I recently got back from a little trip to Florida. It is easy to fall in love with the sun and sand and seafood. But hey, all is not perfect down there. I mean what can you say about a state where the highest elevation is 345 feet? That is not even a molehill in certain parts of Kentucky. Also, the Sunshine State now has the official title of the nation’s most congested state, finally [...]
I’m envisioning the days leading up to September 3, 2012 when – I predict — U of L will have simply clobbered the Cats in the first gridiron clash of the season. What are both coaching staffs and players doing? Film analysis. What went well and what went wrong in past games? What improvements can be made in practice schemes, starting lineups and play selection? In other words, both schools are trying to improve their [...]
Kentuckians of all ages need improved oral health to live healthy and optimal lives. Tackling the problem of poor oral health in Kentucky will take people from multiple disciplines working together and we need you to help. The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is working collaboratively to improve oral health across the Commonwealth. All members and others who are interested are invited to attend the upcoming meeting. What: Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members meeting When: July [...]
Tomorrow, the House Agriculture Committee will vote on a Farm Bill proposal that cuts SNAP food assistance for struggling families by over $16 billion. What does this mean for low-income Americans? 500,000 households would see their benefits cut by $90 per month 2 to 3 million individuals would lose their food assistance entirely Nearly 300,000 kids would lose free school meals Please help us tell Congress that we need their support to end hunger in [...]
What a week it was to be in Washington DC during the announcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act. Emotions were high, the TV cameras were rolling, and many who felt passionate about the ruling – either in support or opposition – were out in full force in front of the Supreme Court building. Some folks were elated and others were frustrated…or even angry. Four KYA staff were in DC last [...]
Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a major win for Kentucky kids. While partisan toxicity and legitimate debate around the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will continue, let’s be clear – because the ACA will advance the well-being and health of Kentucky’s children, it will also advance the Commonwealth’s shared prosperity today and tomorrow. The ACA carries provisions around preventive care and oral health that can have a major impact on tackling some issues that have long-plagued Kentucky’s [...]
By: Rebecca Ballard DiLoreto, Children’s Law Center, Litigation Director The United States Supreme Court ruled today, June 25th 2012, in Miller v. Alabama that sentencing schemes which mandate life in prison without possibility of parole for homicide offenses committed by minors violates the Eighth Amendment. The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and guarantees individuals the right not to be subjected to excessive sanctions. That right “flows from the basic ‘precept of justice that [...]
Updated data on asthma hospitalizations for children in Kentucky has been posted to the KIDS COUNT Data Center. This chronic illness, which is the most common among children in the United States, not only negatively impacts a child’s physical, but emotional and psychological development as well. The number of child inpatient hospitalizations due to asthma has declined in Kentucky from 7,087 in 2000-2002 to 6,837 in 2009-2011. During those same timeframes, the rate has decreased [...]
We know that all children benefit when they live in families with adequate resources to meet their basic needs. But, not all families can make ends meet during these extraordinarily difficult economic times. That’s where the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) comes in. State EITCs (accompanying the federal EITC) not only make a difference for families’ pocket books, but also in the health of their children. State EITCs are correlated to healthier babies and better [...]
The future prosperity of Kentucky depends on the state’s ability to foster the health and well-being of the next generation. When Kentucky makes smart investments in kids, the next generation will pay this back through a lifetime of productivity and responsible citizenship. Unfortunately, this “payback” is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve as social mobility of any kind becomes further out of reach for children growing up with fewer family resources. While in Washington, DC last [...]