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About Karena Cash

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So far Karena Cash has created 38 blog entries.

KIDS COUNT Data Center – How Kids are Faring in My County

Every year, Kentucky Youth Advocates releases county-level data on child well-being as part of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project. This data helps communities understand who they are, where bright spots and opportunities are, and how to best direct resources.  While many people are familiar with the 16 indicators included on the KIDS COUNT County Data Dashboard, KYA also analyzes and publishes approximately 75 county-level data points related to child well-being on the Annie E. Casey [...]

By |2025-09-11T14:59:19-04:00September 11th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The State of Child Labor in Kentucky

Entering the labor force young has its benefits. Having a job as a teen (ages 16-18) can predict higher quality jobs and higher wages in adulthood. Quality work experience at a young age can improve physical and mental health in the long term, as well as reduce the likelihood that a youth will interact with the criminal justice system.  However, youth only benefit from employment when they are working in safe, age-appropriate environments. In Kentucky [...]

By |2024-07-11T13:42:11-04:00July 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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KYGA24: Addressing the Impact of Evictions on Kids

Evictions have a major impact on the safety and stability of Kentucky kids, often forcing families to move away from systems of support and into housing insecurity. However, a new report from Louisville’s Center for Health Equity shows that the impact of evictions goes much deeper than stability, also impacting the health of children and families. Evictions are both common and impact families of color more than other groups. Over 16,000 evictions were filed just [...]

By |2024-06-12T10:14:20-04:00June 12th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|
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Slam Dunks for Child Nutrition

If you asked most Kentuckians what March is about, you would probably hear something along the lines of basketball or winning their March Madness bracket. However, there is a lesser-known reason to celebrate in March: National Nutrition Month.  Access to healthy foods is essential for a child to learn, grow, and thrive, yet almost one in six Kentucky kids are experiencing hunger. Many of these children rely on meals served through government programs, such as [...]

By |2024-03-11T11:33:29-04:00March 11th, 2024|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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A Look at SB 34 and Potential Impact on Kentucky Families

Pregnancy and early childhood is considered a special time in life. However, any new parent will tell you it is also an expensive time. The cost of giving birth, caring for a new child, and child care can often be more than new parents make.  To address the financial challenges that new parents face, Senator Whitney Westerfield introduced Senate Bill 34. This legislation contains a multitude of provisions that provide for the basic health and [...]

By |2024-01-18T12:30:32-05:00January 18th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|
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WIC Participants: We Want to Hear from You!

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women’s, Infant, and Children (WIC) provides vital support for the food and nutrition security of pregnant women, new moms, babies, and young children by providing food assistance via an EBT card, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. However, we know the program only reaches every three out of five families that are eligible.   To better understand how this program operates in the Commonwealth, Kentucky Youth Advocates and our WIC CIAO [...]

By |2024-07-17T11:44:24-04:00November 16th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|
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A Look at the Impact of Evictions on Young Children

Kentucky kids and families need a safe, stable home in order to thrive. However, the rising cost and declining supply of housing has made it difficult for 43% of Kentucky renters to find safe, stable housing. For many of these families, a job loss or medical emergency could put them at risk for eviction, seriously impacting their long term economic, food, and housing security. Evictions have long been viewed as an adult problem, but new [...]

By |2023-11-02T14:38:39-04:00November 2nd, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Race Equity|
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SNAP Update to Support Youth Aged-Out of Foster Care

Young adults often need a lot of extra support as they transition into adulthood, with many young adults relying on their family or another trusted adult for that support.   However, approximately 650 youth across Kentucky age out of the foster care system every year without permanent family connections. Youth who have aged out of foster care often struggle to meet their basic needs, such as food and housing, with 21% of former Kentucky foster youth [...]

By |2023-08-31T16:49:02-04:00August 31st, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|
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Supporting Afterschool Care Supports Students, Families, and Providers

It is back to school season here in Kentucky! Kids all across the Commonwealth are preparing for another year of learning and reconnecting with friends. At the same time, back to school has left many working parents across Kentucky wondering the same thing: where is my kid going to go until I get off work?  Almost 1,500 organizations across Kentucky address this by providing afterschool care for school-age children. These afterschool programs provide kids with [...]

By |2023-08-30T15:27:55-04:00August 30th, 2023|Blog, Economic Security, Education|
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Federal Farm Bill: What It Means for Kids and How to Take Action

Congress has until September 30th to pass one of the largest pieces of federal legislation - the 2023 Farm Bill. This massive piece of legislation has a major impact on the lives of virtually every Kentucky kid and family, covering everything from food assistance programs to farmers markets and crop insurance to hemp. While the Farm Bill covers everything related to food and agriculture, the largest portion of the Bill covers federal nutrition programs, such [...]

By |2023-07-20T12:55:26-04:00July 20th, 2023|Blog, Economic Security, Health|
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