children with disabilities at Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center, offering screening, therapies, care coordination, parent education and telehealth. Online Safety & Screen Time: Australia’s youth social media ban is credited with boosting family time and improving sleep and focus, while France is racing to finalize an under-15 social media ban that must fit EU law. Parenting Programs: Jordan launched “Be Present,” a parenting support project to train caregivers and improve family communication and problem-solving. School Safety: Uganda plans mandatory colour-coding for school buses and vans after deadly accidents, aiming to curb reckless driving and overloads. Foster Care Policy: The U.S. removed Biden-era LGBTQ+ protections for children in foster care, raising concerns about worse outcomes for LGBTQ youth. Child Protection: UK authorities say an inquest into the death of toddler Preston Davey is highly likely to resume after the murder convictions. Family Life & Culture: A UAE program will train “Family Content Creators” to promote responsible, purposeful digital content for families.

Maternal Health Access: Guam is rolling out more accessible doula care, positioning trained birthworkers as non-medical support that can improve pregnancy outcomes and help lower maternal and infant mortality. Prison Staff Wellbeing: Punjab (Pakistan) is making health and psychological screening mandatory for prison employees, with regular checkups and free counselling for those showing signs of depression or stress. Parenting Support for Dads: A Collingwood, Canada therapist launched an in-person dads’ mental health support group, aiming to reduce the “displaced” feeling many fathers report during the transition to parenthood. Child Safety & Discipline Debate: An England school rated “outstanding” is refusing to back down after a safeguarding inquiry challenged its strict discipline approach, with families split between concerns and reports that most parents say children feel safe. Adoption & Foster Care Stories: A New Zealand “open adoption” discussion questions what “openness” really means when records aren’t tracked, while a separate story highlights foster parents sharing why they open their homes as local need rises. Family Law Changes: India’s draft Uniform Civil Code bill would ban polygamy, criminalize nikah halala, and require live-in registration, with potential impacts on children’s legal status and maintenance. Child Health Reminder: A Canadian family’s experience with a toddler’s persistent fatigue leading to a leukemia diagnosis underscores the value of trusting parents’ instincts and pushing for answers.

Foster Care & Education: Georgia’s new law requires schools to enroll students in foster care within three business days, aiming to cut the chaos of frequent school moves that can derail grades and graduation. Child Welfare Oversight: San Diego County’s Juvenile Justice Commission is facing resignations after a court pulled key administrative support, just as new sex-abuse claims by former youth are landing in federal court. Family Law & Rights: Madhya Pradesh approved a draft Uniform Civil Code bill that would criminalize triple talaq and nikah halala, ban polygamy, and require registration for live-in relationships—while also setting rules for children’s legal status and maintenance. Parenting & Money: A new U.S. “Trump Accounts” newborn savings program would give eligible babies $1,000 to start investing, with parents able to add up to $5,000 a year. Royal Parenting: Prince William says he’s trying to keep Prince George’s childhood “normal,” sticking to school routines and family-first time. Adoption & Identity: Two men suing a North Dakota hospital after DNA tests showed they were switched at birth, arguing the mix-up stole their lives. Online Safety: Brussels moves to curb children’s social media access in an EU-wide crackdown.

Birth & family law: Two men in North Dakota say a hospital switched them at birth 38 years ago, and they’re suing after DNA tests upended their lives. Reproductive rights & teen pregnancy: Gujarat High Court rejected a 17-year-old rape survivor’s bid to terminate an eight-month pregnancy, ordering the state to cover care for her and the newborn. School integration: Zimbabwe told schools to stop demanding performance reports and transfer letters for children returning after anti-migrant unrest, pushing for smoother enrollment. Parenting support: A free community baby shower in Philadelphia offered resources for expectant parents, aiming to reduce maternal-health disparities. Child welfare need: Ontario’s foster-care system says protective-services cases are rising while foster homes are declining, calling for more families. Royal family & adoption: Japan revised its Imperial House Law to allow adoption of males from former branches (while keeping male-only succession), a change with major ripple effects for future generations. Everyday family life: Santa Maria schools adopted an “Off and Away Except Lunch” phone rule to cut distractions. Health & routines: A parenting-focused wellness post highlights monsoon immunity basics, while a Korean celebrity shares a strict post-baby morning routine.

Foster Care & Adoption Support: A.N.A.’s Friends in Southwest Florida is turning community donations into direct help for abused and neglected children in dependency court, covering basics like clothing and school supplies plus tutoring and summer programs. Car Seat Safety: Vitality Women’s Clinic highlights a startling stat: car seats are often misinstalled, urging caregivers to get seats checked and re-check after every uninstall/reinstall. Responsible Parenting: Edo’s women affairs commissioner urges positive parenting after three runaway children were reunited with family, stressing safe homes, emotional support, and quick reporting when kids go missing. Back-to-School Aid: Ireland’s Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is paying out to 126,000 families; those who missed automatic payments can still apply manually by Sept. 30. Child Safety in Public Health: Germany’s reproductive medicine access rules are criticized as “shockingly unjust” for single women, while the Netherlands warns summer travel could raise risk of genital mutilation for thousands of girls. Community Pride: Glasgow Pride draws families, including a parent bringing their child to their first march, framing it as both celebration and belonging.

Parenting & Mental Health: A mother describes postpartum depression after her twins’ birth, saying she “didn’t feel anything” at delivery and now hopes to build a therapy-free support world. Neurodiversity & Caregiver Strain: A new piece highlights how autism care can hit families emotionally and mentally, not just financially, with research linking parental stress to poorer wellbeing. Safety & Crime: Police in the Bronx report a second sexual assault near Van Cortlandt Park and ask for help identifying a suspect. Family Law & Custody: Alberta RCMP renews the search for two missing children, believed to be with adults wanted for abduction tied to a custody order. Foster Care Policy: Oklahoma ends the “orphan tax,” stopping the diversion of Social Security survivor benefits for kids in foster care. Community Support: A rural food pantry and foster care closet in Blackfoot gets an $800,000 boost and permanent naming rights after a decade of operating on borrowed time. Privacy for Kids: Rani Mukerji stops paparazzi from photographing her daughter at the airport, framing it as a deliberate parenting choice. Parenting in the Courts: A Supreme Court ruling says murder convictions can stand even when a victim’s body is never recovered, shaping how child cases may be prosecuted.

Maternal Health Leadership: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America named Robin Reck its new Executive Director, aiming to cut the U.S. maternal mortality rate in half in five years. Parenting & Safety at Home: A new discussion on multigenerational living weighs the real tradeoffs—more support and family unity, but disrupted routines and added pressure on kids and parents. Child Welfare Demand: Ireland’s Tusla reported “unprecedented” referral growth, topping 100,000 for the first time, with emotional abuse the most common concern. Foster Care Tragedy: Algeria is reeling after a fire at a foster care facility killed 11 and injured more than 20, with authorities still investigating the cause. Screen Time Policy Shift: Research and policy coverage continues to challenge one-size-fits-all screen bans, urging parents to match digital rules to kids’ development and family media habits. Royal Rules & Gender: Japan revised imperial succession laws to allow adoption of male relatives, but women still can’t ascend the throne—Princess Aiko remains excluded. Parenting Culture & Identity: A new middle-grade novel by Lakshmi Iyer explores colorism through an Indian American girl’s trip to India and her family’s reactions. Everyday Parenting Boundaries: Nakuul and Jankee Mehta argue that fear-based parenting works fast but teaches kids that adults and everyday things are scary, advocating calm, consistent boundaries. Community Calendar: Local listings highlight family-friendly events, including a benefit dinner for young women transitioning out of foster care.

Foster Care Tragedy: Algeria’s capital Algiers is reeling after a fire at a foster care facility killed 11 people, with President saying children were among the dead; authorities haven’t released a cause. Unaccompanied Kids Policy: A U.S. senator warns the Trump administration may be preparing to quickly remove 500+ unaccompanied migrant children, raising concerns about bypassing legal protections. AI in Parenting & Schools: Boston Children’s Hospital and OpenEvidence are teaming up to study how clinicians use AI at the point of care using aggregated data only, while a separate guide urges schools to think carefully about how much AI students should use and what they must still do themselves. Public Safety for Families: A new Missouri law tied to a 2021 crash (“Bentley and Mason’s Law”) requires drunk drivers convicted of killing a parent to pay child support to the deceased’s surviving children. Heat-Ready Cities: A Climate Mayors toolkit says extreme-heat messaging often isn’t practical enough, and pushes mayors to give families clear, actionable steps during heatwaves. Child Welfare Courts: A court ruling vacated an adoption decision after finding a mother’s due process rights were violated when the trial proceeded without her or proper counsel.

Parenting & Safety (Courtroom Insight): A consultant psychiatrist told a coroner’s inquest that a child’s risk shouldn’t be judged just by whether a father or mother is absent, stressing psychological safety, home communication, and meeting basic needs in the case of Zara Qairina Mahathir. Infant Health (Gut Guidance): A UK-led guide says 82% of parents search online for baby gut health answers, pushing “first 1,000 days” education with expert input and practical feeding recipes. Grandparent Boundaries (Family Debate): A parenting conversation asks whether grandparents should be allowed to “spoil” kids, with listeners warning that ignoring parents’ rules can teach kids boundaries only apply when Mom and Dad are watching. Kids & Mobility (Local Rules): Ballwin is considering e-bike and alternative-vehicle regulations, including helmet and sidewalk rules for under-17 riders, aiming to balance safety with kids getting outside. Public Health Funding (Family Impact): Kansas nonprofit leaders say federal cuts tied to H.R. 1 are driving higher costs and squeezing programs like food assistance and health access. Child Welfare & Rights (Global): UNRWA faces a $100M funding gap, warning millions of Palestinian refugees could lose essential support as services are curtailed. Tech & Privacy (Baby Monitoring): Glocandy launched a contactless smart baby monitor on Kickstarter, pitching radar-based monitoring to reduce privacy concerns and false alerts. Sleep & Health Policy (US): Doctors and sleep experts urge lawmakers to reject permanent daylight saving time, warning it could worsen dark winter mornings and harm children’s circadian health.

School Safety Drills: After a Tacloban high school shooting, the Philippines’ Department of Education ran its first “active shooter” simulation at Manila Science High School, using lockout/lockdown/evacuation steps with police and a plastic-pistol mock attacker for 1,770 students. Assisted Dying Debate: France’s National Assembly approved an assisted-dying bill that would allow lethal medication for certain adults with incurable illnesses, sending it next to the Constitutional Council. Conversion Therapy Legal Fight: An 8th Circuit order sent a Missouri case back to reconsider bans on “conversion therapy” after a Supreme Court ruling strengthened First Amendment protections for counselors. Child Welfare Pressure: Ireland’s Tusla reported a 34% jump in child protection referrals over two years, with physical abuse and neglect driving the rise. Foster/Adoptive Support: A Tucson nonprofit, More Than a Bed, is expanding with an after-school enrichment center for foster and adoptive kids, including trauma-informed storytelling and confidence-building activities. Tech & Parenting at School: Summit elementary schools are cutting iPad use for younger grades, shifting to shared devices and limiting screen time. Community Care: New York City launched free “Parents’ Night Out” supervised childcare for ages 6–13, aiming to give caregivers real time off. Safety for Kids in Heat: Delhi’s “Heat Smart School” pilot is being reviewed for expansion, using shade, cool roofs, and awareness steps to protect students during heatwaves.

School Safety & Mental Health: A psychologist warns that “active shooter” drills can retraumatize students, especially those already dealing with bullying or domestic violence, urging DepEd to tighten safeguards. Nutrition & Child Well-Being: The Bangsamoro Government launched the Bangsamoro Nutrition Commission, setting up a regional body to coordinate nutrition, health, and food security efforts. Foster Care & Adoption: Jackson, Mississippi and World Missions launched a Foster Care and Adoption Initiative to recruit more families and volunteers. Parenting Support: CASA of Northeast Louisiana is recruiting Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers, training starting in early August to match children in foster care with consistent advocates. Accessible Learning: Microsoft MakeCode added screen reader compatibility for blind and low-vision students, aiming to make block coding more inclusive. Tech & Kids: China rolled out rules for AI companion bots to curb emotional dependency and require crisis interventions. Feeding Help: Bobbie launched a “Feeding Concierge” combining AI support with expert-led groups and 1:1 clinical care for parents. Community Care: A “pay-what-you-can” prenatal program opened in Sarnia-Lambton, offering weekly classes and peer support to reduce isolation.

Parenting & Policy: The U.S. House passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent, with families and kids caught in the debate over darker winter mornings versus more evening daylight. Family Support: Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato announced she’s pregnant and renewed a push for 18 weeks of paid parental leave (including for birth, adoption, and legal placement), with a public comment period now underway. Child Welfare & Care: Ireland’s Tusla reported a 10% rise in child safety and welfare referrals in 2025, with emotional abuse the top concern and foster care still the majority placement. Adoption & Foster Care: A Ventura-LA nonprofit, James Storehouse, is helping foster youth and resource families with emergency essentials like beds, clothes, and food. Online Safety & Learning: Nevada parents are pushing back on EdTech and smartphone access in schools, arguing for more play and limits on devices. Safeguarding Systems: The Ministry of Health in a small jurisdiction appointed a dedicated safeguarding lead to strengthen protection for children and vulnerable adults. Culture & Family Life: A Canadian surrogacy lawsuit highlights the hard question of who decides prenatal outcomes when intended parents and a surrogate disagree.