Foster System Particularly Hard For LGBT Youth
LGBT foster youth were twice as likely as straight youth to report being treated poorly by the foster system, and more than three times as likely to have been hospitalized for emotional reasons.
Capital Public Radio:
Out Of The Closet, Onto The Street: Foster System A 'Pathway To Homelessness' For LGBT Youth
Half of all foster youth who age out of the system statewide end up homeless or incarcerated. Advocates say that number is probably higher for LGBT kids, who are less likely to find a permanent home, more frequently abused while in foster care, and more likely to run away from foster families. (Caiola, 10/2)
In other public health news —
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
With Flu Season About To Start, Health Officials Advise Early Vaccinations
Flu season is here and local health officials say it’s a good time to get vaccinated against an illness that’s a temporary annoyance for most, but can be deadly for seniors, infants and those with compromised immune systems. Official flu surveillance begins this month and local health care providers have already begun reporting a “tiny trickle” of flu activity in recent weeks. But health officials say North Coast residents should get vaccinated against the flu sooner rather than later. (Espinoza, 10/2)
Modesto Bee:
Man Dies From West Nile Virus In Stanislaus County
A 74-year-old man has died from the West Nile virus, Stanislaus County health officials announced Monday morning. ...The news comes less than a week after a human services professor at Modesto Junior College died following a prolonged battle with complications from West Nile. (Ahumada, 10/2)