Most of us think the Census is the once every ten year survey that gets filled out to take a count of people, but it’s actually so much more! As an organization that depends on accurate, timely, and thorough data, the Census is one of Kentucky Youth Advocates' go-to sources for information. While the Census Bureau conducts a survey once every ten years (called the Decennial), it also evaluates the data, makes adjustments based on [...]
This is part of Kentucky Youth Advocates’ series on the federal landscape and the impacts on Kentucky children and families. As Congress moves forward with this year’s federal budget, some long-standing child safety programs are facing major reductions or being eliminated altogether. While some of these cuts are still being debated in Congress, others have already gone into effect through recent executive decisions. These shifts affect the programs that help keep kids safe and supported [...]
By Kayla Harmon, a member of KY SEAT Reunification—the process of bringing a family back together after separation—can feel like an uphill battle. It’s overwhelming, emotional, and filled with obstacles that sometimes seem too heavy to bear. But here’s the truth: you can succeed. And one of the greatest factors in that success is having someone walk beside you—someone who believes in you even when you’re struggling to believe in yourself. You Weren’t Meant to [...]
When it comes to preventing child abuse and keeping families from unnecessarily engaging with the child welfare system, economic and concrete supports are essential. In Kentucky, many of the Thriving Families, Safer Children Kentucky Regional Prevention Collaborative teams noted that knowledge of and access to supports and resources for families is a need within their community, including transportation, child care, housing, and access to service providers. The need for these supports and resources were highlighted [...]
By Kayla Harmon, a member of KY SEAT Having a child in foster care is one of the most heart-wrenching and complex experiences a biological parent can go through. It’s not just a separation from your child; it’s a journey full of emotional ups and downs, personal growth, and—most importantly—learning to trust in a system that will hopefully bring your family back together. But one thing is certain: the key to success in this process [...]
This blog was originally published on True Up. By: Tatum Abel, Peer Engagement Coordinator The foster care system is designed to protect children in vulnerable situations, offering them a haven when their biological families cannot safely provide care. However, data compiled by Kentucky Youth Advocates persistently shows that Black children are being removed from their homes more than their white peers once involved with the child welfare system. In 2021, more than 390,000 youth across the country [...]
The saying, “what gets measured gets changed,” has long been a cornerstone of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project, which has reported county-level data on critical measures of child well-being for more than 35 years. As Kentucky faces an unprecedented opportunity to address the opioid epidemic through Opioid Settlement funds, we can prevent future generations from suffering the impacts. Kentucky Youth Advocates released new data this month on the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families [...]
By Andrew Alvey and Shontelle Davis Many states, including Kentucky, have turned their attention to preventative efforts to ensure that children are safe and families are thriving. The goal of these prevention efforts is to intervene before a crisis occurs and keep families from engaging with the child welfare system or if CPS involvement is necessary to keep families together, when safe. The concept of meeting families where they are starts with acknowledging that [...]
In recent years, Kentucky has begun using a new lens in order to address issues related to child maltreatment and abuse. This new lens focuses on child and family well-being, in order to provide families with the support and resources they need before a crisis occurs. In 2022, Kentucky was selected as one of 22 sites to be a part of the Thriving Families, Safer Children national effort (TFSC). TFSC highlights the importance of community [...]
This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern on April 28, 2025. By Barry Dunn and Shannon Moody Photo Credit: Kentucky Lantern, Getty Images In a moment, so much can change in a family’s life. A last-minute work schedule change that leads to relying on an unsafe babysitter. An unsupportive reaction from a bystander that could have been a connection point for support and kindness rather than further shame and frustration. A [...]
