Kentucky Youth Advocates is serious when we assert a vision to “make Kentucky the best place in America to be young.” And yet, we know that vision is elusive as long as a child’s skin color still shapes their opportunity to thrive. And we know that is still true in Kentucky. The recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery deserve condemnation by anyone with a heart and a brain. And yet as [...]
February 26, 2021 update: find the latest P-EBT information in this post. Access to food has increasingly become a topic of concern for Kentucky families and advocates, especially for those with children who typically receive meals at school. Last week, the Commonwealth received good news on an important benefit for families during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefit, which was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is available to [...]
Last updated May 29, 2020 Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, children experienced varying rates of family poverty and food insecurity, which has been further jeopardized by the public health crisis. The latest Kentucky KIDS COUNT data show that over 1 in 10 Kentucky children lived in deep poverty and nearly 1 in 5 in a food insecure households. Expanding access to food, housing, and other assistance programs and extending these after the public health emergency [...]
By Nellie Ellis Over the past few years, youth across the commonwealth have had leadership roles in many of Kentucky Youth Advocates’ biggest initiatives. The youth have been some of the most influential voices for Kentucky’s kids and families and have been extraordinary advocates for themselves and others. I am proudly one of these voices. However, as we started to face the unprecedented circumstances of a pandemic, many of these young leaders like myself [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates As final state budget discussions shifted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Governor and General Assembly had the needs of kids and families in mind. In the now one-year state budget, we’re celebrating wins and reflecting on areas in which our attention must focus on federal advocacy to ensure there aren’t gaps in critical programs and supports [...]
Last updated May 27, 2020 In March, child care centers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky closed in order to limit the spread of the Coronavirus. As a result, our state and federal leaders have worked to secure much needed support for the child care community and those they serve. Through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Kentucky received an additional $67.2 million in Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding. Continued [...]
This blog was originally posted by the Count All Kids Campaign in partnership with First Focus. On April 1, tell people to count all children at their address who have no permanent residence. As the spread of the Coronavirus has increased, the vulnerabilities within our system have become clear. Children and families living in poverty and experiencing homelessness already lack the financial stability to access nutritious food, stable housing, healthcare, and all of the resources [...]
It has been a busy couple of weeks for the U.S. Congress! Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have crafted a bevy of legislation that impacts Kentucky’s kids and their families. Late last week Congress passed and the President signed into law two pieces of legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which provides free Coronavirus testing, paid sick leave, unemployment aid, and nutrition assistance. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic [...]
