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Kentucky Progress on Child and Family Well-Being Jeopardized by Pandemic

CONTACT: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Kentucky Progress on Child and Family Well-Being Jeopardized by Pandemic Data Across 50 States Show Continued Challenges, But Hopes for Recovery Remain, Annie E. Casey Foundation Finds LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky was showing measurable, though slow, progress on family economic well-being and child health coverage immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic but was falling short on curbing youth obesity and having 3- and 4-year-olds in early childhood programs, according to the 2021 KIDS COUNT® [...]

By |2021-06-21T17:43:22-04:00June 21st, 2021|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count, News Room, Race Equity|
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Actions to Mitigate Food Insecurity in the United States

By Nikky Patel, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates In the past year, many Americans have experienced a lack of access to healthy food and, although food insecurity is not a new issue, we have vividly felt its effect throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the federal government and Congressional leaders have been responsive to this issue and continue to apply lessons learned throughout the pandemic to take action that will address hunger and food insecurity in [...]

By |2021-06-30T14:28:55-04:00June 16th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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Trauma-Informed Plans: An Opportunity for More Positive Learning Environments

When the gavel sounded on the 2019 legislative session, advocates across the state celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 1, the School Safety and Resiliency Act. This bipartisan effort brought together lawmakers, behavioral health experts, and school administrators to ensure all students can learn in a safe and supportive school environment. While the bill encompassed multiple areas of school safety, including requiring procedures and oversight to strengthen school security if a threat occurs, it also [...]

By |2021-06-30T14:28:23-04:00June 10th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|
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Statement on JCBE School Suspension Decision

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The decision by the Jefferson County Board of Education to “suspend suspensions” for our youngest children is far more than a simple change in disciplinary procedures. Instead, it is an affirmation of Superintendent Pollio’s persistent efforts to create a student-centric school system. This change in disciplinary processes will create a ripple effect with an impact than cannot be [...]

By |2021-05-25T20:49:11-04:00May 25th, 2021|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Closing the Gaps in Behavioral Health Care for Kids in Louisville

In partnership with the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence, Kentucky Youth Advocates hosted a virtual behavioral health summit on May 11th. The Closing the Gaps in Behavioral Health Care for Kids summit brought together over one hundred youth, parents, and professionals from various sectors including educators, mental health professionals, legislators, juvenile justice system staff, child advocates, child welfare system representatives, Kentucky’s philanthropic community, and more. The event featured a data presentation on the recent research conducted by KYA and supplemental data from Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) providing context to [...]

By |2021-05-18T16:24:54-04:00May 18th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Emergency Broadband Benefit: Let’s Get Families Connected

Let’s get more communities and families digitally connected! May 12, 2021 marks the launch of the temporary, federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. This program, overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is geared toward connecting more households to the internet at a time when we rely on digital connectivity more than ever before. The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program, established by Congress last year in response to ongoing economic hardships caused by the [...]

By |2021-05-13T09:49:10-04:00May 13th, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Statement on Facebook’s Plan to Create an Instagram for Kids

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Mental health, cyber bullying, and safety online are among the top concerns for families, schools, law enforcement, and child advocates prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and especially now as our kids must navigate the virtual world more regularly. With the announcement from Facebook to launch an Instagram for kids, those concerns will amplify for many. When used properly, [...]

By |2021-05-12T09:37:02-04:00May 12th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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You Are Not Alone

The month of May in Kentucky brings warmer weather, Derby excitement, and the end of another school year, but it is also Mental Health Awareness Month. This national month of recognition aims to educate and provide resources for individuals, families, and children about the importance of taking care of their mental health needs. This year’s theme - “You Are Not Alone” - emphasizes the importance of connecting with others in a safe way and taking [...]

By |2021-05-03T15:39:08-04:00May 3rd, 2021|Blog, Education, Health|
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Kindergarten? I’m not crying. You’re crying.

As I write this, there are 112 days until my son starts kindergarten.  *wipes away tears*  Just over 100 days until my baby is…definitely no longer a baby. Am I ready? Absolutely not. Is my son ready? Honestly, I’m not sure.  My son, Nash, has been in child care since he was an infant. The early childhood educators at Nash’s child care center are incredible, caring teachers, and he stayed at the center for preschool because I knew that his teachers would make sure [...]

By |2021-04-21T10:35:58-04:00April 21st, 2021|Blog, Education|
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The “Do-Over” Bill and Other Education Wins for Kids in 2021

On March 31, 2021 the final gavel fell on an historic 2021 Kentucky General Assembly. Despite the many obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the work of our state legislature continued and delivered some bright spots for Kentucky’s kids enrolled in early childhood learning facilities and K-12 schools.   Perhaps the most responsive item to the needs of Kentucky’s K-12 students is Senate Education Committee Chairman Max Wise’s Senate Bill 128, otherwise known as the “Do-Over" [...]

By |2021-04-08T12:47:31-04:00April 7th, 2021|Blog, Education|
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