We are in the final countdown! The final federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan will run out on September 30th, and the child care industry will be expected to stand on its own two feet. Unfortunately, child care was barely surviving prior to the pandemic, and with the inflation that has occurred in the past four years, the industry is not set-up to be successful. The biggest challenge to overcome is the cost [...]
September is National Recovery Month, a time to acknowledge the challenges of substance use and celebrate the progress of those on their journey to recovery. For me, this month resonates deeply. Throughout my childhood and life, I’ve witnessed firsthand how substance use can profoundly affect a family. My family, like many others, knows this struggle all too well. For years, substance use has been heavily stigmatized. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, stigma is “a strong [...]
Kids cannot vote, but you can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections and being an informed voter. The leaders we elect determine policies and budgets that will impact our daily lives for what may be generations to come. But how often do we pause to consider–specifically–how our choices at the ballot box will impact us, and particularly children who depend on us to make [...]
By Casey Lane, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As homeschooling in Kentucky appears to be on the rise, let’s further explore some of the components of homeschooling, including strengths, concerns, and opportunities to improve homeschool practices in Kentucky. Flexibility and Family Preference Before and since the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have praised homeschooling’s flexibility, allowing families to travel and have a schedule that accommodates appointments, field trips, and other needs and preferences of the family. Homeschooling [...]
This guest post was originally published by the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement during Bystander Awareness Month. by Dr. Nancy L. Weaver You see a parent yelling at their child in public. What should you do? Let’s say you stop by the grocery store after a long day at work in a hurry to get something quick for dinner. As you’re rushing through the store, you hear a mom berating at her son. You [...]
Trust for America’s Health recently released their 2024 report, revealing a 142% increase in deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide from 2002 to 2022 in the United States. The report's findings are alarming, with 207,827 deaths in 2022 alone. While there was a small decline in alcohol-induced deaths, rates for drug overdoses and suicides remained steady, underscoring the ongoing crisis. Key Recommendation: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) One of the [...]
For more than 20 years, advocates for kids have gathered in Frankfort for Children’s Advocacy Day to fill the halls of the Capitol and ask their elected officials to step up for Kentucky kids. The critical mass of advocates in the Capitol building led to many policy wins and raising awareness of issues facing kids and their families. During Children’s Advocacy Week, we host a series of virtual events with more opportunities to [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates is proud to announce our 2024-2025 Health Youth Ambassadors! These high school students from around the Commonwealth are eager to make positive changes in their communities and throughout the state. This year’s cohort of high school students includes two Freshman, four Sophomores, six Juniors, and three Seniors with representation from Boyle, Edmonson, Graves, Jefferson, Johnson, Madison, Shelby, Taylor, and Warren Counties. The Health Youth Ambassadors (HYA) program is a statewide cohort [...]
If your electric bill seems higher than usual this summer, you’re not alone. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects that the average U.S electric bill for the 2024 summer months will be 8% higher than last year. Households in Kentucky along with other Southeastern states are facing some of the highest electric bills in the country with the average household expected to spend around $774 on electricity from June through September. As temperatures rise [...]
Shana Norton, Deputy Coroner of Hardin County, is passionate about her community and is committed to making a difference. In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, we’re highlighting the incredible opioid abatement efforts in Hardin County (and the incredible people too!). Norton describes her role as “one piece of the larger puzzle” when talking about coming together to address the opioid epidemic in her community. Norton is part of an Overdose Fatality Review [...]
