AGP Executive Report

Child Welfare: Washington state and Evergreen Public Schools will pay $49.33 million to settle a lawsuit over the starvation death of autistic teenager Karreon Adams-Franks. The case raised grave questions about why reports of abuse did not prompt authorities to protect him and his brothers. Food Security: Kentucky’s governor says federal SNAP changes have cut benefits for about 80,000 residents, including more than 24,000 children, deepening concern about hunger among families. Childcare: Construction is underway on Sunrise Express, a daycare planned inside a nursing-home campus to bring children and older residents together. It is expected to open by May. Foster Care: A $4.5 million gift and land lease will help an Arkansas nonprofit build short-term housing for young adults leaving foster care, a group often at risk of homelessness. Online Safety: Governments are weighing tougher protections for children online: Greece is considering a social-media ban for under-15s, while Dubai has launched a platform to help parents guide children’s use of AI.

Online Safety: Roblox, OpenAI and Google say protecting children online should rely on safer product defaults, not just parental controls. Roblox’s policy chief also called for an end to users declaring their own age. Foster Care: England is targeting adults in their 30s and 40s to foster, as approved carers have fallen 12% since 2019; the government aims to add 10,000 places. Family Finances: A single mother says thieves drained $486 in food benefits meant to feed her 3-year-old. Federal investigators estimate $233 million in SNAP benefits may have been stolen over two years, and most states do not replace stolen funds. Shared Parenting: Actor Parineeti Chopra challenged the idea that mothers should be the default caregivers, saying both parents should share the work and make adjustments. Child Protection: At an inquest into Elizabeth Struhs’s death, a former child-safety worker said she should have been assessed as unsafe after being admitted to hospital in a coma. Student Wellbeing: A Massachusetts teacher survey found 94% see anxiety or depression as a problem for students, while many worry about poverty, homelessness and foster care.

Child Protection: Seven new lawsuits allege the Chicago Archdiocese knew priests sexually abused children at a former parish over several decades; the claims are not yet resolved in court. In Maryland’s Calvert County, a mother and grandmother face abuse and neglect charges after four youths were allegedly starved and mistreated; the children are now in foster care. Digital Childhood: Turkey is moving to restrict social media access for children under 15, while a Wisconsin parent group is urging schools to curb classroom screen use and limit student access to AI. Maternal Health: A Columbia University study found that extending Medicaid coverage to 12 months after birth increased postpartum care for women with pregnancy-related diabetes and high blood pressure. Education for Young Parents: A program in Adelaide offers free courses and onsite childcare, helping young parents continue their studies while caring for their children.

Online Safety: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he is still weighing a blanket social media ban for minors. The Senate has passed a bill restricting under-18s’ access to high-risk services, but the House has yet to act. Daycare Oversight: An Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation found hundreds of Georgia daycares kept quality ratings despite incidents that harmed or endangered children. In one case, a toddler suffered chemical burns from bleach left in a classroom. Early Learning: Singapore preschools will have to give educators at least two hours a week for planning and family engagement, within their regular work hours. LGBTQ+ Rights: Hungary’s parliament is due to vote on lifting restrictions on LGBTQ+ content accessible to children, in a major proposed reversal of a 2021 law.

School Safety: The Philippines launched a nationwide campaign against bullying, violence and online exploitation, with sessions for parents on digital risks and how to report concerns. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says his administration is still weighing a blanket social-media ban for minors after the Senate approved restrictions for under-18s; the House has yet to pass a matching bill. Foster Care: A Charlotte-area symposium will connect foster families and child-welfare groups as Mecklenburg County faces a sharp shortage: 67 licensed homes for about 400 children in care. Family Finances: A new guide warns that raising children can consume nearly a fifth of household income, but urges parents to keep retirement saving on track while balancing childcare and education costs.

Children’s Health: Malaysia’s education minister says school closures during haze will follow air-quality and health guidance, urging parents to keep unwell children home. Online Safety: Türkiye’s ban on social media for under-15s is due to take effect Nov. 1, raising questions about age checks and children’s privacy. Care and Support: A $5 million donation will help fund a new South Carolina behavioral-health hospital, aiming to expand access for children and adults. San Fernando officials are also working to strengthen adoption and child-protection services. Autism Awareness: A mother whose autistic, non-verbal 3-year-old nearly drowned after escaping is urging greater understanding of “elopement,” which can happen in seconds and should not be mistaken for poor parenting. Co-Parenting: Rachel Kolisi attended ex-husband Siya’s rugby homecoming with their children, while Ben Affleck joked his kids rate his parenting at 40% of Jennifer Garner’s.

Children Online: Türkiye plans age checks and a social-media ban for under-15s from Nov. 1, as teenagers report algorithms keep serving them misogynistic content even when they avoid it. A separate report says ChatGPT’s safeguards for teens who express suicidal thoughts failed to alert parents, renewing questions about how platforms protect young users. Support for New Parents: A Louisiana home-visit program that trains and supports new parents is expanding. Adoption and Identity: Officials in Nagaland say families need clearer information about legal adoption, which protects children’s rights, identity and family history beyond informal kinship care. Fatherhood: Prince Harry says becoming a dad was harder than he expected, calling it an “emotional rollercoaster” and wishing he’d known that before his first child.

Digital Safety: Türkiye’s under-15 social media ban is due to take effect Nov. 1, as child-safety advocates urge policymakers to get ahead of emerging risks from AI. Education & Inclusion: Malaysia’s 2027 budget raises education funding to nearly RM69 billion and doubles school repair funding; officials also say young people with disabilities need better training and workplace support. Family Support: Penang plans to widen fertility-treatment access and strengthen childcare and family-friendly workplace support. Adoption: A new report on Korean adoptees describes fabricated records and families separated by an overseas adoption system that treated some beloved children as orphans. Child Wellbeing: Experts say parents should talk about mental health before a crisis, while allowing children to work through manageable challenges can help build resilience.

Family Finances: Malaysia’s 2027 budget raises the individual tax-relief limit to RM12,000 and adds relief for postnatal care and children’s tuition. Children Online: Turkey’s ban on social media for under-15s is set to take effect Nov. 1, as debate grows over how best to protect young users. Back to School: Experts say a return to routine can be tough for children; parents who spot signs of struggle should raise concerns constructively with the school. Child Health: Doctors urge handwashing, good ventilation and keeping sick children home as autumn brings more respiratory infections. Care and Adoption: More than 3,000 children in the UK are reportedly caught in unstable placements amid a shortage of adoptive families. Proposed Head Start changes could also eliminate places for children experiencing homelessness in Virginia. New-Parent Wellbeing: A reminder that postpartum depression can affect fathers, too, and may go unnoticed.

Adoption and Foster Care: More than 3,000 children in England are waiting for adoptive families, with some facing years of instability as adopter registrations and approvals fall. In Mexico, authorities are seeking relatives of two infants in state care to support family reunification. Children Online: A new debate over AI safety draws lessons from the slow response to social media risks, while European lawmakers propose restricting social media accounts for under-13s. Child Health: Filipino child stunting rose to 25.3% in 2025, prompting calls for better coordination of nutrition programs and support for mothers. Research also links positive parenting in early childhood with stronger brain responses tied to reward. Support for Families: A new playdate café in Heswall aims to ease parental isolation and offer support, including sessions for families with special educational needs and disabilities. Family Travel: Ryanair has removed its £8 fee for parents to sit with children aged 2 to 11, following scrutiny from the UK competition regulator.

Safer Infant Sleep: Virginia is using Safe Sleep Awareness Month to urge caregivers to put babies to sleep in their own approved crib or bassinet, amid continuing sleep-related infant deaths. Support for Families: Oklahoma received more than $9.5 million to expand voluntary home visits, connecting families with nurses, social workers and educators from pregnancy through early childhood. Child Nutrition: Child stunting in the Philippines rose to 25.3% in 2025, up from 23.6% in 2023; a think tank is calling for shared data and better-coordinated nutrition programs for mothers and children. Safety and Shelter: An $8 million investment will fund a 24-hour safe space in Thompson, Manitoba, for Indigenous women and children facing violence, with parenting support and help finding housing. Children Online: A Qatar seminar called for stronger privacy and safety protections for children online, while urging families and schools to balance digital learning with screen-time limits.

Family Finances: Malaysia’s 2027 budget raises individual tax relief to RM12,000 and expands deductions to include postnatal care and children’s tuition, offering some help amid cost-of-living pressures. Early Learning: Guam has opened applications for Head Start for eligible families with children ages 3 to 5. Online Safety: The Philippine Senate approved a bill to restrict minors’ access to designated high-risk digital services; separately, a proposed EU law would bar social media accounts for under-13s and require parent-managed accounts for 13- and 14-year-olds. Foster Care: Kentucky has more than 8,700 children in foster care but about 4,600 licensed homes, prompting a renewed call for carers, especially for teens and sibling groups. Positive Parenting: A new study links positive parenting in early childhood with stronger brain reward responses, pointing to a possible connection with children’s mental health.

Family Support: South Carolina’s Tamassee Hope Village honored attorney Pat McKee for helping secure the nonprofit’s future. It supports mothers recovering from addiction while keeping their children with them. Digital Safety: The UAE’s Child Safety Organisation is training parents on communicating with children, device controls and age ratings for games and films. Childcare: New Hampshire still faces a childcare shortage, with new programs struggling to fill the gap. Foster Care: 8,700 Kentucky children are reportedly waiting for foster placements, while a Colorado pumpkin patch is offering free visits and pumpkins to foster children and children with special needs. School Wellbeing: Connecticut public-school students can now get free breakfast regardless of family income, a program expected to reach about 500,000 children. Online Protection: Concerns about children’s online safety are drawing support across party lines in the U.S.; Kazakhstan plans to restrict social-media sign-ups for under-16s. Girls’ Safety: UNICEF is urging stronger parenting and child-protection efforts to help end child marriage.

Teen Safety: Common Sense Media’s test of ChatGPT for Teens, using more than 4,000 prompts, found safeguards did not reliably flag self-harm and eating-disorder discussions or direct teens to professional help. OpenAI disputes the watchdog’s assessment. Kazakhstan is also moving to restrict social-media sign-ups for under-16s. Early Years: Rajasthan is piloting a program to link health checks, nutrition, immunization and developmental support for children from birth to age three. Family Support: A new MindSpace group in England will help separated parents navigate co-parenting, legal and financial questions, and children’s emotions. Foster Care: North Yorkshire is seeking more foster carers for 484 children in care, encouraging empty nesters to consider the role. School Meals: A global update says 418 million children now receive meals at school, up 30 million from before the pandemic. Head Start: Advocates warn proposed federal changes could weaken the program and its mental-health support for children.

Child Safety Online: As children turn to AI, advocates warn that lessons from years of delayed social-media safeguards should prompt earlier action. A survey found 81% of parents support new protections agreed by Meta and U.S. states, and want them extended to other platforms. Support for Families: Idaho received nearly $5 million in federal funding for voluntary home visits that support parents and young children, the state’s largest such award to date. Surrogacy Abuse Case: A California couple with 21 children, most born through surrogacy, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit child abuse. Authorities say cameras captured alleged abuse by caregivers and one of the parents. Foster Care: Kentucky reports 8,700 children waiting for foster placements; a separate federal audit says Arkansas mishandled child-abuse allegations. Celebrity Families: Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra announced they are expecting a second child. Ben Affleck says shared custody is why he chooses to work in Los Angeles and stay close to his children.

Parenting & Safety: A cyberattack on Arizona’s court system exposed personal data for 1.3 million people, including 150,000 foster care reports—raising fresh concerns for families navigating child welfare. Child Welfare & Adoption: A documentary filmmaker revisits her own Korean adoption history after discovering falsified documents, identity swaps, and a long search—spotlighting how adoption records can shape a child’s sense of self. Online Risks for Kids: The U.S., China, and EU are charting different paths to regulate AI, with growing focus on security and how children may be protected as AI use expands. Family Life & Boundaries: A parenting piece argues that constant “outside noise” from apps, books, and forums can drown parents’ instincts—encouraging trust in what’s happening at home. Community & Care: Arkansas highlights foster care needs while recognizing an adoption advocate, and a shelter story reminds readers that frightened animals (and kids) often need patience, not pressure. Celeb Parenting: Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra announced they’re expecting their second child, sharing the news with their daughter.