This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the intersection of incarceration, substance abuse, and parenting--including new data about mothers who are incarcerated and state policy changes that would allow parents to be held accountable while remaining connected to their child. Panelists included Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States, and Chaly Downs, graduate of VOA's Freedom House Women's Addiction Recovery Program. View slides from the presentation. Check out the [...]

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the 2021 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children state policy priorities, which seeks to address child health, safety, education, families' economic security, and more. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers also joins the forum for a look ahead to the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly. As the commonwealth works to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and address systemic racism, the Blueprint speaks with a common voice to [...]

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we continue our discussion on data and policy solutions from the new 2020 KIDS COUNT County Data Book, including the theme of this year’s book — the impact of the “dual pandemics” of COVID-19 and racial injustice. A special thanks to state Senator Julie Raque Adams, Majority Caucus Chair, and state Representative Angie Hatton, Minority Whip, for sharing their takeaways from the data and a look ahead to the 2021 General Assembly. [...]