On track for impact? A new tool for measuring progress and the impact of opioid abatement funds for kids and families. Kentucky Youth Advocates has launched a new component to the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families, the Kentucky Opioid Data: Change Over Time Progress Report. On more than 20 key measures, community leaders can now see how their county and Area Development District’s data is changing over [...]
Local opioid settlement funds, which are available and distributed to every county and many cities around Kentucky, hold great opportunity for healing and recovery. Alongside the possibilities for local communities comes great responsibility to use the funds wisely. This is especially important as these funds come as a result of the opioid epidemic which took the lives of many Kentuckians and harmed many more. As county leaders make decisions about how to invest, all localities [...]
Each new year, people across Kentucky join in the time-honored tradition of reflecting on the year past and thinking ahead to goals for the upcoming year. With many years of goals to think back on, one takeaway is clear – I’m more likely to achieve that goal if I have a plan in place for how to do it. In the past, when I set a goal to run the Kentucky Derby half marathon at [...]
In the region of Kentucky where I grew up – the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky – communication is woven into the fabric of communities. The annual Swappin’ Meetin’ held each Fall at Southeast Community and Technical College would showcase that communication through storytelling, songs, and the many conversations of neighbors and friends. While the stories and songs will be saved for our beloved community gatherings, we want to hear from our Appalachian communities [...]
A trip to the Kentucky Science Center with children is like leveling up on curiosity and innovation. My nephews’ favorite part is usually the water table. It’s fascinating to watch how they look at the pipes and water spouts, devise a plan in their brain, then start working to implement what they want to have happen. The joy on their faces is priceless when they figure out their goal - like how to get [...]
Nothing quite matches the pride of a new grandparent or auntie showing pictures of a new baby. At a meeting, at the grocery store, or after church, they are quick to pull out their phones and share a few pictures of the new bundle of joy. This year, I’ve been that auntie, showing off my sweet niece who was born this past Winter, when I’m catching up with friends. As much as we care for [...]
by Tara Grieshop-Goodwin The air conditioning unit at our house recently went out - at the peak of some of our hottest days of the summer. We had an older unit that our HVAC service person had been able to keep running with fixes and repairs for many years (even decades) past when most units last. But eventually the damage was too great for repair and we had a big expense to cover. We debated [...]
Last week, Kentucky Youth Advocates hosted a webinar about the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families and how it can be used as a tool for informing the use of opioid settlement funds. KYA staff members were joined by Lauren Carr, Opioid Settlement Advisor with the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo), a partner in making information available to communities as they invest the funds from the opioid settlement. The opioid settlement funds, which [...]
The saying, “what gets measured gets changed,” has long been a cornerstone of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project, which has reported county-level data on critical measures of child well-being for more than 35 years. As Kentucky faces an unprecedented opportunity to address the opioid epidemic through Opioid Settlement funds, we can prevent future generations from suffering the impacts. Kentucky Youth Advocates released new data this month on the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families [...]
Throughout Kentucky, families and communities have felt the impact of the opioid epidemic. For too many families, the impacts have hit very close to home and loved ones have been lost. While we can’t take away those losses that families have experienced, Kentucky has a tremendous opportunity in the wake of the crisis to heal with communities stronger than they were before. Managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, the opioid settlement means that [...]
