Patricia Tennen, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

An Investment in Child Care is an Investment in Stable Families and a Strong Workforce

An Investment in Child Care is an Investment in Stable Families and a Strong Workforce

Kayla and her daughter RaeLynn. Recently, parents, providers, and employers came to Frankfort to testify before the House Budget Review Subcommittee about the importance of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and ask them to increase funding for the program in this year’s state budget proposal. The high cost of child care is a major barrier for low-income parents. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, 71 percent of non-working, low-income parents with [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2018-04-03T10:39:52+00:00 March 13th, 2018|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

Going Back to School with Kentucky Kids

Going Back to School with Kentucky Kids

There was some serious excitement in my house last week, as my youngest daughter began kindergarten. The day before her first day, we went into school to deliver her bag of school supplies – crayons, markers, scissors, notebooks, and glue sticks. We visited her new classroom and found her spot at the table with her name and met her new teacher. We hung her first-day-of-school outfit in her closet and got her new Shopkins backpack [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2017-08-23T19:56:42+00:00 August 23rd, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

How Does Kentucky Measure Up on Key Child Care Policies?

How Does Kentucky Measure Up on Key Child Care Policies?

A new report examining statewide child care policies recognizes Kentucky as one of 31 states that has improved on key policies, yet finds that too many families nationwide are not receiving the help they need to thrive. The need for a better child care infrastructure to support working families is drawing attention from both presidential candidates, and there’s good reason. Simply put, child care helps children, families, and communities prosper. High quality child care gives [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2016-10-26T11:10:15+00:00 October 26th, 2016|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

Improvements to the Child Care Assistance Program Go into Effect Today

Improvements to the Child Care Assistance Program Go into Effect Today

Good news! Several family-friendly improvements that will increase access to child care go into effect September 1, 2016. 1. More families are now eligible for child care assistance. Thanks to Governor Bevin and the Kentucky General Assembly, income limits for child care assistance are increasing to 160 percent of the current federal poverty level, up from 150 percent of the 2011 federal poverty level. This means that a family of 4 making up to $38,880 will [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2016-09-01T09:33:51+00:00 September 1st, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Kinship Care in Kentucky Featured on KET Connections

Kinship Care in Kentucky Featured on KET Connections

Kentucky has one of the highest rates in the nation of children being raised by grandparents and other relatives, also known as kinship care. Research tells us that this is the best option for children who cannot stay safely with their parents. Yet kinship care poses unique financial, emotional, and legal challenges. This Friday, KET’s Renee Shaw will explore the challenges facing kinship caregivers in Kentucky as part of her Connections series. She tells the [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2015-08-27T11:35:56+00:00 August 27th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

New Infographic Shows How We Can Better Support Kinship Families

New Infographic Shows How We Can Better Support Kinship Families

As we near the end of National Foster Care Month, it is fitting to recognize the grandparents and other relatives who are raising children in Kentucky. Research shows that when children cannot remain safely with their parents, they are better off with family. Yet, we also know that kinship care poses lots of challenges, and these families need our support. Today, the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky, which is coordinated by Kentucky Youth Advocates, releases [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2015-05-28T09:11:47+00:00 May 28th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Kids Count|

New SNAP Benefits “Plant the Seeds” for a Healthier Kentucky

New SNAP Benefits “Plant the Seeds” for a Healthier Kentucky

On the first warm weekend in March, my husband enlisted our daughters to help him prepare our vegetable garden beds and plant the first seeds – carrots, lettuce, kale, and swiss chard. Already, the green seedlings have sprouted and we are well on our way to some delicious home grown veggies. Later this summer, we will relish the vision of our daughters pulling the full grown carrots out of the garden with the beautiful green [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2015-04-23T10:41:36+00:00 April 23rd, 2015|Blog, Economic Security, Health|

Speak Up in Support of Home Visiting on March 3rd Day of Action

Speak Up in Support of Home Visiting on March 3rd Day of Action

Home visiting is one of the most successful ways to help support parents in the tough job of parenting. Kentucky’s voluntary home visiting programs are supported with federal funding through the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV). This funding is set to expire March 31, 2015, putting home visiting programs at risk of not being able to serve families in need. Please join us in a national Home Visiting Day of Action on Tuesday, March [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2015-02-27T10:49:03+00:00 February 27th, 2015|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Takeaways from Kentucky’s New Kindergarten Readiness Scores

Takeaways from Kentucky’s New Kindergarten Readiness Scores

Last week, Governor Beshear announced the results of the Brigance Kindergarten Readiness Screener, which showed that 50 percent of incoming Kindergarteners entered school prepared to learn last fall. That’s a slight improvement from last year’s result of 49 percent and suggests good news for the Commonwealth. We hope this means we are moving in the right direction. Why does it matter? Kindergarten readiness scores are a great tool to help answer the question of how [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2015-01-28T11:43:00+00:00 January 28th, 2015|Blog, Education, Kids Count|

Governor Beshear Delivers on Promise to Restore Child Care Assistance

Governor Beshear Delivers on Promise to Restore Child Care Assistance

Children in Kentucky saw an amazing win this past April when Governor Beshear and state legislators restored funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in the 2015-2016 state budget which begins on July 1. Since the legislative session ended, parents, providers and advocates have anxiously awaited the details of how the restored funding will roll out. Last Friday we got those details. Governor Beshear announced he will increase the eligibility for child care assistance for Fiscal Year 2015 to 140 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and open up the program on August [...]

By Patricia Tennen| 2014-06-26T06:25:37+00:00 June 26th, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

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About Patricia Tennen