On Wednesday, March 7, 2012 over 70 dental professionals, public health professionals, local coalition members, advocates, policymakers, educators, and others gathered in Frankfort, Kentucky for the launch of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition. The meeting was packed with networking among diverse stakeholders, discussions on coalition priorities, and excitement for next steps. The mission of the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is to “Improve the oral health of all people of Kentucky” and the vision is that [...]

Much progress has been made with the House Bill 289, the Smoke Free Kentucky Act, during this legislative session. However, Representative Jim DeCesare from Bowling Green has filed an amendment that would allow “smoking rooms,” and exempt bars, private clubs and electronic cigarettes. This would compromise the strength of the Smoke Free Kentucky Act and we can’t let that happen. Legislators must hear from the majority of Kentuckians who support smoke-free workplaces and public places [...]

This week, groups across the country are recognizing the second anniversaryof the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on children and youth. While there is much debate surrounding the ACA between honorable people on both sides of the party line, there are some facts which cannot be denied. Despite the debates, we know the ACA is positive for vulnerable children. Yesterday’s op-ed  in the Lexington Herald-Leader by Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth [...]

All children deserve a healthy start in life, which begins with their mother having access to early and frequent prenatal care. Women who receive appropriate prenatal care have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies. Unfortunately, not all women have the opportunity to receive adequate prenatal care. Nationally, the percent of women receiving prenatal care services early in their pregnancies has stayed stagnant in recent years, after a decade of consistent improvement. Between 2007 and 2009, 65 [...]

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, an important one to recognize for many reasons. Oral health impacts overall health and also affects how children perform and behave in school. It’s hard for a child to sit in class with a severe toothache and learn. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits help children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. For this to happen, [...]

All children need safe places to play and get exercise in their communities in order to grow and develop into healthy adults. However, many children do not have safe opportunities to engage in physical activity. In Kentucky, only 49 percent of children live in neighborhoods with recreation centers, community centers, or Boys’/Girls’ Clubs compared to 65 percent of children nationally. In Kentucky in 2009, there were 7.8 recreational facilities per 100,000 Kentuckians. Recreational facilities foster [...]

All children deserve the best possible health opportunities to set the stage for positive health outcomes into adulthood. Unfortunately, childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels, putting thousands of Kentucky children at risk for poor health. Kentucky has the 3rd highest rate in the nation of overweight and obese children ages 10-17 at 37.1 percent. Childhood obesity affects very young children as well. In 2010, the obesity rate for Kentucky children ages 2-4 in the Supplemental [...]