Health

New County-Level Housing Affordability Data Available on the KIDS COUNT Data Center

New housing data has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center, including the percent of renters unable to afford Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit and the hourly wage a renter would need to earn so that no more than 30 percent of their income goes toward housing costs for a 2-bedroom unit. These new data reflect the growing need for safe and affordable rental housing for families, which has been exacerbated by [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-05-16T13:50:31-04:00May 16th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Opportunities for Physical Activity Abound with Shared-Use

New Study Shows Kentucky Schools and Community Agencies often Collaborate to Share Facilities Jeffersontown, KY – Schools across Kentucky have opened their facilities to their communities during non-school hours for many years, allowing people of all ages to use their gymnasiums, tracks, cafeterias, and athletic fields for recreation. This practice, known as “shared-use,” not only saves cost, it deepens school and community connections and expands opportunities for physical activity. According to a new study, Sharing School [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2012-05-09T09:02:56-04:00May 9th, 2012|Blog, Health|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Teen Births

All newborns need a strong start in life, and fare best when their mothers are healthy and have a strong social support network, sufficient financial resources, and access to education. Yet, many teen mothers lack these critical fundamentals. Babies of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely, have a low-weight birth, experience health problems and developmental delays, and die before their first birthday. These children are also more likely to struggle academically, drop [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-05-08T09:29:43-04:00May 8th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|

New oral health coalition expected to spur changes in state

For the past 30 years, Dr. Fred Howard of Harlan has been seating patients in his blue dental chair and telling them to open up. When they do, he’s seen all kinds of scenarios, from toddlers whose teeth are already rotten from sucking on bottle filled with soft drinks to 20-year-old adults with no teeth at all. On some occasions, children walk in with such a severe abscess in their mouth their eyes are swollen [...]

By admin|2012-05-07T11:07:16-04:00May 7th, 2012|Blog, Health|

Wins for Kids during the 2012 Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky Youth Advocates celebrates the following as wins for Kentucky kids in the 2012 General Assembly. $21 million to reduce social worker caseloads – In response to the high rates of child deaths due to abuse and neglect in Kentucky, Governor Beshear proposed a $21 million increase over the next two years to hire 300 additional state social workers. The final budget passed by the Kentucky General Assembly retained this funding, so new social workers [...]

By admin|2012-05-02T11:09:22-04:00May 2nd, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, Youth Justice|

“We Are All in This Together”

There has been a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, in the child advocacy world following the publication of the Esquire article, The War Against Youth, by Stephen Marche. I responded in a blog post with my thoughts on how the youngest generation faces tougher hurdles to succeed as adults and why investments in kids are more important than ever. Generations United also responded to the article, concerned that generations were being pitted against one [...]

By Katie Carter|2012-04-26T09:44:35-04:00April 26th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Low Birthweight Babies

All newborn babies need to start life healthy to ensure proper growth and development. Unfortunately, some babies face increased risk for health and developmental challenges due to being born at a low birthweight (weighing less than 5 lbs. 8 oz.). Serious health problems for low birthweight babies can include developmental and intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and vision and hearing loss. Sadly, low birthweight babies are 25 times more likely than those born at normal weights [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-04-26T09:41:08-04:00April 26th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

New County-Level Economic Well-Being Data Available on the KIDS COUNT Data Center

New economic well-being data has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center, including the average monthly number of children receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly called food stamps), assistance from the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) , and those ages 0 – 5 served by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). These new data reflect the lingering effects of the recession through 2011. The average monthly number [...]

By Katie Carter|2012-04-19T09:56:38-04:00April 19th, 2012|Blog, Economic Security, Health, Youth Justice|

A 2011 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Highlight: Preterm Births

Healthy growth and development in children begins before birth. In fact, the most important predictor of a child’s survival and health is the length of gestation. Babies born preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) face a higher risk of long-term disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, lung problems, and vision and hearing loss. After watching the number of preterm births in Kentucky increase for more than a decade, preliminary data suggest the Commonwealth’s [...]

By Paul Colwell|2012-04-12T10:06:08-04:00April 12th, 2012|Blog, Economic Security, Health|

County Health Ranking and Roadmaps: Measuring our Health and Mapping our Prosperity

I often find myself visiting local communities for health related meetings where, despite the specific topic, discussions almost always center around one basic question, “How can we improve the health of our community?” The topics range from obesity to oral health to Medicaid managed care but in general, these communities are working to improve overall health outcomes in their community. I usually end up asking myself two questions when in those meetings: 1) Where does [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2012-04-03T10:24:59-04:00April 3rd, 2012|Blog, Economic Security, Health|