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About Tara Grieshop-Goodwin

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So far Tara Grieshop-Goodwin has created 65 blog entries.

Juvenile Code Task Force Making Progress on Recommendations

After months of thorough analysis and testimony about the youth justice system in Kentucky, the Juvenile Code Task Force started getting down to the business of identifying possible recommendations this week. The members discussed a number of options to make Kentucky's system work better for kids and for public safety. One of the major strategies was keeping youth from getting involved with the formal court system in the first place if possible. Task Force members [...]

By |2013-11-07T15:58:50-05:00November 7th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
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Fiscal Responsibility + Best Outcomes for Kids = Increased Public Safety

Money can drive decisions. Last week, the Juvenile Code Task Force heard from two states about how they've shifted money to remove the unintended financial incentives of youth being sent to state-run detention facilities. While the logistics in our state will be different, Kentucky could also benefit from creating financial incentives for serving youth in their communities instead of locking them up. Ohio created the program RECLAIM Ohio because they knew research supported keeping youth [...]

By |2013-10-08T15:36:23-04:00October 8th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Youth Justice|
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Exciting Announcement Holds Promise for Youth Justice Reform

At the beginning of 2013, much of the talk in Frankfort was about the new bipartisan tone in the General Assembly and how long it would last. It appears to be sticking around, and it’s good for Kentucky kids. Beyond a bipartisan tone, the co-chairs of the Juvenile Code Task Force have exemplified effective, bipartisan leadership for children. Last week, Senator Whitney Westerfield and Representative John Tilley, co-chairs of the Task Force announced that they [...]

By |2013-08-29T14:05:34-04:00August 29th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
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Positive signs from Washington, DC: Let’s translate that to action for children

A couple Kentucky Youth Advocates staff , including myself, had the opportunity to meet with members of Kentucky’s federal delegation last week while in Washington, DC for conferences. The visits came on the same day national partners released exciting new polling numbers showing broad support among voters for Congress to take action to increase investments in early childhood education to give young children a strong start. The new polling data made for good conversations with members [...]

By |2013-08-06T15:00:17-04:00August 6th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Youth Justice|
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Doing what works in youth justice

The Unified Juvenile Code Task Force spent much of last year gathering information and hearing about research and best practices for the juvenile justice field. If last week’s meeting is any indication, that groundwork is going to start paying off. You can hear the collective knowledge of members reflected in the discussions. Schools play a large role in the juvenile justice system as a substantial number of charges to young people come from schools – [...]

By |2013-07-11T15:47:53-04:00July 11th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
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Juvenile Code Task Force leaders jump in to finding solutions

The beginning of summer often means a slowing of pace – schools let out for summer break, summer vacations bring added challenge to meeting scheduling, and the long days keep kids and parents out late in summer activities. While the summer pace may be taking hold throughout Kentucky, the Unified Juvenile Code Task Force met for the first time last week and showed no signs of adapting a leisurely pace. Under the guidance of co-chairs [...]

By |2013-06-12T14:03:48-04:00June 12th, 2013|Blog, Youth Justice|
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Court Ruling Protects Model that Brings Health Services to Where Kids Are

The court ruling this week in Franklin Circuit Court signals progress on an issue that put in danger a successful model of providing health services to children at school. A Medicaid managed care company – Kentucky Spirit – had argued that they did not need to reimburse local health departments for services provided at schools to children who have Medicaid. Though Kentucky Spirit may still appeal, the court ruled that they need to adhere to [...]

By |2013-05-30T13:35:08-04:00May 30th, 2013|Blog, Health|
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Important Bills for Children Passed this Week: It’s Time for Thank Yous

The legislative session began winding to a close this week, and Tuesday marked two significant wins for Kentucky children. Two policy items identified by child advocates as priorities for the 2013 session on the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children won final passage by the legislature and are on their way to the Governor for his signature. On Tuesday, the legislature passed HB 3 - a bill to address human trafficking and ensure child victims of trafficking [...]

By |2013-03-14T12:11:41-04:00March 14th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Youth Incarceration on the Decline: Kentucky Still Confining Too Many Youth for Behaviors that Aren’t a Risk to Public Safety

The national rate of locking up young people in trouble with the law dropped by more than 40 percent over a 15-year period, with no decreases in public safety, according to a new report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation today. The KIDS COUNT Data Snapshot indicates that the number of young people in correctional facilities in the United States on a single day fell to 70,792 in 2010, from a high of 107,637 [...]

By |2013-02-27T12:46:33-05:00February 27th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Youth Justice|
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It’s Time to Clear the Air

 Last month I asked my children to draw a poster to submit for Children's Advocacy Day on what they thought would make Kentucky a better place to be a kid. My 5-year-old child and I talked about some different ideas, but my 7-year-old son jumped right in to drawing. He had his idea and set to work. A picture emerged of a pizza restaurant with a no smoking sign on the front door. When I [...]

By |2013-02-12T13:50:30-05:00February 12th, 2013|Blog, Health|
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