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Deep, Systemic, and Stubbornly Persistent

In June, Kentucky Youth Advocates co-released the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which tracks child well-being across states. The Data Book is perhaps best known for its state rankings that generate newspaper headlines, but another hallmark is its unflinching portrayal of how child well-being differs by race and ethnicity. The Casey Foundation and Kentucky Youth Advocates know that data for the child population as a whole frequently (in fact, almost always) [...]

By |2020-07-09T16:49:33-04:00July 9th, 2020|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count|
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Statement on Beshear Administration Extension of P-EBT Application

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today's announcement to extend the application period of Kentucky’s Pandemic-EBT benefit through the end of August carries significance in and of itself to be sure, especially for the thousands of eligible families. But it is also symbolic of a tone of real responsiveness that Governor Beshear and Secretary Friedlander exemplify. That tonality is a key to leadership during these trying [...]

By |2020-06-30T16:53:24-04:00June 30th, 2020|Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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Child Well-Being Data Highlights Continued Areas of Need as the Commonwealth Prepares to Recover from the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Child Well-Being Data Highlights Continued Areas of Need as the Commonwealth Prepares to Recover from the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic KIDS COUNT® Data Book provides comprehensive annual report on child well-being in the U.S. LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Kentucky ranks 37th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the latest edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kentucky’s measurable, but still inadequate, improvements were due [...]

By |2020-06-22T09:09:25-04:00June 22nd, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|
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Statement on Governor Beshear Appointment of Department for Community Based Services Commissioner

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky’s kids and families won – and won big today when Governor Andy Beshear named Marta Miranda-Straub as Commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). Marta has been my friend and colleague for a decade, as we have partnered on efforts like the Kosair Charities’ Face It Movement. In that time, I have come to respect her as [...]

By |2020-06-17T15:27:34-04:00June 17th, 2020|Child Welfare & Safety, Health, News Room|
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A Recommitment to Doing Our Part in Confronting Racism

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 [...]

By |2020-06-02T15:50:38-04:00June 2nd, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Youth Justice|
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Pandemic-EBT: What It Is and How to Apply

Updated June 25, 2020 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 Kentucky households with a child or children [...]

By |2020-06-30T17:21:52-04:00May 28th, 2020|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Kentucky Youth L.E.A.D

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 [...]

By |2020-05-21T17:30:24-04:00May 20th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Statement on Beshear Administration Allowing HANDS Home Visiting Services via Telehealth

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates  The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unparalleled challenges for families and obligations for our leaders. Today, the Beshear Administration took pragmatic action by answering the call of advocates to enact emergency regulations for the HANDS home visiting service during this unprecedented public health emergency. Even in “normal” circumstances, parenting is tough, and the lack of knowledge of how to ensure a healthy [...]

By |2020-05-21T12:11:56-04:00May 20th, 2020|Child Welfare & Safety, Health, News Room|
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Teen Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19

By Beatrice Roussell I was sitting in the trunk of my car – 6 feet away from two of my best friends – eating McAllister’s. They looked at me with admiration and asked, “How are you doing?” I knew what they were referring to: my eating disorder. As someone who is in recovery from a severe eating disorder (ED), the idea of quarantine sounded like a relapse danger-zone. With so much time and not a [...]

By |2020-05-14T16:17:11-04:00May 14th, 2020|Blog, Health|
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Reminders for the Family During Dental Care Month

As we head into the second half of May, we hope everyone takes time to recognize and celebrate National Dental Care Month. This month-long celebration is a chance for oral health professionals, parents, teachers, advocates, and community members to build awareness about the importance of preventive dental care for individuals of all ages.   Key factors of maintaining good overall health throughout our childhood and adulthood include establishing positive oral hygiene habits and receiving routine dental care. Routine care allows for early detection of issues that display in the mouth and helps [...]

By |2020-05-27T12:40:52-04:00May 12th, 2020|Blog, Health|
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