On Tuesday, we co-released with the Annie E. Casey Foundation the national 2015 KIDS COUNT Data Book – considered by many to be the gold standard for measuring child well-being across the nation. Our press release highlights some of the Kentucky data found in the book, and you can view all of the Kentucky data, as well as information showing how each metric has changed since the start of the recession, in Kentucky’s state profile. [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates is sharing a series of blogs from GEAR UP Appalachia, GEAR UP Promise Neighborhood students in Eastern Kentucky. We know that youth in Kentucky are key to creating positive change for kids, and their leadership galvanizes other youth, parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators. In the Kentucky Youth Speak Up series, GEAR UP students advocate for policies, encourage other youth to serve their communities, promote strategies for student success, and motivate all of us to build [...]
During pregnancy, women have many things to think about, but it’s also important for them to “think teeth.” The health of a woman’s teeth is actually linked to the health of her child. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has an excellent, free-to-order flyer that can be used by dental clinics, community health centers, WIC clinics, and other settings to educate women about protecting their teeth and gums. Education is crucial because four out [...]
Back in 2012, we co-released a report with the Annie E. Casey Foundation – Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adults Connections to Opportunity – which looked at the state of disconnected youth (those not enrolled in school or working, even part-time). We found that the number of disconnected youth ages 16-24 in Kentucky had jumped 49 percent from 2000 to 2011. This startling statistic had grave implications for our state’s future success – [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates is sharing a series of blogs from GEAR UP Appalachia, GEAR UP Promise Neighborhood students in Eastern Kentucky. We know that youth in Kentucky are key to creating positive change for kids, and their leadership galvanizes other youth, parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators. In the Kentucky Youth Speak Up series, GEAR UP students advocate for policies, encourage other youth to serve their communities, promote strategies for student success, and motivate all [...]
Good news! More families are eligible for child care assistance as of July 1, 2015. As part of the restoration of the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cuts, income eligibility for Child Care Assistance has increased to include more working families. Now, once again, families making up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level (up from 140 percent last fiscal year) are eligible, and families can make up to 165 percent of the federal poverty [...]
This summer Kentucky Youth Advocates is kicking off a series of blogs from GEAR UP Appalachia, GEAR UP Promise Neighborhood students in Eastern Kentucky. We know that youth in Kentucky are key to creating positive change for kids, and their leadership galvanizes other youth, parents, educators, community leaders, and legislators. In the Kentucky Youth Speak Up series, GEAR UP students will advocate for policies, encourage other youth to serve their communities, promote strategies for student [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Interior Journal. By Nathan Goens In an effort to raise awareness about issues that face our communities, I wanted to take a moment to introduce Senate Bill 200, which goes into full effect July 1, 2015. Parts of the Bill have already gone into effect around the Commonwealth. The aim of the Bill is to create a more effective and economically efficient Juvenile Justice System; one that truly places the best interest of the child as a paramount consideration, [...]
Though it may feel like any other hot week of summer in Kentucky, this week will be the first that new laws enacted during the 2015 legislative session take effect. All legislation was effective on Wednesday, June 24th, unless the bill had a specific delayed implementation date. For Kentucky children, this means that new laws will now better protect them from abuse and neglect, promote strong child care options, and require safer travel by car. [...]
This past week, my fellow Kentucky Youth Advocates team member Mahak Kalra and I had the opportunity to visit the University of Louisville Pediatrics Downtown location. Far more than your typical pediatrician’s office, this location is an integrated health care clinic. Integrated care is a model that helps meet the health needs of our children by extending services beyond primary care. Two aspects of integrated care are particularly important for children: comprehensive care and co-location [...]
