Jeffersontown, KY - Today’s passage of HB 145 by the Kentucky House represents an important step forward in the effort to improve the health of Kentuckians and protect children and pregnant women from secondhand smoke. HB 145 will help clear the air in indoor establishments with a statewide law. We thank the Kentucky House for taking up this important bill this session and for all members who supported the measure. We also thank Representative Susan Westrom [...]

Jeffersontown, KY - Today's passage of Senate Bill 119 by the Senate Judiciary Committee is an important step forward in the effort to combat child abuse and neglect in Kentucky. The bill ensures school personnel receive education on how to recognize and prevent child abuse. Right now, educators, despite being mandated reporters, are one of the only groups of professionals who interact with children who are not required to receive education on child abuse recognition. We know [...]

Jeffersontown, KY - The passage of HB 8 today in the House Judiciary Committee that will extend protective orders to additional groups of victims represents an important step toward giving Kentucky children and their families a safe environment free from violence. We applaud the work of the bill's sponsor, Representative John Tilley for his work with Senator Whitney Westerfield,  to craft bipartisan legislation that will improve the lives of Kentucky children and families. Currently, Kentucky statute only [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett abennett@kyyouth.org 502-381-1176 Jeffersontown, KY - For seven years, kids and families have been a focus of Governor Beshear and his 8th State of the Commonwealth holds good news for Kentucky's youngest citizens once again.  There has been real progress for Kentucky's children and youth and, as the Governor noted, that progress is a result of bi-partisan and collaborative leadership in areas from education to health to family economics. It was encouraging to hear [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett abennett@kyyouth.org 502-381-1176 Jeffersontown, KY - The Annie E. Casey Foundation, in collaboration with Kentucky Youth Advocates, released the report Creating Opportunity for Families:  A Two-Generation Approach today. This latest KIDS COUNT® policy report focuses on America’s 10 million low-income families with young children living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The report makes the case that a child’s success is tied to the family’s stability and well-being. The impact of [...]

Today’s Interim Joint Judiciary Committee hearing on offering protective orders to additional victims represents an important step forward in ensuring Kentucky children are in a safe environment as they grow and develop. Currently, Kentucky statute only allows protective orders for those who have been married, lived with, or had a child with the offender. This leaves many people, including many teens, without one of the most effective forms of protection from being exposed to or [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY - Today, new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey confirms that child poverty remains high in Kentucky. This data provides stronger estimates due to larger sample sizes and different methodology than the Current Population Survey supplemental data released on Tuesday. The American Community Survey data released today revealed that in 2013, 25.3 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty, compared to 22.2 percent nationwide. This put Kentucky at 40th in the nation for child poverty out [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – New Current Population Survey supplemental data, released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, provides an updated status of kids and families in Kentucky, including new data on poverty. Additional data will be released on Thursday, September 18 from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, which tracks similar measures. While the national data shows the child poverty rate declined for the first time since 2000, Kentucky’s data is [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – The 2014 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates provides a picture of the status of children in Kentucky counties based on 16 indicators of child well-being. State and local leaders can use the book to help evaluate what is going well for kids and where improvements need to be made. This is the 24th annual release of the Kentucky County Data Book, which represents [...]