Economic Security

Updates on CCAP to Benefit Families, Child Care Providers, and Local Economies

Updates on CCAP to Benefit Families, Child Care Providers, and Local Economies

The regulations for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) have been updated multiple times in the past two years in order to better support Kentucky’s working families and Kentucky’s child care providers. These updates have been possible due to one-time COVID-19 federal relief funds. Several new programs have been implemented in the past couple of months that benefit working families and child care providers. Here’s an overview of the programs and how they are [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2022-11-09T14:02:05-05:00November 9th, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security|

Mark Your Calendar, Advocates!

Mark Your Calendar, Advocates!

The 2023 Kentucky General Assembly is right around the corner, and we have a lot in store over the next few months as we get ready to advocate for Kentucky kids! Check out these upcoming opportunities to get involved: November 16th 2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book Check out the latest county-level data at kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/ View the launch event, featuring remarks from Lt. Governor Coleman and youth from across Kentucky December 7th A lookahead [...]

By Mara Powell|2022-12-06T11:23:01-05:00November 7th, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Making Kids Count in the Louisville Mayoral Race

Making Kids Count in the Louisville Mayoral Race

Kentucky Youth Advocates is committed to making the needs of children front and center each and every election season. While kids cannot vote, each of us can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections. Across the Commonwealth this November, Kentuckians will cast their ballot in the races for the full Kentucky House of Representatives and half of the Kentucky Senate, mayoral and other local government [...]

By Mara Powell|2022-11-03T16:52:31-04:00November 3rd, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|

An Update from Journey to Success Kentucky

An Update from Journey to Success Kentucky

In 2020, 688 youth transitioned out of the Kentucky foster care system. We know that youth who have spent time in foster care face a particularly steep climb on the road to adulthood due to adverse experiences during their early years. Despite important federal reforms in child welfare, many young people continue to face significant barriers to opportunities to succeed in school, work, and community life. Journey to Success is a federal policy advocacy campaign [...]

By Carli Mosby|2022-11-02T17:24:03-04:00November 2nd, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|

Understanding the Impacts of Free School Meals

Understanding the Impacts of Free School Meals

This week is National School Lunch Week, which recognizes the importance of the National School Lunch Program. In Fiscal Year 2019, the National School Lunch Program served almost 82 million meals to approximately 515,000 Kentucky students. With over 1 in 6 Kentucky kids being food insecure, many Kentucky students rely on the meals served through this program to ensure they have consistent access to food. Research further shows that Kentucky students rely on school meals [...]

By Karena Cash|2022-10-12T16:20:15-04:00October 12th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

A Look at the Mixed Delivery Preschool Model

A Look at the Mixed Delivery Preschool Model

The September meeting of the Early Childhood Education Task Force focused a large portion of its time gaining an understanding of the options for mixed-delivery preschool, which is a model defined as mixing two or more of the three major types of early childhood education: Private Child Care State-Funded Public Preschool Head start (for 3 to 5 year olds) or Early Head Start (for infants up to 3 years) This blending is an optional model [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2022-09-29T08:48:59-04:00September 29th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

Much Needed Updates Proposed for KTAP

Much Needed Updates Proposed for KTAP

Access to cash is essential for families to handle everyday expenses and endure emergencies. It is especially important for very low income families who may not have the resources and savings needed when big purchases and unplanned expenses arise, such as a broken bone, car repairs, or school supplies. The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) is a vital support for families living below the Federal Poverty Line, providing this cash support alongside the training and [...]

By Karena Cash|2023-02-14T09:48:39-05:00September 28th, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security|

Celebrating New Benefits for Child Care Employees

Celebrating New Benefits for Child Care Employees

With the help of the American Rescue Plan funds, Kentucky will begin awarding child care subsidies for all employees that work in licensed and certified child care programs regardless of the role that they work, such as teachers, kitchen staff, etc. After a year of brainstorming how to best retain and attract child care employees and strengthen the child care infrastructure, Kentucky is establishing this categorical eligibility support for certified and licensed child care employees [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2022-09-22T09:33:18-04:00September 22nd, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

The Latest Trends in Child Poverty and Health Insurance

The Latest Trends in Child Poverty and Health Insurance

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau released its annual data on poverty and health insurance. This annual release of single-year data follows the release of the national KIDS COUNT Data Book, both highlighting key indicators of child well-being. Because we know that what gets measured gets changed, below are key data takeaways from the Census Bureau’s release. The data reveals that 22.1% of Kentucky children lived in poverty in 2021, which is not significantly different [...]

By Karena Cash|2022-09-21T18:08:46-04:00September 21st, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|

What do Kentucky’s young people want from their Governor?

What do Kentucky’s young people want from their Governor?

Kentuckians will decide who they want for Governor in November of 2023 – whether that’s a second term for the current Governor Andy Beshear or his Republican opponent who will be chosen next May. While Kentucky kids cannot vote, they have a major stake in who gets chosen and what the Governor’s priorities will be. As we look ahead to the 2023 Governor’s race, we want to hear from young people directly about their hopes [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2022-09-26T11:18:13-04:00September 13th, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|