Sacramento Schools Address Mental Health Crisis | CA Children’s Rights Report Card | Sacramento Ballet Kicks Off 68th Season

Sacramento schools try to address the mental health crisis. An international human rights organization report suggests California and the United States are failing to protect children's rights. Sacramento Ballet kicks off its 68th season.

Addressing the mental health crisis

The pandemic revealed and exacerbated a mental health crisis among youth nationwide. In Sacramento, the public health department, in tandem with school districts, is responding to an overwhelming number of students needing support. That need falls disproportionately on the most vulnerable youth, including students of color. The county is investing in mental health resources on campuses, but the pace is struggling to meet the demand. CapRadio’s Sacramento Education Reporter Srishti Prabha has been following the county’s progress and learning one solution is leaning on community organizations to fill the gap and, most importantly, listening to those living through these challenges — Youth.

California children's rights report card

The United States has a lot of work to do regarding children's rights; according to the "Human Rights Watch," an international non-profit that reports every state, including California, is falling behind international standards when judged on four metrics. Child marriage, child labor, juvenile incarceration, and corporal punishment. According to the "scorecard," almost all states received a grade of "D" or "F," including our state, which received a "D" overall. And no states received a grade of "A" or "B." To top it off, the United States, as a whole, is an outlier in adopting international standards to protect children when compared to nearly 200 other countries. Helping to understand better why and hear some solutions to improve children's rights in California is Elizabeth Calvin, Senior Advocate of Human Rights Watch's "Children's Division," and Dr. Elizabeth Barnert, a professor of pediatrics at UCLA and a juvenile justice policy advisor at the state legislature and Congress.

Sacramento Ballet kicks off 68th season

For nearly 70 years, Sacramento Ballet has drawn upwards of 80,000 attendees each season. The upcoming 68th season kicks off this weekend with its “Beer and Ballet” series, which partners with Bike Dog Brewing and local food trucks outdoors. But this year also includes a brand-new addition-- an inaugural second company. Sacramento Ballet Artistic and Executive Director Anthony Krutzkamp gets Insight up to speed on the season and shares details about the second ballet company.