Paul Colwell, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Child Poverty Patterns among Kentucky Counties: A Brief Glimpse of American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Over Time

Child Poverty Patterns among Kentucky Counties: A Brief Glimpse of American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Over Time

Patterns emerge all the time around us, whether watching the beautiful display of a spider spin its web in a meticulous, lattice-like fashion or the furiously fast movement of a hummingbird’s wings as nectar is consumed in a moment of time. Bottom line, if we are not paying attention then we just may miss a chance to bring to light what is happening. One pattern that caught my eye recently was a U.S. Census [...]

By Paul Colwell|2026-03-30T13:15:12-04:00March 30th, 2026|Blog, Economic Security, Kids Count|

November 4th is Nigh!

November 4th is Nigh!

November mornings in Kentucky are as divisive as a UK/UL basketball game. On one day, as dawn breaks and the sun glistens effortlessly across the dew soaked bluegrass, you are reminded of the subtle beauty of life’s simple pleasures. Meanwhile, on the very next day, as the crisp air whirls dead leaves amidst a dense dreary haze, you instantly regret leaving the comforts of a warm bed. Regardless of what type of morning it is [...]

By Paul Colwell|2014-10-30T11:46:52-04:00October 30th, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

KIDS COUNT Data Point of the Month: Collected Child Support

KIDS COUNT Data Point of the Month: Collected Child Support

All children need basic necessities, such as food and clothing, and child support payments provide a critical means for custodial parents to meet these needs. Child support payments are an important resource for many families and contribute to family self-sufficiency and economic stability. For many low-income families headed by a single parent, these payments serve as a survival tool to make ends meet. Research strongly suggests that child support improves numerous aspects of child well-being. [...]

By Paul Colwell|2014-05-28T18:51:42-04:00May 28th, 2014|Blog, Economic Security|

Shutting Down Government is Shutting Down Kids

Shutting Down Government is Shutting Down Kids

For many Kentuckians, Tuesday, October 1st, 2013 was just another day, but not for me. It was the day that I realized that the shutdown of the federal government would limit my ability to fulfill the primary role of my job – utilizing timely data to advocate for Kentucky’s children. At Kentucky Youth Advocates, we champion the idea that data-based policymaking and decision-making is vital in making sure every child in Kentucky is given an [...]

By Paul Colwell|2013-10-09T13:20:00-04:00October 9th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Supplemental Poverty Measure Shows that Federal Benefits are Critical to Children

As we recover from an election cycle where candidates spent $6 billion and prepare for an upcoming holiday season where we will spend an estimated $586 billion, a new report released by the U.S. Census Bureau – The Research Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2011 reminds us all that nearly 50 million people live in poverty across the richest nation on earth. The supplemental poverty measure (SPM) takes into account essential expenditures like clothing, food, shelter and [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-11-15T09:46:07-05:00November 15th, 2012|Blog, Economic Security|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Breastfeeding Initiation

In addition to the 2012 Summer Olympics, the world has another reason to celebrate this week – World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7). Breastfeeding provides the best and most natural nutrition for infants and is associated with many positive outcomes for both baby and mother. In fact, breastfed babies have fewer ear and respiratory infections, are at less risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and score higher on cognitive development tests than non-breastfed babies. Women who [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-08-01T12:51:39-04:00August 1st, 2012|Blog, Health|

New County-Level Asthma Data Available on the KIDS COUNT Data Center

Updated data on asthma hospitalizations for children in Kentucky has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. This chronic illness, which is the most common among children in the United States, not only negatively impacts a child’s physical, but emotional and psychological development as well. The number of child inpatient hospitalizations due to asthma has declined in Kentucky from 7,087 in 2000-2002 to 6,837 in 2009-2011. During those same timeframes, the rate has decreased [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-06-20T13:36:38-04:00June 20th, 2012|Blog, Health|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Children Enrolled in KCHIP and Medicaid

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) have been instrumental in reducing the number of uninsured children over the last decade, despite a decline in employer-sponsored insurance and two recessions. Statewide from 2000 to 2010, the average monthly number of children enrolled in Medicaid grew by 52 percent (over 136,000 children) and for the Kentucky CHIP (KCHIP) by 45 percent (over 20,000 children). During that same time period, 87.5 percent of Kentucky counties experienced [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-06-06T11:02:32-04:00June 6th, 2012|Blog, Health|

New County-Level Housing Affordability Data Available on the KIDS COUNT Data Center

New housing data has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center, including the percent of renters unable to afford Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit and the hourly wage a renter would need to earn so that no more than 30 percent of their income goes toward housing costs for a 2-bedroom unit. These new data reflect the growing need for safe and affordable rental housing for families, which has been exacerbated by [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-05-16T13:50:31-04:00May 16th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Teen Births

All newborns need a strong start in life, and fare best when their mothers are healthy and have a strong social support network, sufficient financial resources, and access to education. Yet, many teen mothers lack these critical fundamentals. Babies of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely, have a low-weight birth, experience health problems and developmental delays, and die before their first birthday. These children are also more likely to struggle academically, drop [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-05-08T09:29:43-04:00May 8th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|

About Paul Colwell