Well it happened. After months of warning and endless debate on Capitol Hill, it happened. Across the board cuts, known as sequestration, went into effect over the weekend. While it is still too soon to tell exactly how the cuts will impact children, families and the agencies who serve them throughout the state – it is clear there will be an impact, possibly with devastating effects. Here are just a few examples of how Kentucky [...]
The following post first appeared in A Better Life, a blog for the Courier-Journal about the aftermath of the recession. http://youtu.be/WIndJDVCPAY In Tuesday’s State of the Union address, child and poverty advocates across the country had their wishes granted – to hear the President discuss poverty issues, and children’s issues. (Gun control advocates and climate change advocates got their wish too – as did many other advocates). While in reality, the SOTU is little more than “political [...]
The following post first appeared in A Better Life, a blog for the Courier-Journal about the aftermath of the recession. Something exciting about one solution to poverty cited - a state Earned Income Tax Credit received broad support on the show from experts across the political aisle. Dr. Eric Schansberg, an economics professor at Indiana University-Southeast and member of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Board of Scholars in particular, believes it’s a great way to [...]
After a national election devoid of much discussion of poverty in America - let alone child poverty - The Children's Leadership Council worked with Spark Action to produce a video highlighting what issues children and young adults care about. The video features the voices of young people, ages 5 to 25, discussing the issues they hope the President and Congress will address in the next four years to ensure all kids can grow up [...]
Please tune in tonight, Monday, January 14 to show your support for Smoke-Free Kentucky! See below for information on how to call in or send an email message during the broadcast. Passing a statewide, comprehensive smoke-free law is a 2013 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priority. View the Blueprint Smoke-free fact sheet here. Scheduled guests are: - State Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington - State Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Danville - Dr. Shawn Jones, past president of the Kentucky Medical Association - [...]
The 2012 County Data Book released last week paints a picture of the path that Kentucky students follow starting from birth to the transition to adulthood based on educational outcomes at each of those stages. This is the 22nd annual release of the County Data Book, part of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project. The KIDS COUNT project monitors progress for Kentucky’s one million children on over 100 measures of child well-being, including health, safety, economic well-being, and [...]
Happy New Year! Welcome back to many of you who took time off for holidays and vacations. Beginning a new year often means making (and breaking) resolutions. The 2013 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children outlines nine policy priorities that can serve as resolutions for improving the lives of kids throughout Kentucky. Take a look at the list of priorities – and when making your own resolutions this year, consider how you can make a difference in the lives [...]
Our nation is facing an urgent challenge. If Congress does not reach a debt-reduction deal by January 1, 2013, sequestration automatically kicks in. “Sequestration” is an across-the-board cut to most federal programs, including significant cuts to K-12 and early education. As the deadline for reaching an agreement on our nation’s financial direction looms, let’s take a look at how children might be affected by the decisions. For Kentucky, the impact is huge. If Congress fails to extend [...]
The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform’s final report came out Monday. The Commission’s final recommendations include enacting a state Earned Income Tax Credit. Enacting a state EITC is a proven method to get and keep parents working and raises children out of poverty. The Commissioners had a serious charge – to think about what is best for all of Kentucky now and in the future. This includes ensuring a fair, competitive, adequate system. [...]
The following post first appeared in A Better Life, a blog for the Courier-Journal about the aftermath of the recession. Over the weekend, New York Times Columnist Nick Kristof caused a bit of a stir with his column “Profiting From a Child’s Illiteracy.” Kristof argues that some families in poverty – specifically families in Breathitt County in eastern Kentucky – keep their children illiterate to ensure they receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is troubling, but [...]
