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About Amy Swann

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So far Amy Swann has created 61 blog entries.

The 2016 National KIDS COUNT Data Book: Is Kentucky Top Dog or Rock-bottom?

This week, we co-released with the Annie E. Casey Foundation the national 2016 KIDS COUNT Data Book. We get pretty excited about this release because the Data Book provides the best assessment of how Kentucky’s children and youth are faring in comparison to those across the nation. Let’s face it, we live in a very competitive state – think basketball and horse racing – so we eagerly await the Data Book to see if Kentucky [...]

By |2016-06-21T16:58:16-04:00June 21st, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count|
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Apply Today for the National Juvenile Justice Network’s Youth Justice Leadership Institute

As Kentucky continues implementing the juvenile justice reforms passed in 2014 and seeks to build upon that work with additional policy changes, such as SB 270, it is imperative that the perspectives and input of people of color are sought and incorporated, as youth of color are over-represented throughout our youth justice system. The Youth Justice Leadership Institute is one opportunity to grow emerging advocates of color into strong leaders who can help fulfill that [...]

By |2016-03-22T11:06:38-04:00March 22nd, 2016|Blog, Youth Justice|
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As a Child, Where Did You Want to Be on Christmas Morning?

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Ramadan, I think most of us would say “With family!” when reflecting on where we wanted to be during special holiday moments. The sentiment is no different for children in Kentucky’s child welfare system. Earlier this month we released a new issue brief, Every Kentucky Kid Needs a Family, focused on these children. We highlight the importance of keeping families together whenever possible and placing children who cannot stay with [...]

By |2015-12-14T13:54:00-05:00December 14th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Tens of Thousands of Babies, Children and Youth Not Protected with Clean Air

The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children released an issue brief today on the impact of exposure to secondhand smoke on our state’s youngest residents, and the data is astounding. Clearing the Air for All Kentucky Children points out that thousands of babies and children across the Commonwealth are subject to immense dangers from secondhand smoke, particularly in communities without a strong smoke-free policy. Approximately 69 percent of Kentucky’s children live in a community that does not [...]

By |2015-12-10T10:13:48-05:00December 10th, 2015|Blog, Health|
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Get Ready for the 2015 County Data Book on November 15!

On Sunday, we are releasing the 25th edition of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book. Be sure to return to our website on Sunday to check it out. When you do, here is a checklist you can use to make sure you take full advantage of the 2015 County Data Book. Beginning on Sunday, download your 2015 County Profile at https://kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/kidscount-county-profil/. Give this one-pager to the community leaders and officials in your county along with [...]

By |2015-11-12T11:52:01-05:00November 12th, 2015|Blog, Kids Count|
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A Deeper Look at the National KIDS COUNT Data Book

On Tuesday, we co-released with the Annie E. Casey Foundation the national 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book – considered by many to be the gold standard for measuring child well-being across the nation. Our press release highlights some of the Kentucky data found in the book, and you can view all of the Kentucky data, as well as information showing how each metric has changed since the start of the recession, in Kentucky’s state profile. [...]

By |2015-07-23T12:26:10-04:00July 23rd, 2015|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count|
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Failure to Launch

Back in 2012, we co-released a report with the Annie E. Casey Foundation – Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adults Connections to Opportunity – which looked at the state of disconnected youth (those not enrolled in school or working, even part-time). We found that the number of disconnected youth ages 16-24 in Kentucky had jumped 49 percent from 2000 to 2011. This startling statistic had grave implications for our state’s future success – [...]

By |2015-07-14T11:22:40-04:00July 14th, 2015|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Kids Count|
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Is Your Childhood Address the Key to Moving Up the Income Ladder?

Social mobility is at the heart of the American dream – the belief and hope that through hard work one can move up the economic ladder of success. We know that social mobility has remained relatively stable over the entire second half of the twentieth century, but that’s not necessarily a good thing, because it has been persistently low. For example, 70 percent of people born into the bottom fifth of the income distribution (the [...]

By |2015-06-03T11:26:30-04:00June 3rd, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Volunteering: A Key to Happiness

The very definition of volunteerism is to offer oneself for some service or undertaking, which sounds like the least selfish act possible. However, research has found that when you do good for others, there are plenty of perks in it for you, too. Read the list below to get inspired to lend a helping hand during National Volunteer Week (April 12-18). Ten personal reasons to volunteer: You’ll feel great – When you donate to charity, the [...]

By |2015-04-07T15:01:17-04:00April 7th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Proud to Be an “Upstream” Social Worker

March is National Social Work Month. To celebrate the field of social work and social workers themselves, I want to share with you a parable that illustrates the importance of the profession whose primary mission is “to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” Anyone who has received a degree in [...]

By |2015-03-26T09:48:00-04:00March 26th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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