Education

Sign-on to speak out against cuts to child care and kinship care

Sign-on to speak out against cuts to child care and kinship care

Since April 1, no new families have been able to receive child care assistance or apply for the Kinship Care Program. Child care assistance helps low-income working families afford child care while the Kinship Care Program provides financial support to grandparents and other relatives who are raising children because they cannot live safely with their parents. In addition, the state raised income eligibility limits for child care assistance from 150 percent to 100 percent of [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-07-25T10:05:44-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Lessons from Dr. Heckman on early childhood development

Lessons from Dr. Heckman on early childhood development

“Invest in prevention-not remediation.” That was the primary message of Dr. James Heckman’s lecture that took place in Henderson, Kentucky on Tuesday July 23, 2013. The Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago has been a part of several studies surrounding early childhood development and the relationship that early education has with the economy. Dr. Heckman is also considered an expert in the economics of human development. Dr. Heckman’s research of [...]

By Shannon Moody|2013-07-25T09:41:20-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

Cabinet responds to advocates’ concerns regarding cuts to children’s program

Cabinet responds to advocates’ concerns regarding cuts to children’s program

Since April 1, no new families have been able to receive child care assistance or apply for the Kinship Care Program, which provides financial support to non-parental, relative caregivers, like grandparents. In addition, the state raised income eligibility limits for child care assistance from 150 percent to 100 percent of the poverty level, causing 8,700 families to lose child care assistance each month. This stems from a decision by the Department for Community Based Services [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-07-18T15:06:53-04:00July 18th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

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|

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|

The vital and viable role of K-12 schools in kindergarten readiness

The vital and viable role of K-12 schools in kindergarten readiness

Kindergarten readiness. It is a hot topic for folks at the national, the state and local levels. Articles dot Kentucky newspapers and “feel good” stories appear on local news stations about efforts large and small to get youngsters ready for kindergarten. Reading academies are hard-nosed summer boot camps. Fun-filled prep rallies and picnics in the park carry a “feel good, rah-rah” tone. I understand – and agree with – the absolute obligation to ensure a [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-06-13T10:23:02-04:00June 13th, 2013|Blog, Education|

High school graduation and mixed bags

High school graduation and mixed bags

High school graduation. I know. I know. It is advertised as this pure moment of glory. When I was a high school principal, it was joyous to be sure but I also knew that: I would mispronounce at least one kid’s name and then incur the wrath of a parent. At least one award would not get mentioned and then I would incur the wrath of another parent. At least one senior would do something [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-06-05T09:38:17-04:00June 5th, 2013|Blog, Education|

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|