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Update on FDA Menthol Ban and Impact for Youth

The recent announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin the process of banning all menthol flavoring in cigarettes and cigars is a huge step in reducing youth and young adult tobacco addiction, addressing health equity, and improving health outcomes. This announcement ensures that the FDA’s next steps will be establishing rules and an opportunity for public comment on the ban of menthol flavoring in cigarettes and all flavoring in cigars within the [...]

By |2021-05-06T23:23:32-04:00May 6th, 2021|Blog, Health, Race Equity|
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The Child Tax Credit of 2021: What You Need to Know

Image courtesy of AECF Among the provisions in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to provide COVID-19 relief is an expanded version of the Child Tax Credit. Approximately 1.1 million Kentucky children and their families will be eligible for the one-year expanded tax credit. This includes low-income families who have not historically made enough or have no income at all will be eligible. The program will begin starting in July, [...]

By |2021-05-05T16:49:23-04:00May 5th, 2021|Blog, Economic Security|
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You Are Not Alone

The month of May in Kentucky brings warmer weather, Derby excitement, and the end of another school year, but it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. This national month of recognition aims to educate and provide resources for individuals, families, and children about the importance of taking care of their mental health needs. This year’s theme - “You Are Not Alone” - emphasizes the importance of connecting with others in a safe way and taking [...]

By |2021-05-03T15:39:08-04:00May 3rd, 2021|Blog, Education, Health|
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Launching Visitation Project to Support Children with Incarcerated Parents

Parental incarceration has often been referred to as a ‘shared sentence’ because of the impact it has on the community, caregivers, and most importantly, the children. In Kentucky, approximately 12% of children have been separated from a parent due to incarceration, the third highest rate in the nation.   As a state, we have taken critical steps to address some of the factors contributing to the rise in parental incarceration. However, there are still tens of thousands of children being impacted. It’s imperative that we work to identify ways to [...]

By |2021-04-30T14:51:09-04:00April 28th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice|
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Where is “Neglect” in Child Abuse Prevention Month?

This op-ed was originally post by the Herald Leader on April 23, 2021. A version of this op-ed was also posted by the Courier Journal on April 22, 2021.  By Terry Brooks Each April, state and local leaders proclaim Child Abuse Prevention Month and community partners encourage the public to understand that everyone has a role in recognizing, reporting, and preventing child abuse in the commonwealth. That kind of focus on abuse is an ethical [...]

By |2021-04-23T14:52:10-04:00April 23rd, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month: Tools to Help You Act

This blog post was originally posted on The Child Welfare Advocate Blog by WKU Center for Child Welfare Education and Research on April 14, 2021.  Kentucky was recognized for the third year in a row as having the highest rate of child maltreatment in the nation.[1] That is an overwhelming statistic and a lot to unpack for those of us who work with families and children. So, what does that mean for advocates? As an advocate, [...]

By |2021-04-22T15:52:40-04:00April 22nd, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Kindergarten? I’m not crying. You’re crying.

As I write this, there are 112 days until my son starts kindergarten.  *wipes away tears*  Just over 100 days until my baby is…definitely no longer a baby. Am I ready? Absolutely not. Is my son ready? Honestly, I’m not sure.  My son, Nash, has been in child care since he was an infant. The early childhood educators at Nash’s child care center are incredible, caring teachers, and he stayed at the center for preschool because I knew that his teachers would make sure [...]

By |2021-04-21T10:35:58-04:00April 21st, 2021|Blog, Education|
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The “Do-Over” Bill and Other Education Wins for Kids in 2021

On March 31, 2021 the final gavel fell on an historic 2021 Kentucky General Assembly. Despite the many obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of our state legislature continued and delivered some bright spots for Kentucky’s kids enrolled in early childhood learning facilities and K-12 schools.   Perhaps the most responsive item to the needs of Kentucky’s K-12 students is Senate Education Committee Chairman Max Wise’s Senate Bill 128, otherwise known as the “Do-Over" [...]

By |2021-04-08T12:47:31-04:00April 7th, 2021|Blog, Education|
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Thank You: Wins for Kids in the 2021 General Assembly

The final gavel sounded on the 2021 General Assembly this week! This year, the Governor and the Kentucky General Assembly were tasked with crafting a continuation budget, addressing the systemic injustices that impact our children and families of color, advancing policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, and other policy priorities that would be good for the communities they represent and the Commonwealth. If we take a second to reflect, that’s a heavy lift in a [...]

By |2021-04-15T16:57:00-04:00March 31st, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Medicaid, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Supporting Child Hunger Efforts Beyond Nutrition Month

During Nutrition Month in March, national and state advocacy groups are asking for increased supports and efforts around feeding programs. As Kentucky continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know child feeding programs are essential for kids and families as more than 20% of Kentucky households with children reported sometimes or often not having enough food to eat at the end of 2020, a rate that has been increasing since October. Temporary changes to [...]

By |2021-04-06T12:40:58-04:00March 31st, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Health|
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