Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

New Issue Brief: Improving the Safety of Kentucky’s Youngest Children

Understanding the Scope of Child Abuse in Child Centers and Proposed Recommendations

LOUISVILLE, KY – Parents across Kentucky rely on child care options in order to go to work and provide for their family. While the vast majority of child care programs are safe and high-quality, recent data shows that incidents of child abuse emanating from child care centers have increased at an alarming rate.

A new issue brief – Improving the Safety of Kentucky’s Youngest Children – released today by the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement and Kentucky Youth Advocates explores the scope of child abuse and neglect in child care centers and provides recommendations to reduce incidents and keep children safe.

“Access to child care is critical for our working parents and caregivers – and we expect our kids to be safe while in care. Any instance of harm to a child is unacceptable and very preventable in child care settings with the right supports, tools, and training,” said Barry Dunn, president and CEO of Kosair for Kids.

According to a Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ report cited in the issue brief, the number of serious injuries in licensed child care centers (type 1) and the number of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases in all centers increased 64% and 73%, respectively, from 2022 to 2024. Annual data also shows that hotline complaints about child care facilities increased 46% in that timeframe.

Acknowledging workforce challenges and teacher stress due to adult-to-child classroom ratios as contributing factors, Kentucky can take steps towards improving the health and safety of young children in child care programs by requiring further professional development training, increasing investments in child care programs, and improving data transparency.

“During a recent teacher in-service training day, we discussed some of the contributing factors. We identified that it could be that state ratios are being maxed out, it could be there is a great deal of responsibility on teachers at low working wages, or an increase in challenging behaviors from children with and without disabilities where teachers may not be trained or know how to handle those types of situations,” said Denise Menshouse, the Director of Growing Together Preschool in Lexington.

Additionally, the issue brief emphasizes the growing need for required professional development training for child care providers specifically related to supporting children with disabilities. One in five children are diagnosed with a disability that may require more individualized care for their special needs and often more challenging behaviors. These children are more likely to experience physical and emotional abuse and neglect, and to be subject to a soft expulsion from a child care program that cannot adequately meet the child’s needs.

“All young children – those with disabilities included – should have access to a safe, quality child care program, surrounded by caring teachers and same-age peers. By better equipping our early childhood teachers, we can set child care programs and these young Kentuckians up for success,” said Dr. Sarah Vanover, Policy and Advocacy Director at Kentucky Youth Advocates.

Recommendations for reducing incidences of child abuse in child care centers:

  • Require child care providers to obtain training on classroom supervision, classroom management, and supporting children with disabilities within the 15 hours of training required annually.
  • Increase investments in child care programs to allow administrators to reduce their classroom sizes and ratios, increase wages to attract and retain teachers, and improve the quality of their centers.
  • Improve data transparency of reports of abuse within child care centers to better understand its prevalence, ability to recognize signs among very young children, and identify opportunities to support children and families.

View Improving the Safety of Kentucky’s Youngest Children issue brief at faceitabuse.org.

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About the Face It® Movement
The Face It® Movement launched in 2013 as an initiative led by Kosair for Kids® in response to the number of child abuse deaths in the Commonwealth. Face It focuses on a three-pronged approach to addressing child abuse and neglect: promote best practices in child abuse prevention and intervention, build awareness and engage the community, and advocate for effective policies to improve the child welfare system. Learn more at faceitmovement.org. 

About Kosair for Kids®
Kosair for Kids enhances the health and well-being of children by delivering financial support for healthcare, research, education, social services, and child advocacy. We envision a world in which children in need live life to the fullest. For more information, please visit kosair.org. 

About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at kyyouth.org.