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About Alicia Whatley

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So far Alicia Whatley has created 56 blog entries.

June is Oral Health Month: Building Awareness of Positive Oral Health Habits and Outcomes  

As Kentuckians across the state welcome warmer weather and summer break, KYA is also taking time to celebrate Oral Health Month throughout June. Oral Health Month is a time to recognize the importance of oral health and build awareness of positive oral health habits and outcomes.    This means not only engaging in positive oral health behaviors like daily brushing and flossing, and regularly visiting a dentist, but also understanding trends and advocating for policies that [...]

By |2025-06-16T16:29:50-04:00June 16th, 2025|Blog, Health|
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The Impact of Proposed Medicaid Changes on Kentucky Families

This is part of Kentucky Youth Advocates’ series on the federal landscape and the impacts on Kentucky children and families.  As we near warmer summer days and the end of another school year in the Commonwealth, our federal delegates are busy in Washington DC narrowing in on a budget reconciliation package. In other words - Congress is nearing the end of its process to develop a federal budget for the next year and outline spending [...]

By |2025-05-15T13:37:57-04:00May 15th, 2025|Blog, Economic Security, Health, Medicaid|
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Kentucky Won Big Against JUUL – but What Happens Now?

Kentucky kids need safe and healthy communities to grow up, free from harmful products like nicotine and tobacco. But for decades, tobacco manufacturers have found ways to evolve their products and marketing strategies to appeal to youth at a young age and keep them hooked.   Despite youth smoking rates declining over the past decade, current use rates remain a concern – with Kentucky youth using nicotine and tobacco at a higher rate than the national [...]

By |2024-10-16T17:36:06-04:00October 16th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|
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Intersection of Vaping and Opioid Use

Despite concerted efforts to address underage tobacco and nicotine use and advocacy to increase funding for prevention and cessation programs, vaping continues to be a major concern throughout Kentucky schools and communities.   Research has long-proven the negative health impacts that tobacco and nicotine use has while using and for years to come – costing both individuals and health care systems millions of dollars over the lifetime of a smoker. Youth who vape also experience negative [...]

By |2024-07-17T12:31:54-04:00July 17th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Health|
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KYGA24: Prioritizing Maternal Health

Among the topics that were a focus area for legislators in 2024 is maternal health – both the troubling outcomes for mothers across the Commonwealth and tangible steps we can take to address these issues. Following SB 135 of 2023 which targeted maternal depression, and an administrative change that ensures mothers on Medicaid are covered for 12 months postpartum, the 2024 General Assembly focused on additional ways to keep moms and babies healthy. HB 10, [...]

By |2024-05-08T08:43:20-04:00May 8th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|
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KYGA24: An Overview of Efforts to End Youth Vaping

As the dust settles from the 2024 General Assembly, several topics continue to grab headlines including the action surrounding youth vaping. The bills passed this session certainly brought this issue to the forefront but left more questions than answers about the impact for youth in Kentucky.   What did Kentucky Youth Advocates prioritize on youth vaping in 2024?   As we continue to see the negative impacts of nicotine products on young people and increased concern among [...]

By |2024-04-24T13:44:04-04:00April 24th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|
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Vaping in Kentucky: Protecting Youth Health Through T-21 Enforcement

In part by Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  In recent years, the prevalence of youth vaping in Kentucky has surged, becoming a pressing issue for our youth that not only jeopardizes physical health but also poses significant risks to mental well-being. Nicotine use has been proven to amplify feelings of anxiety and depression. Students who use tobacco products (including e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco) are more likely to have lower grades. Young [...]

By |2024-03-05T13:13:29-05:00March 5th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Youth Voice: “My first encounter with vaping took place over five years ago in the 6th grade.”

The Kentucky 2024 General Assembly is well underway and legislators from around the state are considering a number of policy proposals that impact kids and families. As KYA monitors action in Frankfort, we also look to Kentucky youth to hear the issues they want to see prioritized by our state decisionmakers. A common message among young people in Kentucky – do something about the overwhelming youth access to vapes and nicotine products. Keep reading to [...]

By |2024-02-01T10:42:08-05:00February 1st, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|
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Youth Voice: “Help enforce the existing ‘Tobacco 21′ law to keep these products out of kids’ hands”

As young Kentuckians continue to advocate for meaningful enforcement of Tobacco-21 law and find ways to keep vaping products out of the hands of kids, students are using their voices to speak out on the issue. Sydney Shaffer testifying at the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations. Sydney Shaffer, a student from Scott County, shared her experience in a recent Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations  committee meeting. She shared with [...]

By |2023-11-07T17:04:28-05:00November 7th, 2023|Blog, Education, Health|
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Update on Adult Medicaid Dental Benefits

How did we get here?   Throughout 2023, Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition have monitored the adult Medicaid dental benefit expansion, summarizing the progression of this issue:   October 2022 – Governor Beshear announces expanded dental benefits for adults on Medicaid including restorative treatment like fillings, crowns, implants, and dentures to begin in 2023.  January 2023 – The Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) files emergency regulations to begin offering these [...]

By |2023-08-10T17:06:49-04:00August 10th, 2023|Blog, Health|
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