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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
All newborn babies need to start life healthy to ensure proper growth and development. Unfortunately, some babies face increased risk for health and developmental challenges due to being born at a low birthweight (weighing less than 5 lbs. 8 oz.). Serious health problems for low birthweight babies can include developmental and intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and vision and hearing loss. Sadly, low birthweight babies are 25 times more likely than those born at normal weights [...]
