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By Beatrice Roussell I was sitting in the trunk of my car – 6 feet away from two of my best friends – eating McAllister’s. They looked at me with admiration and asked, “How are you doing?” I knew what they were referring to: my eating disorder. As someone who is in recovery from a severe eating disorder (ED), the idea of quarantine sounded like a relapse danger-zone. With so much time and not a [...]
As we head into the second half of May, we hope everyone takes time to recognize and celebrate National Dental Care Month. This month-long celebration is a chance for oral health professionals, parents, teachers, advocates, and community members to build awareness about the importance of preventive dental care for individuals of all ages. Key factors of maintaining good overall health throughout our childhood and adulthood include establishing positive oral hygiene habits and receiving routine dental care. Routine care allows for early detection of issues that display in the mouth and helps [...]
During this time of change, we want to give a shoutout to all the Kentucky teenagers and young people who will be “graduating” into their next phases of life – especially those who will be receiving their diplomas from high school, college, or career/technical programs. While we realize that there are many who are bemoaning the fact that they are missing out on the pomp and circumstance celebrations, we want to publicly celebrate this major [...]
While Kentucky was trying to address the immediate needs of families across the commonwealth in the wake of COVID-19, the final gavel sounded on the 2020 General Assembly. There was some good news for kids in this year’s legislative session—including its unprecedented one-year budget—while progress stalled for many policies and budget priorities that would help kids and families. Two types of leaders make these wins for kids possible: legislative champions and, just as importantly, the [...]
Kids, young adults, and families across Kentucky are already feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—and will be for months to come. Those who have been involved in the child welfare system are facing many challenges, and as the state rebuilds and makes plans to support these kids and families navigating tough situations, it is important that our leaders understand their experiences. Kentucky Youth Advocates, in partnership with Casey Family Programs, is hosting nine virtual [...]
This blog was originally posted by the Count All Kids Campaign in partnership with ZERO TO THREE. Even during this time of uncertainty, we know one thing to be true: babies count. They count to their families, of course, carrying their love and hope. But as communities and our nation look to the future, babies are also our up-and-coming essential workers and first responders, our future thinkers, voters, policymakers and neighbors. In times of crisis and [...]
Last updated May 21, 2020 On April 20th Governor Beshear announced the closure of Kentucky’s public schools for the remainder of the academic year in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a result, our local, state, and federal leaders have worked to secure much needed support for the K-12 community through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Kentucky is eligible to receive over $43 million from the U.S. Department of [...]
These are unprecedented times. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, along with Governors across the nation, has issued strict orders to practice social distancing and stay “Healthy at Home” to slow the spread of the virus. While physical distancing practices are presumably decreasing the positive COVID-19 cases throughout the state, Kentucky is also experiencing another decline that has much more concerning implications for some of our most vulnerable Kentuckians. Recent reports [...]
Last updated May 21, 2020 During the COVID-19 pandemic, families and health care providers are looking to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) for guidance on accessing care and coverage. Prioritizing the health of Kentucky families requires continued federal and state level action to support the following. Connect families to health coverage The state and federal government have taken action to ensure families [...]
Last updated May 15, 2020 Children in homes where instability was already present are now at an even greater risk with the uncertainty and disruptions in services brought on by the COVID-19 response. Given that Kentucky has the highest rates in the nation for both child maltreatment and kids living in kinship care, we must prioritize investments in the child welfare system and support the kids and families within the system. Investments and state action [...]
