Entering the labor force young has its benefits. Having a job as a teen (ages 16-18) can predict higher quality jobs and higher wages in adulthood. Quality work experience at a young age can improve physical and mental health in the long term, as well as reduce the likelihood that a youth will interact with the criminal justice system. However, youth only benefit from employment when they are working in safe, age-appropriate environments. In Kentucky [...]
During June as National Oral Health Month, the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition has launched a new series of oral health resources. KOHC’s Oral Health Resource Hub now includes several flyers for oral health providers and community-based organizations to display and distribute in dental offices, schools, libraries, and other locations. “The flyers are very user friendly – the pictures, colorful text boxes, and plain language make challenging concepts more easily understood. It is so helpful to [...]
Evictions have a major impact on the safety and stability of Kentucky kids, often forcing families to move away from systems of support and into housing insecurity. However, a new report from Louisville’s Center for Health Equity shows that the impact of evictions goes much deeper than stability, also impacting the health of children and families. Evictions are both common and impact families of color more than other groups. Over 16,000 evictions were filed just [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 502-895-8167 X122 Chronic Absences, Drop in Test Scores: Kentucky Ranks 38th in 2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book Urging Focus on Equipping Kids to Learn 50-State Data Show Academic Outcomes, Absence are Linked to Poverty, Trauma; Policymakers Must Act to Promote Kids' Future Success, Annie E. Casey Foundation Finds LOUISVILLE, KY — Kentucky ranks 38th in child well-being, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report developed by [...]
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) was one of the most vital supports for children and families throughout the pandemic, providing grocery money to families who would have usually received free and reduced school meals. We are excited to share that Kentucky will administer a similar program this summer called Summer EBT program, also known as SEBT. NOTE: Kentucky Youth Advocates does not administer SEBT, and we can only answer general questions about the program. Please DO NOT [...]
By Jeanna C., KY SEAT Member Say it with me: Grief. It's a word that evokes a multitude of emotions: sadness, anger, emptiness, and even a strange sense of disbelief. It's a universal human experience, a tide that washes over us all at some point, carrying us away from the familiar shores of life we once knew. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This month, KY SEAT, the statewide birth parent council, wants to acknowledge [...]
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) helps women, infants, and children get a strong start in life. This program is a lifeline for over 115,000 Kentucky parents, caregivers, and kids, providing them with food benefits through an EBT card, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and more. One of WIC’s primary goals is to ensure that moms and kids get the nutritious foods they need to grow and thrive. To [...]
Among the topics that were a focus area for legislators in 2024 is maternal health – both the troubling outcomes for mothers across the Commonwealth and tangible steps we can take to address these issues. Following SB 135 of 2023 which targeted maternal depression, and an administrative change that ensures mothers on Medicaid are covered for 12 months postpartum, the 2024 General Assembly focused on additional ways to keep moms and babies healthy. HB 10, [...]
As the temperature rises, so does our anticipation for the 2024-2025 Health Youth Ambassadors program! Are you a high school student eager to cultivate your advocacy and leadership skills? Do you envision yourself as a catalyst for positive change within your community and beyond? If the answer is yes, then seize this opportunity to become a Health Youth Ambassador with Kentucky Youth Advocates! The Health Youth Ambassadors (HYA) program is designed to empower youth [...]
This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern on April 30, 2024. By Dr. Terry Brooks It’s Spring 2024 in the Bluegrass State. And if I am writing about sports, I should be focused on new basketball coaches and the Derby and the PGA Championship at Valhalla. But as I reflect on the 2024 General Assembly, my mind drifts to football and the 1938 Chicago Bears. That was the team which still holds the [...]
