The wait will finally be over for the many children, parents, and child care centers who were impacted by the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) cuts after the program re-opens Monday August 4, 2014. For over a year parents were unable to apply for CCAP due to the freeze on child care assistance applications. The freeze will be lifted and the eligibility level will increase to 140 percent of the federal poverty level, making it [...]
It is July in Kentucky, and the frenzy of the legislative session is only a distant memory as summer staples like trips to grandma’s house, ice cream and fresh tomatoes from the garden fill our attention. Yet, July 15th brought reason to shift our attention momentarily back to the legislative session and celebrate the progress made. On that day, legislation took effect, including a number of substantive wins achieved in the 2014 legislative session for Kentucky children. As of July 15th, doctors who regularly treat children are required to receive training on [...]
Some things seemingly never change. Some things seem to always be changing. In 1990, the first car with a GPS system was sold and the first webpage was posted to the World Wide Web. TV critics panned 1990’s new television hit, “The Simpsons,” predicting an early demise of that production while movie critics were confident that Die Hard 2 was one too many of that cinematic premise. Who could have ever thought where those technological innovations and entertainment brands [...]
Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Kentucky ranks 35th in the nation on overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2014 national KIDS COUNT Data Book co-released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates. This year’s book marks the 25th edition of the annual publication. The national KIDS COUNT Data Book provides state level data and rankings. The 2014 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, which includes county level data and rankings, will be released in September. In addition to ranking 35th in overall child well-being, Kentucky ranks 35th in Economic Well-Being, 30th in [...]
Child advocates in Kentucky are entering the annual policy prioritization process by working together to develop the 2015 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children agenda. By now you have likely participated in the annual policy survey, debated with fellow advocates about what priorities should be included, served on a workgroup, helped to fund the efforts, passed information on to your colleagues, and/or shared your ideas about what we need to focus on to make Kentucky the best place to grow up. It is an [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Blueprint Steering Committee invite you to give your input on the potential priorities for the 2015 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children agenda. Click here to take the survey by July 15. The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children is a policy initiative created by children's advocates across the Commonwealth to address the most pressing challenges facing Kentucky children. The Blueprint seeks safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity [...]
There is a lot of talk about freedom in the political atmospherics of today. When most politicians are using that word “freedom” in 2014, they are talking about citizens NOT having to do something. And while our Founding Fathers used “freedom” that way occasionally – like not paying that tax on tea – a dive into real American history would reveal that the Washingtons and Jeffersons and Franklins and Adams seldom used “freedom” without connecting it to “responsibility.” Perhaps the contemporary American who most captures the Founding [...]
More than a week after attending the three day long Ready Kids Conference presented by the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, I am still reflecting on all of the things I learned. The conference kicked off with powerful messages from the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, Governor Beshear, and guest speaker and, former Congressman, author and Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Save the Children, Mark Shriver. The overall message from the opening plenary being that the earliest years are some of the most important, and we need to make sure kids get the [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Blueprint Steering Committee invite you to give your input on the potential priorities for the 2015 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children agenda. Click here to take the survey. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a policy initiative created by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth to address the most pressing challenges facing Kentucky children. The Blueprint seeks safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child [...]
