Kids Can’t Wait: Federal Nutrition Needs

As families across Kentucky are preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, schools are preparing for how they are going to feed kids next summer and school year. With 1 in 6 Kentucky kids experiencing hunger, the in-school and summer meals schools serve are more important than ever. However, without Congress taking quick action to extend federal COVID-19 era programs and waivers, many schools will not be able to continue operating these programs and many Kentucky families will [...]

By |2022-11-21T15:47:40-05:00November 21st, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Youth Voices in the 2022 KIDS COUNT County Data Book Release

Each year, the Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book allows readers and leaders to investigate areas in which Kentucky and its counties are making progress and areas needing focused attention for improvement. The publication highlights data in four domains of child well-being in Kentucky: economic security, education, health, and family and community. As we look ahead to the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly and Governor’s race, Kentucky Youth Advocates invited young people from across the Commonwealth to [...]

2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Data Trends and Kentucky Kids’ Ideas for a Brighter Future in the Commonwealth

2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Data Trends and Kentucky Kids’ Ideas for a Brighter Future in the Commonwealth Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child well-being Louisville, KY – For optimal well-being, children need thriving communities that support strong families, good health, protection from harm, economic security, and a high-quality education. The 2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book features the latest data on 16 measures of [...]

Mark Your Calendar, Advocates!

The 2023 Kentucky General Assembly is right around the corner, and we have a lot in store over the next few months as we get ready to advocate for Kentucky kids! Check out these upcoming opportunities to get involved: November 16th 2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Check out the latest county-level data at kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/ View the launch event, featuring remarks from Lt. Governor Coleman and youth from across Kentucky December 7th A lookahead [...]

A Look at Disparities in Maternal Mortality Rates

On October 27th, the Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity convened to discuss data and disparities among Kentuckians, including a conversation on maternal health. Dr. Edward Miller, the Chief Diversity Officer at U of L Health and a maternal fetal medicine doctor, presented on the state of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related deaths in Kentucky. Dr. Miller highlighted data showing the rates of maternal mortality and pregnancy-related death in Kentucky, which are disproportionately higher among [...]

By |2022-11-07T15:13:54-05:00November 7th, 2022|Blog, Health, Race Equity|

Making Kids Count in the Louisville Mayoral Race

Kentucky Youth Advocates is committed to making the needs of children front and center each and every election season. While kids cannot vote, each of us can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections. Across the Commonwealth this November, Kentuckians will cast their ballot in the races for the full Kentucky House of Representatives and half of the Kentucky Senate, mayoral and other local government [...]

An Update from Journey to Success Kentucky

In 2020, 688 youth transitioned out of the Kentucky foster care system. We know that youth who have spent time in foster care face a particularly steep climb on the road to adulthood due to adverse experiences during their early years. Despite important federal reforms in child welfare, many young people continue to face significant barriers to opportunities to succeed in school, work, and community life.  Journey to Success is a federal policy advocacy campaign [...]

Updates from the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission

Updated December 6, 2022 During their November meeting, the Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission released their new meeting schedule for the first six months of the upcoming 2023 calendar year. The new dates are as follows: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 ​Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Tuesday, April 11, 2023 Tuesday, May 9, 2023 ​Tuesday, June 13, 2023 Commission meetings will continue to be held at 1 P.M. ET at Capital Complex East, 1024 [...]

By |2022-12-09T08:46:42-05:00October 17th, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, Justice|

Understanding the Impacts of Free School Meals

This week is National School Lunch Week, which recognizes the importance of the National School Lunch Program. In Fiscal Year 2019, the National School Lunch Program served almost 82 million meals to approximately 515,000 Kentucky students.  With over 1 in 6 Kentucky kids being food insecure, many Kentucky students rely on the meals served through this program to ensure they have consistent access to food. Research further shows that Kentucky students rely on school meals [...]

By |2022-10-12T16:20:15-04:00October 12th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Health Youth Ambassadors: 2022 Onboarding Retreat

In September, 13 high school students from around the Commonwealth came together in Bowling Green, KY for the first time as the new 2022-2023 Health Youth Ambassadors cohort!  The Health Youth Ambassadors (HYA) program is a statewide cohort that engages youth to learn about advocacy and policy, address social determinants of health through policy change, and advocate for themselves and their peers on health-related issues. The new HYAs met for a two-day immersive policy [...]

By |2023-01-25T15:29:08-05:00October 12th, 2022|Blog, Health, Kids Count|
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