Hundreds of child advocates from across Kentucky were in Frankfort on the opening day of the special legislative session on August 19 for the Fund Kids First Rally.
The rally came after the state ended its fiscal year with a $70.6 million surplus and put some of the surplus into the rainy day fund. This occurred after the Governor implemented deep cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program.
Child advocates used this opportunity to let state legislators and the Governor know that “Budget cuts = Rainy days for kids” and it’s time to “Fund Kids First” in the next two year budget, including restored funding to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program.
Couldn’t attend the Rally? You can still TAKE ACTION!
1. Contact state leaders. Let them know that “Budget cuts = Rainy days for Kids” and it’s time to “Fund Kids First.”
Contact Governor Beshear at 502-564-2611 or email him here. You can also print this form and mail it to the Governor
Contact Senate President Stivers at 502-564-3120 or robert.stivers@lrc.ky.gov.
Contact House Speaker Stumbo at 502-564-3366 or email him here.
Contact your state legsislators here. If you don’t know who your state legislators are, click here to find out.
You can also print this form and mail it to President Stivers, Speaker Stumbo and your state legislators.
Asks:
- Restore funding to the Child Care Assistance Program and Kinship Care Program.
- Build a state budget that gives every child the best opportunity to thrive in childhood and succeed as an adult.
2. Engage in a virtual Fund Kids First rally via Facebook and Twitter.
Change your Facebook photo to this photo. You should be able to save the photo to your computer and then upload as your cover photo.
Use the hastag #fundkidsfirst and tweet @kyyouth.
Sample tweets:
- @kyyouth: budgetcuts = rainy days for kids. It’s time for the Governor and state legislators to #fundkidsfirst.
- @kyyouth: Child care and kinship care cuts are hurting KY families. It’s time to #fundkidsfirst & build a state budget that supports kids.
- @kyyouth: Child care cuts are causing some parents to have to quit work. We need to keep parents working & #fundkidsfirst.
- @kyyouth: Kinship care keeps families together & helps kids recover faster from abuse/neglect. Stop cuts to kinship care & #fundkidsfirst.
- @kyyouth: State leaders need to build a budget that gives every child the opportunity to thrive in childhood. #fundkidsfirst
Why take away from these programs that help those parents and children who are less fortunate than you ,I thought we had a few decent caring people looking out for the children of Kentucky but looks like I was mistaken ,turn around and make it right so parents can be able to work or go to school and not have to worry about who is taking care of their children. they will remember this on election day.
I did attend the rally for “Rainy days for Kids”. It is a shame that it has come to this. I have a childcare center and I have a single mom with one child and she makes $7.50 per hr. and working 40 hours a week she makes too much money to qualify for help with the new guidelines. There is no way she can raise a child and provide for her child without the help of this program, where does that leave her and the child. With these cuts you are going to see a rise in unemployment, because people will not have any other choice but to quit work and stay home with their child. I thought we want to make people sufficient, not knock them down. Our children should come first and we need to rethink this whole thing.
I am a retired Army SFC. My wife and I are trying to get prepared for retirement. We are now unable to do that. My daughter, who lives on her own with 3 kids has lost the little bit of Day Care she received. My wife and I now contribute $320 a month to help my daughter stay independant. During their campaign stumps, I hear from politicians how important their constituents are and how they care so much! Not so, I think. All politicians seem to care about are their pockets, their contributors, and their re-election campaigns.
I understand that people need to be responsible and take care of themselves and their families, but assistance is needed, by those who are working hard to make a better life for their themselves and their children!
$70.6 million dollar surplus. Were there NO OTHER programs that the Governor could cut? Child Care Assistance? Seriously? What was he thinking? The only thing that’s going to happen here are many young mothers and fathers that are going to have to quit their jobs, just to stay home with their children, thus increasing the unemployment rate in our state and the outgo of even more welfare monies.
And just exactly is the “Rainy Day Fund” anyway? Is it for a crisis (like maybe funding of Child Care Assistance), or is it maybe some extra money to be used to fund pet projects of our Legislators? A crisis like this and $70.6 million sitting in a Rainy Day Fund. I say the immediate re-funding of our Child Care Assistance is Rainy Day enough!
I believe that the Politicians in Frankfort need to truly take the needs of their constituents to heart and STOP playing politics NOW! Re-fund this important program now.