By Partners of the Kosair Charities® Face It® Movement We live in a world – and state and community – divided. Issues seem to be long on division and short on common ground. And yet, even within this context, certain issues ring out as a moral mandate for us all. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and as the month begins, it is altogether fitting to claim preventing tragedies for our children as a [...]
By Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States When Emilee’s nine-month old son is restless or crying, he hears a familiar song. “Who built the ark? Noah did.” Noah likes to hear his name, so he usually smiles and calms down. That an adorable baby boy enjoys hearing a song with his name in it might not be so unusual. What makes this familiar song special is that it is often sung [...]
By Cortney Downs, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern What happens when children are exposed to potentially traumatizing events in their homes, schools, and communities? A growing body of research shows that exposure during the formative years can impact the trajectory of a child’s physical and emotional health well into adulthood. In a continued effort to raise awareness and encourage action, Child Trends recently released a report on the findings of the latest National Survey of Children’s Health specific [...]
By Carli Mosby, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern At the moment, our lawmakers are working hard to craft and pass a two-year state budget that would fund the state Cabinets that provide child protection, education, and health services. Governor Matt Bevin released his proposed budget during the State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address, and the Kentucky House passed their version of the executive branch budget earlier this month. The Kentucky Senate is now working on [...]
By Clarissa Mobley, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern Kentucky holds the second highest rate of incarceration for women in the nation, and second highest rate of children who have had a parent incarcerated. This problem has been growing at a significant rate and it’s not a statistic we want to see an increase in because of its’ impact on Kentucky’s children and families. Senate Bill 133, championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and co-sponsored by Senators [...]
We know that youth in Kentucky are key to creating positive change for kids, and their leadership galvanizes other youth, parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators. In the Kentucky Youth Speak Up series, students advocate for policies, encourage other youth to serve their communities, promote strategies for student success, and motivate all of us to build the best commonwealth for Kentucky kids. By Karena Cash Last year, I had the opportunity to tutor a young girl in foster [...]
Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates released a new Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children issue brief, Minimizing the Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children, which shows three out of every five inmates in state custody have children, impacting approximately 32,700 Kentucky kids. The brief highlights the prevalence of parental incarceration in Kentucky, the impact it has on children, and the criminal justice policy changes that could hold parents accountable for their actions in ways that allow them to [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org (o) 502-895-8167 *122 (c) 859-496-5524 JEFFERSONTOWN, KY – A new Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children issue brief released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, Minimizing the Impact of Parental Incarceration on Children, shows three out of every five inmates in state custody have children, impacting approximately 32,700 Kentucky kids. The brief highlights the prevalence of parental incarceration in Kentucky, the impact it has on children, and the criminal justice policy changes that could hold parents [...]
By Cortney Downs, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern February is National Children’s Dental Health Month! What started as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio in 1941 has evolved into a month-long celebration! This year’s slogan is “Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth for a healthy smile." Did you know that not flossing causes you to miss cleaning 40% of your tooth surfaces? Or that poor dental health can negatively impact children’s [...]
At the 14th Annual Children's Advocacy Day rally on January 18th, Cynthia Schepers, a college student from Jefferson County and a member of the First Lady’s Youth Leadership Council, shared her story with hundreds of advocates in the Capitol Rotunda. Read her story below or watch her speech as part of the rally on our Facebook page. Welcome to the 2018 Rally for Children’s Advocacy Day! My name is Cynthia Schepers, I am 22 years [...]
