When it comes to March Madness, I think I am an expert. I look at every rating system known to mankind. I compare offensive and defensive efficiencies of each team. I analyze the relative strength of every conference. And the result? Well, all four granddaughters beat me (and the two youngest are only three years old!) but I did edge out my four year old grandson in our family bracketology contest! When it comes to [...]
Which of these are more likely to happen: Mitch McConnell donning his best tux for the private screening of Ashley Judd’s new movie; John Calapari sporting his new gear celebrating the Cards’ smashing NCAA championship run; or Senior officials from the Kentucky Department of Education and the Jefferson County Schools agreeing with Kentucky Youth Advocates on alternative programs? Until a couple of weeks ago, I actually thought the first two scenarios were more likely! On [...]
There is a swirl of speculation about the topic. Is the Governor going to call a special session, and – if so – what will be on “the call?” Or what are the priorities emerging at this very moment in Cabinet-level planning for the 2014-16 budget? Any talk about budgets offers us both hope and worry. Will it spotlight the very real need for fundamental and systemic changes in the state’s tax and budget structures [...]
Last Friday, Governor Beshear vetoed HB 5, a bill that was intended to address issues of prompt payment to health care providers by Kentucky’s managed care companies, but he released an alternative plan to address both individual and systematic problems with managed care. In November 2011, Kentucky moved to a statewide managed care system for Medicaid, the program that provides health insurance to low-income children and parents, pregnant women and people with disabilities. You can read [...]
To view Part I of this post, click here. My birthday is December 25. That makes birthday traditions and Christmas customs mingle together a bit. But one birthday tradition leaps out. It arrives every December in a large Styrofoam box packed with lots of dry ice. And at the bottom of that crate sit – like precious jewels – artisan made bratwursts! When my wife and one of our good friends were on a trip [...]
It was some eight years ago when Kentucky Youth Advocates’ point person on our case advocacy program brought me information indicating that “something troubling” was happening in alternative programs in Kentucky. The more we probed the “state of the state’s alternative programs,” the more I became convinced we just couldn’t be getting an accurate picture. Were alternative programs really as far behind as they appeared in meeting students’ needs? It turned out we weren’t exactly [...]
Today marks the final step in placing a panel to review child abuse deaths in Kentucky statute. Governor Beshear signed HB 290 today and we commend him for taking this important step. We reiterate our thanks to Representative Burch and Representative Wayne for championing this bill through the House and Senator Denton for strengthening the bill in the Senate. We also thank the many representatives and senators who supported this bill which will help identify [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed on March 14 in the Herald Leader. Find it online here. The Governor's Office of Early Childhood released for the first time early childhood profiles on a county-by-county basis. It was a report filled with good news, bad news and irony. First of all, this is a tool that can help communities and schools assess progress and make plans to help youngsters entering kindergarten. We were happy to [...]
Today marks a significant step forward in protecting children from dying due to abuse or neglect in Kentucky. HB 290, which puts into law a panel to review child abuse deaths, passed out of the General Assembly today and now heads to the Governor for his signature. The child fatality review panel will help us learn from our mistakes and improve practices in the child welfare system to prevent future child abuse deaths. It will help [...]
The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood released for the first time Early Childhood Profiles on a county-by-county basis. This tool can help communities and schools assess progress and make plans to help youngsters entering kindergarten. We were happy to see that KIDS COUNT data, which we track and report annually, proved useful for these profiles. And the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood is to be commended for this effort. That is the good news. The bad [...]
