DENVER -- As Congress considers making significant investments in the nation's child-care system, children's advocates say now is the time to make nature-based, high-quality outdoor learning available for all children in Colorado, regardless of their ZIP code.

Sarah Konradi, director of the Early Childhood Health Outdoors (ECHO) program for the National Wildlife Federation, said kids need regular access to spaces where they can play, run and climb.

"We also want them to be able to explore, to imagine, to pretend, to create," Konradi outlined. "And so that may look like a little digging area in the shade of a tree, where they can explore worms and bugs."

ECHO has published new recommendations, calling for broadening investments in playgrounds to include outdoor extensions of the classroom; areas where kids create rules for new games, learn how to work together to build pirate ships, and other activities that help boost cognitive learning and social skills in natural settings.

Konradi pointed out child-care providers also see benefits from outdoor learning environments. Instead of monitoring recess on a traditional playground, educators can engage with kids as they explore winding pathways, plant pollinator gardens and create "mud kitchens."

Konradi noted building outdoor learning spaces does not necessarily require a lot of money or effort.

"Changes that we are advocating for can be extremely cost-effective; they can be done very incrementally," Konradi explained. "This doesn't have to be an extreme playground makeover to be successful."

When children get to spend a part of their day in natural settings, Konradi added, there is also an opportunity to pause, and take a deep breath.

"And spaces where children can just observe, contemplate," Konradi stated. "And with nature around us, we know that as adults going out into those kinds of environments is very restorative, and it can be for children as well."

Some same-sex couples who are looking to adopt may feel intimidated or concerned about their prospects. But adoption experts say that doesn't need to be the case.

An estimated 2 million LGBTQ families nationwide are interested in adoption, and those couples are four times more likely to adopt than heterosexual couples.

Saara McEachnie, director of domestic adoption programs with the Barker Adoption Foundation, said she connects with gay couples that hesitate when making the decision to adopt.

McEachnie said everyone should manage their expectations during the adoption process.

She explained that birth parents or older adoptees can express their preferences, but that doesn't usually rule out same-sex parents.

"Families are usually worried or anxious, that there really is no place or space for adoption for a same-sex couple," said McEachnie. "And while it is true that the wait could be longer, it is very much possible, and we have successfully done same-sex adoptions from all of our programs."

In 2014, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe sent a notice the Virginia Department of Social Services recognizing the right for same-sex couples to legally adopt.

For those considering international adoption, four countries allow same-sex couples to adopt children. Those are Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and South Africa.

McEachnie said same-sex couples provide affirming homes that positively impact children.

"We have found that when children can enter affirming homes, they are all the better for it - whether this is a child who is exploring their own identity or not," said McEachnie. "Being in an affirming home, period, is helpful."

She encouraged same-sex couples looking to adopt to find support groups for families in their community.

Those types of connections and support, McEachnie explained, are vital in the adoption process.

A new study from Wayne State University finds that therapy dogs may be just what the doctor ordered for kids experiencing anxiety in the emergency room.

Research shows around 15% of children need medication or physical restraint just to get through treatment in the ER, adding to an already stressful situation for them and their parents.

The study included 80 kids ages 5 to 17, who received standard child-life therapy - but half of the kids also spent about 10 minutes with a therapy dog team.

Dr. Jeffrey Kline, lead researcher and WSU School of Medicine emergency medicine professor & associate chair of research, said there was an almost 50% reduction in anxiety among the kids who interacted with the therapy dogs.

"The dogs worked as well as say, for example, a drug like valium - but with no drug," said Kline. "And also the kids that received the therapy dog, plus handler, generally required fewer behavioral controlled medications."

Researchers measured anxiety using face charts and saliva tests for cortisol, a stress hormone. They took readings before the dog visit, 45 minutes after, and again two hours later.

More than half of the kids who did not see a therapy dog needed medication to calm their anxiety. However, in the group that spent time with a dog, only about a third needed those drugs.

Dr. Kline said there's clear evidence that therapy dogs help in the ER, and he said he believes it's time to adopt the practice.

"Emergency departments that have access to therapy dogs should be incorporating them routinely," said Kline. "The one down side is dogs need to sleep - you know they don't work all day, they work for about two hours. But, if available, I think emergency departments, especially children's EDs should be using them."

Dr. Kline said there are more than 50,000 therapy dogs in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes across the country - helping comfort people of all ages, from pediatrics to geriatrics.

May is National Foster Care Month, and Kentucky youth aging out of the system continue to experience high levels of housing instability and joblessness.

Tatum Abel, coordinator for True Up Kentucky and former foster youth, said she became homeless after she turned 18 and was unaware of the resources available to help her transition into adulthood. She says she struggled with the basics of navigating life, including having a photo I-D.

"And now that we're seeing an increase of young adults aging out without vital documents to gain employment or access resources, they're just left to fall under the rug of the system, and it's devastating," she explained.

Last year, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., signed Senate Bill 151 into law, which aims to close the gaps in accessing additional financial support for kinship caregivers, but the lack of funding has stalled implementation. Earlier this month Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball filed a lawsuit over the delay.

Shannon Moody, chief policy and strategy officer with Kentucky Youth Advocates, explained that aging out of foster care without being connected to a trusted adult puts young people at risk.

"They have less access to job opportunities and are less likely to be employed, and they also have higher rates of experiencing homelessness or interactions with the criminal justice system," she explained.

Abel added that policymakers could create IDs for young people as soon as they enter foster care, to ensure they have the documents needed to drive or get a job years later.


"Giving those kids a photo ID with their information that can be linked to a Digital Backpack that keeps all of their information updated and connects them with a caseworker if that ID or that child is found," she continued.

According to 2023 data from Kentucky Youth Advocates among 21-year-olds who have experienced foster care in Kentucky, 63% reported having stable housing, 64% reported secure employment, and 16% reported college enrollment.