The Fall season has arrived in Kentucky, complete with chilly weather and visits to pumpkin patches. Another hallmark of this time of year in Kentucky is the upcoming release of the annual Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book, coming up on November 20th. For decades now, many of us have come to rely on the information from the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project to assess how kids are faring, measure our progress on improving opportunities, and identify where our efforts are needed. 

Behind the scenes of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project, the team at KYA relies on a number of state and federal agencies for quality data to allow us to create the tool that helps guide decision-making when it comes to Kentucky children. One crucial source of data is the U.S. Census Bureau, which provides not only data from the decennial census but also important data from the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS). The ACS secures the information on topics such as income and housing, which are critical parts of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT project. 

Currently, Congress is negotiating the federal budget, including making determinations on funding for the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau needs full funding for the ACS to be able to ensure we have reliable data about children and families in our Kentucky communities. Full funding will also help make sure that everyone gets counted. In the past, some populations have been undercounted, including young children, families in Appalachia, and Spanish-speaking families. 

Are you part of a school or nonprofit organization that relies on Census data and Kentucky KIDS COUNT data? If so, please let our Kentucky delegation – your U.S. Senators and member of Congress – know how important Census funding is for your work and your community.

Photo by Yan Krukau via Pexels