With a new school year fast-approaching, families and educators are preparing for another first day of class but something outside of education continues to be on their mind – youth vaping. Kids and teens using tobacco products was once thought to be a thing of the past, but the rise of e-cigarettes or vapes has introduced a new generation of young tobacco users dependent on nicotine. Youth vaping – whether a young person uses these [...]
June is National Oral Health Month, an optimal time to recognize the importance of oral health as a key part of overall health and well-being. Kentucky Youth advocates is joining the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) in celebrating throughout the month of June and highlighting opportunities to get involved. KOHC is a project of Kentucky Youth Advocates and is a statewide group of concerned citizens, oral health providers, parents, and many others working to improve [...]
As we continue to reflect on the 2023 legislative session, Kentucky Youth Advocates is recapping an item of particular interest for families across the Commonwealth – the adult Medicaid expansion and Senate Bill 65. How did we get here? In October 2022, Governor Beshear announced an expansion of the dental, vision, and hearing benefits available for adults on Medicaid. This change included several new dental services covered for adults. The additions were largely restorative procedures [...]
As we welcome Spring and warmer weather, we also see the end of a Public Health Emergency (PHE) declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This declaration brought with it several changes to public benefit programs – including Medicaid and the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). One of the biggest changes for those with Medicaid and CHIP coverage was continuous enrollment – this means that for more than 3 years, individuals have [...]
On October 27th, the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity convened to discuss data and disparities among Kentuckians, including a conversation on maternal health. Dr. Edward Miller, the Chief Diversity Officer at U of L Health and a maternal fetal medicine doctor, presented on the state of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related deaths in Kentucky. Dr. Miller highlighted data showing the rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related death in Kentucky, which are disproportionately higher among [...]
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and REACH Evaluation recently released the results of the 2021 Kentucky Incentives for Prevention (KIP) survey, taken by 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th graders in 127 of Kentucky’s 173 school districts. Important note that Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) did not participate in the 2021 survey. The KIP survey is generally given every two years, on even numbered year, however due to the pandemic, the 2020 survey was delayed and administered [...]
We know that maternal health plays a key role in the healthy development of a child at every stage. Mothers need to be healthy, have access to the care and services they need, and have the necessary resources to meet basic needs throughout their pregnancy, birth, and after welcoming a new child. During the last legislative session, we saw steps taken to support mothers and ensure their needs are met. Senate Bill 178 extended [...]
Mental health support and suicide prevention resources are a critical resource for Kentuckians. Children and their families across the Commonwealth struggled with their mental health well before the isolation and other challenges brought forth by the pandemic. Coming in July, a new three-digit number for suicide response and mental health crisis care – 988 – will be available across the Commonwealth, and nationwide. July 2022 marks the shift of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [...]
As we look forward to all the fun summer activities in June, we are celebrating Oral Health Month and highlighting the importance of treating the whole person with the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition, a project of Kentucky Youth Advocates. Caring for our oral health means more than simply brushing and flossing your teeth – an important part! It also means caring for your entire mouth, including your gums, by getting regular check-ups and screenings, and [...]
All children, especially those living in low-income and vulnerable families, need access to affordable health care. Having health insurance means children are able to access critical preventive and ongoing care needed to stay healthy. It means that kids can visit the doctor, dentist, eye doctor, and mental health professionals to support their healthy development. A parent’s health—and health insurance status—affects the health and well-being of other family members, especially their children. When parents are insured, they [...]
