Contact: Emilee Coomes, BoxcarPR 502-797-5058 Emilee@boxcarpr.com Andrea Bennett, Kentucky Youth Advocates 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Access to Oral Health Care in Kentucky Has Increased, Yet Children Face Pressing Oral Health Needs New Report Highlights Findings of 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky's Youth Jeffersontown, KY - Access to oral health care has increased since 2001, yet more children face urgent dental needs, according to a new study co-released today by Delta Dental of Kentucky and Kentucky Youth Advocates. [...]

New data released today by the U.S Census Bureau reveals that more than one in four Kentucky children still live in poverty. The American Community Survey 1-year estimate shows 25.9 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty in 2015, which was not a significant change from the 2014 estimate. This estimate reveals that the percent of Kentucky children living in poverty remains higher since the recession began in 2008 (23.5 percent). “We know the data [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Children are already reaping the benefits of more Kentucky parents having health insurance due to Medicaid expansion, according to a new special report from Kentucky Youth Advocates. The report, Medicaid Expansion in Kentucky: Benefits to Kids and Families, examines the numerous family and child health benefits that have resulted from more parents having affordable health coverage. “The research is clear. Parent health impacts child health,” said Terry [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates "Is it good for kids?" That is the question we at Kentucky Youth Advocates are asking while trying to understand the proposal by the Bevin Administration to transform Kentucky's Medicaid program. From our perspective, we see some positives but also have some concerns. First, we thank Governor Bevin for protecting children and pregnant women from potential negative impacts that [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org JEFFERSONTOWN, KY – Kentucky ranks 35th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 KIDS COUNT® Data Book co-released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates. The national KIDS COUNT Data Book provides state-level data and rankings. The 2016 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, which includes county-level data and rankings, will be released in November. In addition to ranking 35th in overall child well-being, [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Governor Matt Bevin, Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and Commissioner Adria Johnson of the Department of Community Based Services announced a new program that will serve as a pipeline for success for over 100 youth aging out of the foster care system. Fostering Success will include a ten-week workforce training and [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Tough budget times make for tough decisions. And that is certainly true for the just finalized Kentucky budget. Yet there are several aspects of the budget which merit applause and bring hope. We all win as Kentuckians when the Governor, Senate, and House come together to address endemic budget fractures like the pension system. The Commonwealth can’t move ahead [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Ashley*, a high school student from a small town in rural Kentucky, was 12 years old when she discovered her mom was addicted to drugs. Soon after, her mom was in and out of jail several times over the next year and subsequent years. “We couldn't afford to do laundry with a washer and dryer, so we did our laundry in the sink and hung it up [...]