FacebookInstagramLinkedInXYouTubeEmail

About Alicia Whatley

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Alicia Whatley has created 57 blog entries.

Bringing Communities Together at The Kids Table

Across the state Kentucky kids are enjoying fall break, trips to the pumpkin patch, and Halloween excitement. At Kentucky Youth Advocates, we’re reflecting on The Kids Table – a series of four Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children regional convenings focused on how kids are faring in each region, state policy solutions, and opportunities for advocates to get involved.  The Kids Table provided an opportunity for community members to convene, learn from each other, and share [...]

By |2026-10-23T13:33:15-04:00October 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
Read More

Growing Up Healthy: How to Keep Your Child’s Immunizations on Schedule

As students across the Commonwealth are heading back to school, August is a great time to prioritize kids learning and staying healthy – and an important way to do that is by ensuring kids stay on track with immunizations as they grow.  August is also recognized as National Immunization Month – an optimal time to check on your child’s immunization status to help keep them and their peers healthy and safe [...]

By |2026-08-14T11:15:11-04:00August 14th, 2026|Blog, Health|
Read More

Celebrating Children’s Dental Health Month

Along with bringing a first glimpse of warmer temperatures, February is also the time to spread awareness about National Children’s Dental Health Month. Every child deserves a healthy smile so they can talk, eat, and learn without pain. In Kentucky, limited access to oral health care creates a barrier for many kids and families to achieve optimal outcomes. Recent data shows that despite high rates of health insurance coverage among Kentucky kids, less than half [...]

By |2026-02-11T11:03:26-05:00February 11th, 2026|Blog, Health|
Read More

What’s Coming Next with the State Budget and How to Take Action

Updated March 20, 2026 With just ten working days to go in the 2026 legislative session, the state budget process is nearing its conclusion. As we detailed in early January, the General Assembly spent a bulk of the legislative time in 2026 crafting a two-year state budget that will be complete before the final gavel on April 15th.  What’s Already Happened? So far, the Governor released his proposed budget during the State of the Commonwealth [...]

By |2026-03-20T15:35:31-04:00February 3rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
Read More

Building Kentucky’s Budget: Implications of Federal Actions and State Taskforces

The 2026 state legislative session is underway and lawmakers have been busy in Frankfort filing more than 350 bills in the first week. Among the bills that remain to be seen is the budget bill that will detail legislative proposals for the state’s next two year operating budget. Originating in the House, this bill will see several rounds of revisions over the next two months before final passage by April 15th.  Governor Beshear kicked off [...]

By |2026-01-14T16:01:59-05:00January 14th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Medicaid|
Read More

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Budget Session and Advocating for Kids

As the interim legislative session winds down and Kentuckians begin settling in for the holidays, the 2026 General Assembly is right around the corner. Like every even year in the Commonwealth, 2026 will bring a long legislative session that includes the passing of a new two-year state budget.  Legislators will return to Frankfort on Tuesday, January 6th to kick off the 60 day session that will charge Kentucky legislators with considering proposed bills and crafting [...]

By |2025-12-17T09:38:25-05:00December 1st, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Youth Justice|
Read More

The State of Youth Vaping and Strategies to Address the Epidemic

Kentucky kids need environments that support their health and wellbeing - a goal that can be supported by policy and budget investments. As the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative continues to explore ways to improve child health outcomes, a recent statement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) highlighted the dangers of youth vaping - an epidemic that continues to impact teens across Kentucky.  This week, in addition to their stated focus [...]

By |2025-11-06T11:52:08-05:00November 6th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|
Read More

From Interim Hearings to the 2026 State Budget: What’s Ahead for Kentucky Kids & Families

As summer winds down in Kentucky, state leaders in Frankfort are already preparing for the 2026 biennial budget session. Shortly after the 2025 legislative session concluded, lawmakers were back in action convening interim joint committees with members of both the House and Senate. The interim legislative session spanning June to December serves as an opportunity for legislators to hear presentations from various state offices on current data and program outcomes, budget requests for the next [...]

By |2025-10-07T16:04:38-04:00September 3rd, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Medicaid|
Read More

The Time Is Now: Investing in Youth Nicotine Prevention and Cessation

August is in full swing, and with it comes the start of a new school year in Kentucky. As in previous years, new trends and persistent concerns among Kentucky kids are making headlines. One issue that continues to raise alarms in schools across the Commonwealth is nicotine dependence among students.  While the conversation around youth nicotine use is not new, the landscape has shifted significantly over the last year. Some recent changes include:   Kentucky [...]

By |2025-08-20T16:46:07-04:00August 20th, 2025|Blog, Health|
Read More

Support the Health of All Kentucky Kids by Ensuring Up-to-Date Childhood Immunizations

As we welcome August, kids and families across the state are gearing up for another school year and a long list of last minute to-dos. Along with school supply shopping and soaking up the last days of summer, back to school is the perfect time to make sure your child is up to date on routine childhood immunizations. August not only welcomes students back to the classroom, it is also recognized as National Immunization Awareness [...]

By |2025-08-06T11:26:36-04:00August 6th, 2025|Blog, Health|
Read More
Go to Top