Growing up, I missed zero days of school from kindergarten to graduation. Zero unexcused absences and zero unexcused tardies. My brother, on the other hand, was the exact opposite, often having a phantom “stomach ache” right before we had to walk to the bus stop. Now, it is widely accepted that going to school is important and a kid should not just skip, but it should also be widely accepted that missing school should not [...]
A few weeks ago, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates reached out to advocates like you and asked you to provide input on the greatest challenges facing Kentucky kids today—and the policy changes that our state government could make to address these challenges. Your feedback is invaluable as Blueprint for Kentucky's Children partners continue to develop the 2019 policy agenda. More than 130 advocates filled out the survey, representing counties across the commonwealth and many sectors [...]
In January of this year, Kentucky students, parents, teachers, and school administrators were rocked by the tragedy that happened in Marshall County. Two young lives were cut short when their futures held so much potential. On the heels of that tragedy, the Kentucky legislature created the School Safety Working Group as a process for legislators and state leaders to gather information from experts on school safety and make recommendations for action. Earlier this week, the [...]
Not much beats fresh picked fruit in the summertime. Recently we went to pick blueberries on a nearby farm, and it reminded me of summer days picking strawberries in my grandmother’s garden. The work was hard and the weather hot, but we always knew there would be strawberry pie for supper. We continued that tradition this weekend, making a fresh blueberry pie from the fruit we picked. The final result definitely made the hard work [...]
As a parent, I know that summer is rife with opportunities to fret about my kid’s safety. From the pool to the playground, the backseat to the backyard, I have to watch him like a hawk while teaching him lessons that will help him learn to keep himself safe. Because drowning is deemed the greatest risk of death for children ages one to four years old by The National Safety Council, I am teaching my son [...]
Kentucky ranks 37th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Book tells us some good news for Kentucky kids, as most of the data trends in health, economic well-being, education, and family and community show continued progress. But, without an accurate count of all Kentucky kids in 2020, we risk leaving money on the table that could be used [...]
This post was originally featured as a Kosair Charities® Face It Movement® to End Child Abuse blog. We are a proud partner in the Face It Movement. With summer in full swing, your children could be spending time with new adults, including babysitters and camp counselors. One way to help keep your kiddos safe this summer is to review important information, such as background checks, when deciding to hire someone to work with your children or to [...]
We at Kentucky Youth Advocates believe that Kentucky can become the best place in America to be young and that we should settle for nothing less. Over the past several legislative sessions, the Kentucky General Assembly and state government have taken significant steps to improve the lives of children in the Commonwealth, and we are excited about those wins for kids. Yet, we still have a long way to go until all children in Kentucky [...]
This post was originally featured as a Kosair Charities® Face It Movement® to End Child Abuse parent blog. School’s out for the summer which means it’s time to stock up on extra food and toilet paper! Here are a few tips that help me transition to summer breaks: 1.Activities– I try to plan weekly activities well in advance by looking for local kid-friendly events in our area and talking to friends about day camps, playdates, days [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates is looking for photos of Kentucky kids to include in the 2018 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book and other Kentucky Youth Advocates publications. We know you all proudly share pictures of your kids and grandkids by carrying them in your wallet and posting them on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s a great chance to promote those great kids through Kentucky Youth Advocates’ materials. We need your photos by August 31st so please start sending them in. In order to use the [...]
