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About Andrew Alvey

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So far Andrew Alvey has created 18 blog entries.

Child Support Dollars Should Support Kentucky’s Kids

Child support dollars owed by a non-custodial parent are intended to help families meet the everyday costs of raising children, including groceries, clothing, housing, school supplies, and other basic needs. But for some of Kentucky’s lowest-income families, child support being paid on behalf of a child may never reach the family caring for them. On October 1st, members of the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary heard testimony about Kentucky’s current child support “cost recovery” [...]

By |2026-10-08T15:09:57-04:00October 8th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Respite for Kinship Caregivers: Providing a Break, Ensuring Stability

Last week, Tatum Abel, a foster and kinship lived experience advocate and former True Up Peer Network member, spoke before the Kentucky General Assembly’s Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children about the importance of expanding access to respite care for kinship caregivers. We are grateful to Committee Co-Chair Rep. Samara Heavrin for inviting Tatum to share her lived experience and ideas for strengthening support for kinship families. When children cannot safely remain [...]

By |2026-09-24T17:05:45-04:00September 24th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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After a Two-Year Delay, Kinship Caregivers Gain More Time to Consider Their Options

When a child cannot safely remain with their parents, relatives and close family friends often step forward with little notice to provide a safe and familiar home. During an already stressful time, caregivers are also asked to quickly decide whether to pursue approval as a foster parent or accept temporary custody. This decision can have a large impact on the financial assistance, services, and other supports available to the family for months and [...]

By |2026-08-07T12:48:35-04:00August 7th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Progress Takes Persistence: Continuing the Push for Quality Child Welfare Legal Representation

During the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly, advocates, attorneys, judges, individuals with lived experience, and policymakers continued an important conversation: How can Kentucky strengthen legal representation for the children and families involved in child welfare cases? This conversation led to meaningful amplification of an important issue, even if the related bills did not reach the finish line this session.  Why Legal Representation Matters? Quality legal representation is vital in [...]

By |2026-07-02T12:52:16-04:00July 2nd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Digging Into Nontraditional Placements and Impact on Children in Foster Care

Through State Auditor Allison Ball’s office, the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman recently released a new report examining Kentucky’s use of nontraditional placements (NTPs) for children in foster care. The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet Office of the Inspector General released a separate report that provides additional context on the use of nontraditional placements and reinforces the challenges related to placement instability and gaps in the placement continuum.  Nontraditional placements occur when a child in [...]

By |2026-03-23T10:52:49-04:00March 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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A Federal Spotlight on Foster Youth and What it Could Mean for Kentucky

Last month, the Trump administration released an Executive Order titled Fostering the Future for American Children and Families at a press conference with the President and First Lady, signaling that current foster youth and young people aging out of care are an important issue for the administration, and the First Lady in particular.  When announcing the order, the administration discussed and acknowledged the long-standing challenges within the foster care system, particularly for youth who transition [...]

By |2025-12-18T13:30:20-05:00December 18th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Boost Foster Youth Safety and Independence with State IDs

Youth aging out of foster care face countless challenges, from finding stable housing and employment to navigating health care and higher education on their own. Many leave care without the same supports and safety nets that their peers rely on, making the transition to adulthood especially difficult. One challenge that youth in Kentucky should not face is aging out of foster care without state identification or other essential documents.  Under Kentucky's Foster Care Bill of [...]

By |2025-10-30T14:24:05-04:00October 30th, 2025|Blog|
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Regional Prevention Collaboratives Respond to Kentucky’s Child Care Needs

When you ask families in Kentucky what they need most, reliable child care frequently sits at the top of the list. Long waitlists, high costs, and the absence of providers make it harder for parents to work and for children to thrive in safe, supportive environments. These challenges not only strain family stability but can also increase risk of unnecessary involvement with the child welfare system when stress and unmet needs escalate. Recognizing this, Regional [...]

By |2025-08-28T11:22:16-04:00August 28th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Protecting Kentucky’s Kids in Schools: Accountability and Commonsense Practices Still Needed

Every parent, caregiver, and community member expects schools to be a safe place for children to learn and grow. Yet, across Kentucky, we continue to hear stories of students being harmed by those entrusted with their education. Too often these cases of educator sexual misconduct are met with delayed action, quiet dismissals, or a lack of accountability. This leaves students vulnerable and families without answers. Representative Tipton has filed legislation to address this issue for [...]

By |2025-08-11T16:45:26-04:00August 7th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|
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988 Turns Three: Why This Lifeline Still Needs Support

This is part of Kentucky Youth Advocates’ series on the federal landscape and the impacts on Kentucky children and families.  On July 16, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline celebrates its third anniversary since launching as a shorter, easier-to-remember number. Since 2022, the line has become a vital support for people experiencing a mental health crisis, providing someone to talk to at any time through phone, text, or chat. The effectiveness of the line has [...]

By |2025-07-16T13:29:30-04:00July 16th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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