Immigrant & Refugee
Kentucky is the ninth fastest growing state for the foreign-born population. Children in immigrant families comprise approximately five percent of the state’s total child population and growing. There is currently a lack of research, data and voice to give context to immigrant and refugee families’ experiences in the Commonwealth.
The term “children in immigrant families” includes:
- Foreign-born children, regardless of immigration or refugee status;
- Adopted foreign-born children; and
- U.S.- born citizen children of foreign-born parent(s).
Recent Work
Kentucky Youth Advocates is conducting research to establish baseline data in terms of immigration patterns, emerging needs and policy implications for Kentucky.
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Language Access Services in Health Care Still Lacking in Kentucky
A basic requirement of high quality health care is the ability for health care professionals and their patients to be able to understand and communicate with each other. Despite federal law which requires health care providers to offer language access services to individuals who are learning English, many providers fall short, according to a report released today.
Executive Summary (pdf) | Executive Summary (Spanish)
Press Release (pdf) | Press Release (Spanish)
WIth support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2008, KYA presented a series of four issue briefs focusing on barriers that face children in immigrant families
The first statewide portrait of children in immigrant families. The study offers a glimpse into the unique challenges, opportunities, and experiences that families in Kentucky face in regards to health care access, education, and community integration.
Report | Executive Summary | Executive Summary (Spanish) Press Release | Press Release (Spanish)
With the support of a Louisville Metro Office of Youth Development grant, KYA engaged twelve immigrant youth in Louisville in a youth voices project. See Photos.
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