Governor Matt Bevin joined fellow governors from Georgia and Oklahoma in a recent video on criminal justice system reforms being implemented in their respective states. Governor Bevin speaks to the system helping society when incarceration focuses not just on removing people from the community but rehabilitating them. Kentucky has taken steps to improve the criminal justice system, most recently by passing HB 40 to allow certain felonies to be expunged so people can get back to work after serving their time [...]

Did you know? In Kentucky, there are over 8,000 children in out of home care with an average age of 9.8 years old. Nearly 2,000 children  have a goal of adoption, with 855 of them are considered eligible for adoption. And of those 855 children, 355 children do not currently have identified families. This information and much more can be found at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services recently updated website. The newly organized [...]

Portions of this blog originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier-Journal. By Judi Jennings The Annie E. Casey Foundation has issued an important wake-up call concerning the impact of parental incarceration on America’s children, especially in Kentucky. A Shared Sentence: The Devastating Toll of Parental Incarceration on Kids, Families and Communities reports that more than 135,000 kids in Kentucky have had a parent incarcerated—the highest percentage (13%) in all 50 states. Educators and health [...]

This month we've published a number of tips as part of National Safety Month. We've made a checklist for kids to have a healthy and safe summer break and listed tips for water and traffic safety. As we approach the Fourth of July holiday weekend, it's important to remember to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and practice water and vehicle safety, as well as to review tips to stay safe around fireworks. The following list of fireworks safety tips was [...]