Accessibility links
Rachel Jones Rachel Jones reports on education, social policy, and welfare reform issues at NPR. She has also covered children’s health and development, as well as well as racial disparities in health care.
Stories By

Rachel Jones

Thursday

Children's Health

Some Children Don't Outgrow Sting Allergies

Some children who have allergic reactions to insect stings don't outgrow them as adults, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds. The study suggests that venom immunotherapy may be the key to protecting these children long after treatment stops. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Some Children Don't Outgrow Sting Allergies

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/3847604/3847605" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Health Care

Racial Disparity Found in Health Care

New research on racial disparities in health care shows a dramatic difference in the quality of care received by black Medicare patients versus white patients. The study also attempts to identify the reasons for the inequity. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Racial Disparity Found in Health Care

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/3816901/3816902" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Children's Health

Blood Pressure Tests for Children Urged

Children as young as 3 years old may need to be tested for high blood pressure, the journal Pediatrics says. The August issue recommends screening for hypertension in young children -- in part as a response to the childhood obesity epidemic. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Blood Pressure Tests for Children Urged

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/3809469/3809470" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Thursday

Health

Report: One in Six U.S. Teens Likely to Fail as Adults

A new report indicates one in six older teens and young adults lacks the skills to take on adult responsibilities, has little family or community support and is not likely to succeed as an adult. Advocates often call these young people "disconnected," and some say their situation has taken a back seat to the needs of younger children. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Report: One in Six U.S. Teens Likely to Fail as Adults

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1952538/1952539" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Science

Study: Poor Readers Can Improve Brain Function

Proper tutoring for a child who's struggling to read can change the way the brain works, a Yale University study finds. Published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, the study examined tutoring that focuses on the sounds of letters and words. After one school year, brain scans showed lasting changes in the children. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Study: Poor Readers Can Improve Brain Function

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1872098/1872099" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Sunday

Science

Report: Jump for Healthy Bones

A new study suggests that exercise, particularly vigorous jumping, can help children build bone mass. Researchers say the regimen is especially necessary for females, who in later years often suffer from osteoporosis and bone fractures. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Report: Jump for Healthy Bones

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1573811/1573812" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Friday

Science

Breastfeeding Campaign Questioned

A new advertising campaign designed by the Department of Health and Human Services encourages women to breastfeed infants. It also warns of the potential health risks of not breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics questions some of the campaign's health risk claims and scare tactics. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Breastfeeding Campaign Questioned

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1571641/1571642" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Science

Study: Echinacea Doesn't Treat Kids' Colds

A new study suggests that the popular herbal supplement echinacea doesn't help children get over their colds more quickly. Many people use echinacea in the belief that it boosts the immune system. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Study: Echinacea Doesn't Treat Kids' Colds

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1530425/1530426" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday

National

Lawmakers Take Hard Look at N.J. Child Welfare System

At a hearing on adoption, the House Ways and Means Committee takes a hard look at New Jersey's child welfare system. A New Jersey family has been accused of starving their four adopted sons. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Lawmakers Take Hard Look at N.J. Child Welfare System

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1498511/1498512" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday

All Things Considered

Kit Offers Better Testing to Protect Peanut Allergics

The FDA approves kits that food processors can use to check for peanuts in their products. Because some consumers are dangerously allergic, processors need to be sure that they have cleaned all traces of peanuts from their machinery before using it on products that will be sold as peanut-free. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Kit Offers Better Testing to Protect Peanut Allergics

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1492135/1492136" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday

Science

Florida Case Puts Focus on End-of-Life Decisions

The legal battle over the care of Florida's Terri Schiavo puts new focus on the rights of severely injured patients -- and on the plight of families faced with a decision on ending life support. Most states have legal tools for end-of-life medical decisions, but most people aren't using them. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Florida Case Puts Focus on End-of-Life Decisions

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1478797/1479135" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday

Science

New Birth Control Pill Raises Ethical Concerns

Earlier this month, the FDA approved Seasonale, a new oral contraceptive that allows women to reduce their monthly cycles to just four times a year. Some say Seasonale is merely another option for preventing pregnancy. But others warn about the ethical implications and potential risks of suppressing menstruation. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

New Birth Control Pill Raises Ethical Concerns

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1450206/1450207" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday

All Things Considered

Study: Childhood Cancer Leaves Mark on Adult Survivors

Adults who have survived a childhood cancer treatment may face a greater risk of physical and emotional complications, according to research in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. Though survivors often report long-term emotional and physical after-effects of treatment, the researchers also found great resiliency among many of the childhood cancer patients. NPR's Rachel Jones reports.

Study: Childhood Cancer Leaves Mark on Adult Survivors

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1440434/1440435" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday

Science

Studies Question Herbal Supplement Safety

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests the popular herbal supplement St. John's Wort may do some harm because it interferes with prescription medications. A second study finds that most Web sites selling herbal supplements make unsupported health claims about their products. Hear NPR's Rachel Jones.

Studies Question Herbal Supplement Safety

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1433144/1433145" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Science

Study: Moderate Exercise as Effective as Intense Workout

Moderate physical activity is about as effective as higher-intensity workouts when it comes to losing weight, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds. The report says diet and duration of exercise, rather than intensity, are the keys to shedding pounds. Hear NPR's Rachel Jones.

Study: Moderate Exercise as Effective as Intense Workout

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1426766/1426767" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">