health

Establishing a healthy lifestyle in childhood and adolescence is our fourth gateway to a life of opportunity. Kids who develop healthy habits early are more likely to enjoy good health throughout their adult lives and into their senior years than kids who develop unhealthy habits.

Those who enjoy sound physical and mental health or are able to get adequate treatment when they need it are likely to be more productive, advance faster in their careers, earn higher incomes and enjoy a better quality of life throughout their adult years.

A transcript of the Bell's "Voices of Opportunity" event of March 13, 2007, featuring the Honorable Bill Ritter Jr., Governor of Colorado, including a question-and-answer session and comments by Bell Chairman Penfield Tate III and Bell President Wade Buchanan.

Articles: Gov. Owens takes final action on 2006 bills, Two reports on high school graduation rates, Need for more alternative schools, Funding for higher education hit 25-year low in 2005, Raising the skill levels of low-wage workers pays off, Student debt may deter college grads from public service careers, Kitzhaber discusses ideas for universal health coverage, Economic security threatened by gaps in health insurance coverage . . .

Articles: Coming next week: Bell Policy Center???s Blueprint for Opportunity, Colorado children without private insurance are more likely to die after hospitalization, Effectiveness of No Child Left Behind act difficult to determine, Teen obesity depends on neighborhood support. . .

Articles: Implementing Colorado???s new immigration laws tricky for Western Slope officials, Bell Action Network hosts online Voter???s Guide to the 2006 ballot, Self-affirming writing exercise may help close student achievement gap, Report identifies 10 reasons ???Why Small Works in Public Schools,??? National report finds persistent racial gaps in educational attainment, Colorado flunks higher education affordability. . .

Articles: New Colorado citizenship law tough on low-income citizens, costly, The Opportunity Agenda and what was NOT on the ???06 ballot, Wanted: Highly qualified teachers, CCHE approves new financial aid policy, State Health Care Reform Commission begins work, Citizens??? Health Care Working Group recommends access to health care for all Americans, Health insurance premiums rise at twice the rate of inflation, New Colorado minimum wage, What is the best way to promote financial literacy?

Articles: State of teaching in Colorado and widening ???teacher gap,??? Report cards size up Colorado public schools, JBC higher ed hearing weighs increased spending, Hank Brown describes CU???s fiscal challenges, Gov.-elect Ritter announces expansion of Health Care Reform Commission, Health insurance costs rise five times as fast as wages, Colorado Health Institute releases new reports, Changes at the Bell: Adrian Miller joins Ritter administration

Articles: Pregnant moms quit smoking, Better medical care prevents pregnancy-related deaths, The 65 Percent Solution, CCHE requests $8.7 million in need-based aid, Increase in state funding for colleges, Low-income adults get smaller share of job training benefits, Insurance companies shed high-risk customers, Race and income affect health care, Colorado economy to add jobs, Indexing minimum wage to inflation, Companies freeze pensions

Articles: Legislature works on health care system, Are kids ready for school?, ID developmental delays early for school readiness, High quality child care: costly but valuable, Initiative aimed at success for Latino students, Colorado poll: education drives economic growth, NCSL surveys state investments in higher ed, Bell's White Papers hit the press, Fewer employers offer health insurance, Minimum wage hits new low, Recovery leaves average workers behind