Kentucky Youth Advocates is in the process of creating our 2013 Kids Count County Data Book. We are looking for some photos of Kentucky kids to include in this 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, on Instagram and on Facebook! Here’s a great chance to promote those great kids through Kentucky Youth Advocates materials. Examples [...]
Kids’ champions and kids themselves gathered on Monday morning and rocked the Rotunda. Folks who had been impacted by child care cuts and kinship care cuts and folks who had received a “hand up” for a better life because of those supports stood and eloquently shared their stories. There were more than a few moist eyes as those gathered heard stories about a grandmother worried about what would happen if the five grandchildren she was [...]
Hundreds of child advocates from across Kentucky were in Frankfort on the opening day of the special legislative session on August 19 for the Fund Kids First Rally. The rally came after the state ended its fiscal year with a $70.6 million surplus and put some of the surplus into the rainy day fund. This occurred after the Governor implemented deep cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program. Child advocates [...]
The Fund Kids First Rally is four days away! We are excited to join you in Frankfort as the Kentucky General Assembly begins a special legislative session for a rally at 11 am EDT on Monday. Find final details about the rally including logistics, what to bring, and RSVP information below. Final Details for the Rally Bring with you… An umbrella and wear a poncho to use as a visual – “Budget cuts = Rainy [...]
You have just a few more days to give input on the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth working to improve the lives of children. Please complete the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Survey by Monday, August 19. Find the survey here. The Blueprint aims to promote safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in [...]
A couple Kentucky Youth Advocates staff , including myself, had the opportunity to meet with members of Kentucky’s federal delegation last week while in Washington, DC for conferences. The visits came on the same day national partners released exciting new polling numbers showing broad support among voters for Congress to take action to increase investments in early childhood education to give young children a strong start. The new polling data made for good conversations with members [...]
The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is is beginning its 7th year. The Blueprint is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth to improve the lives of children in Kentucky. The Blueprint aims to achieve safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in Kentucky. Responding to a challenge from legislators asking child advocates to speak with a common voice, children’s advocacy groups formed the Blueprint [...]
This weekend, the Fancy Farm Picnic in Graves County is going to feature the best in beans and cornbread; BBQ; and, hot and biting partisan rhetoric. And you know, that is not such a bad tradition. In general, politicians and the crowd approach those rip-snorting stump speeches with vim, vigor and a certain tongue in cheek sense of humor. In other words, every once in awhile, some partisan ranting does the body politic good! However, [...]
The Kentucky General Assembly begins a special legislative session on August 19. While the state seems unable to find dollars for the youngest children in Kentucky, it ended its fiscal year with a $70.6 million surplus. We want to use this opportunity to let state legislators know that "It's raining on kids" and its time to "Fund Kids First" including restored funding to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program. Since April 1, [...]
Kacey Musgraves is a new country music sensation. Her opening number, “Blowing Smoke” goes like: Between the lunch and dinner rush Kelly caught that out bound bus for Vegas. And we're all out here talkin trash, makin bets, Lips wrapped round our cigarettes. She always thought she was too good to be a waitress. We all say that we'll quit someday When our ship comes in we'll just sail away. But we're just blowin smoke. [...]
