In Kentucky, there are nearly 1,800 children with a goal of adoption as part of the plans created for them by adults making very tough decisions. Being without a family should not be part of any child’s plan. It is, however, the unfortunate reality for many children in the Commonwealth and across the United States. As we start off the month of November, a month where many make plans for family gatherings to celebrate Thanksgiving, [...]
Children should never be just numbers in a report. Especially when those numbers are about kids who have died or suffered serious injury as a result of abuse or neglect. Every child deserves to be safe from harm, yet the sad reality is that many kids are not. Last week the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) released their annual report on child fatalities and near fatalities due to abuse and neglect. The report looks at several [...]
In September, the nation celebrates grandparents. Grandparents can play several roles in a child’s life, including role model, friend, and caregiver. They do extraordinary things like providing child care as respite for parents and making children feel special in order to support their families. And many grandparents across Kentucky and the nation are doing something grand everyday by stepping up to help raise their grandchildren when the child’s parents are unable. In Kentucky, an estimated [...]
Back-to-school time can mean a lot of changes for students and their younger siblings, parents, and teachers. Even when the change is positive and brings along new opportunities, it can often bring about stress. Below are some ideas to help get you through the transition whether you are a teacher, parent, or a person who loves them. Reducing stress and strengthening relationships keeps kids safe and connects families and their community. Talk to Your Kids Some [...]
Kentucky’s Health Access Nurturing Development Services, HANDS, is a free, voluntary program for moms-to-be and first time parents who would like support and education throughout pregnancy and the first two years of the baby’s life. The HANDS program is provided in every county in Kentucky for first time parents, and in nearly every county for parents who have more than one child. There are several reasons to participate in the HANDS program, and the positive [...]
Did you know? In Kentucky, there are over 8,000 children in out of home care with an average age of 9.8 years old. Nearly 2,000 children have a goal of adoption, with 855 of them are considered eligible for adoption. And of those 855 children, 355 children do not currently have identified families. This information and much more can be found at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services recently updated website. The newly organized [...]
May is National Foster Care month and with that comes the consideration of youth aging out of the foster care system. Too many youth in Kentucky, over 500 a year, age out of the foster care system without stable ties to a caring adult. For youth aging out of the foster care system, there are resources available to provide continued care and stability. Before turning 19, teens in the foster care system may make the [...]
Child abuse and neglect prevention is a topic highlighted in April, but one that must be carried into every month. Long lasting prevention can only happen when several factors come into play, including changing behaviors within the home and community—on the ground—as well as creating commonsense policies that ensure children are protected and families are supported—on a systems level. We know that child abuse prevention starts at home and in our local communities. We can [...]
To help us understand the keys to child abuse prevention, we must understand how to reduce risk factors in families and communities and how to promote protective factors. Many people are familiar with the factors that can increase the risk of child abuse, including substance use, mental health issues, domestic violence, a lack of understanding of child development, social isolation, as well as several others. The other side of the coin that is important to [...]
All children need safe and nurturing caregivers to thrive, but some parents struggle to effectively care for their children. For families at risk of child abuse and neglect, family preservation and diversion services are offered to work with caregivers to alleviate issues in a home and promote a safe environment for the child. Diversion programs are utilized when adolescents are at risk of removal in order to stabilize the family system with the goal of [...]
