Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Kentucky ranks 34th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2015 KIDS COUNT® Data Book co-released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates. The national KIDS COUNT Data Book provides state-level data and rankings. The 2015 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, which includes county level data and rankings, will be released in November. In addition to ranking 34th in overall child [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett abennett@kyyouth.org 502-381-1176 Jeffersontown, KY - Every child needs a family and a safe place to call home. On any given night, nearly 1,300 out of the 7,211 Kentucky children and youth in foster care are going to bed without the care and comfort of a family. The latest KIDS COUNT® policy report, Every Kid Needs a Family: Giving Children in the Child Welfare System the Best Chance for Success, co-released by the Annie [...]

The last day of the 2015 Kentucky General Assembly represented an historic moment in the effort to protect victims of dating violence. HB 8, which will extend protective orders to people in dating relationships, passed the Kentucky Senate. Then, the House concurred with Senate changes, and the bill now heads to the Governor for his signature to become law. This legislation represents a priority on the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children because it will help protect victims [...]

Tonight the Senate took an historic step by passing HB 8 to extend protective orders to people in dating relationships. This legislation represents a  priority on the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children because it will help protect victims of teen dating violence and children of parents who experience dating violence. With violence having such a negative long-term impact on child health and well-being, it is imperative to provide immediate protections to people in these situations. We [...]

Today's passage of House Bill 429 by the Kentucky Senate with a vote of 36-0 will help ensure a strong child care sector in Kentucky. Affordable, reliable child care allows parents to work while their children are cared for in a safe setting, and serves as a critical piece of our local economies. House Bill 429 establishes a child care advisory council to ensure that parents and providers can work with state agencies to ensure a range of [...]

Today was a great day for kids in Frankfort as SB 119, which will ensure educators receive important information on how to recognize signs of child abuse, passed the Kentucky House. The Senate then concurred with the House changes which means this bill is on to the Governor for his signature! With an average of 49 kids each day experiencing abuse, over half of them school age, it's important for all professionals who regularly interact with [...]

Two bills with identical language moving through each chamber made it a step closer to becoming reality in the Kentucky legislature today to help protect children from abuse and neglect. HB 301 sponsored by Representative Rita Smart passed the Senate Education Committee and SB 119 sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams passed the House Education Committee today. These bills will ensure that educators, who already do a great job of keeping kids safe, receive important [...]

Today was an historic step forward in the effort to protect additional victims from violence. HB 8 to extend protective orders to people in dating relationships cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The bill has made it through the House in the past, but this is the first time the bill has passed a Senate committee. HB 8 will help protect teens who experience violence in dating relationships. It will also help protect children of [...]

Today's passage of House Bill 429 by the Kentucky House with a vote of 95-0 is a crucial step forward in ensuring a strong child care sector in Kentucky. HB 429 creates a child care council to work with stakeholders and state agencies across the state to ensure multiple child care options are available to working parents. It's important to ensure quality child care options are available so parents can work while knowing their children [...]

Today’s passage of HB 301 by the Kentucky House means that we are one step closer on an important bill that will help protect children from abuse and neglect. HB 301 ensures that educators, who already do a great job of keeping kids safe, receive information on the signs to look for to recognize child abuse and neglect. The bill builds on successes from previous legislative sessions to ensure professionals who interact with children know [...]