Economic Security

Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

“The pursuit of happiness.” That phrase animates an essay by Jon Meacham in the most recent edition of TIME. It made me remember Mary Kay Tachua – the most brilliant professor I ever experienced. More than forty years ago, an administrative error at the University of Louisville put Dr. Tachua as the professor of an undergraduate section of American History. Dr. Tachua was renowned as a graduate professor; social activist; and, perhaps on special and [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-07-03T12:12:32-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Introducing the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center

Introducing the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center

Monday not only marked the public release of the 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book, it also included the unveiling of the new and improved KIDS COUNT Data Center by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Center is now easier to use, featuring an improved search tool, easier tools to make maps and charts, and better ways to customize and share materials on social media. For those not familiar with the KIDS COUNT Data [...]

By Amy Swann|2013-06-27T16:24:42-04:00June 27th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Participate in Statewide Call-In Day on July 1 to restore funds for child care and kinship care

Participate in Statewide Call-In Day on July 1 to restore funds for child care and kinship care

On July 1, major cuts to child care supports go into effect causing 8,700 families to lose child care assistance each month. Helping families pay for child care makes it more likely they can get and keep a job. The state has also stopped new applications for the Kinship Care Program, which provides financial support to non-parental, relative caregivers, like grandparents. Research shows that children who have been abused and neglected experience less trauma when placed [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2013-06-27T10:52:25-04:00June 27th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Can we commit to a ten percent plan?

Can we commit to a ten percent plan?

Yesterday’s blog post focused on some of the new Kentucky data portrayed in the 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. I pointed out some of the child well-being indicators our state is moving backwards on and the fact that not all of the apparent good news is all good news. Given that we have a lot of room for improvement, I wondered what child well-being in the Commonwealth [...]

By Amy Swann|2013-06-25T12:52:12-04:00June 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Good news, bad news for Kentucky’s kids

Good news, bad news for Kentucky’s kids

The 2013 National KIDS COUNT Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation paints a fairly comprehensive picture of how Kentucky’s children and youth are faring and tells us whether Kentucky has been moving in the right direction on important indicators of child well-being. The Data Book measures child well-being through 16 indicators, with 4 indicators in each of these 4 domains: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community. What is quickly [...]

By Amy Swann|2013-06-24T16:56:40-04:00June 24th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Kentucky should have its own Earned Income Tax Credit

Kentucky should have its own Earned Income Tax Credit

This letter originally appeared as a Reader Letter in the Courier Journal on May 30, 2013. You can find it online here. I share some of the fears brought up in the recent article, “Kentucky tax reform commissioners fear Gov. Beshear will shelve revenue proposals.” I own a small tire business in Custer, Ky. — a very small town in Breckinridge County. Some know my business as “The Tire Shop” — others as “Bob’s Tires.” [...]

By admin|2013-06-03T10:00:45-04:00June 3rd, 2013|Blog, Economic Security|

Kinship care support doesn’t make it easier, it helps to make it possible

Kinship care support doesn’t make it easier, it helps to make it possible

I got to know some of the best Kentuckians you could ever meet at last week’s public hearing on the cuts to kinship care and child care subsidies. I had the privilege of driving to Frankfort with Phyllis, a 63 year old grandmother who is stepping up to raise her 16 month and 3 year old granddaughters, both who were born addicted to cocaine. As the married mother of two girls the same age, I [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-05-30T14:56:48-04:00May 30th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Gov. Beshear Needs to Reverse Cuts to Kinship Care and Child Care Assistance

Gov. Beshear Needs to Reverse Cuts to Kinship Care and Child Care Assistance

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on May 22, 2013. You can find it online here. It was not as dramatic as scenes in Frankfort can be. There was neither a gallery of cameras nor the moment of confrontation between elected leaders. But on Tuesday, a very important event took place in Frankfort. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services held a public hearing regarding the recent cuts to kinship [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-05-22T10:41:35-04:00May 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Poverty Today is the Polio of the 1950s

Poverty Today is the Polio of the 1950s

Clasp.org discusses the polio epidemic of the 1950s that crippled tens of thousands of people every year – and was eliminated by 1979 due to a massive public health effort. The post also highlights that the Academic Pediatric Association (APA) Task Force on Childhood Poverty recently declared that childhood poverty is on par with polio in the 1950s as the most important problem facing American children today. While the APA Task Force acknowledges that there is no [...]

By Katie Carter|2013-05-21T10:38:10-04:00May 21st, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Payday Loans are “No Hassle” until You Try to Pay Them Back

Payday Loans are “No Hassle” until You Try to Pay Them Back

You have probably seen those storefronts that promise “quick cash” or “instant loan approval.” In reality – these kinds of “payday loans” result in long term debt – not quick financial fixes. On average, Kentucky payday lenders keep borrowers indebted for 137 days a year – much longer than the advertised 2-week loan. Kentucky payday lenders charge an average of $15.00 per $100 borrowed, plus additional fees every two weeks. This means payday loans carry [...]

By Katie Carter|2013-05-14T09:00:46-04:00May 14th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security|