School Choice – what once was a term that simply described a variety of different school options – is now a term that brings about a variety of different emotions. What once was a nonpartisan issue is now deeply polarizing in today’s times. Here at Kentucky Youth Advocates, we believe in equipping families with the tools to make the best choices for their unique circumstances. We believe that whatever “choice” of education, it should [...]
By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates With the new year officially here, it is time for an update on Children’s Advocacy Week 2024. Children’s Advocacy Week will take place January 22-26th and we wanted to provide the schedule and reminders for the week to assist you in lifting your voice for Kentucky’s children. Again, this year, we will host both in-person and virtual events. You can find a schedule of the events with [...]
By Tamara Vest and Shannon Moody When children cannot stay safely with their parents, research tells us the best option for their success lies in being cared for by grandparents, relatives, or close family friends. Kentuckians value family and we see these caregiving arrangements in many homes across the Commonwealth. It is estimated that 55,000 children live with and receive care and support from a relative that is not their biological parent in the state [...]
The General Assembly gaveled in for the 2024 Regular Session this week. Given Kentucky’s unprecedented budget reserve trust fund surplus and the state’s current landscape, there is a real opportunity to invest and empower kids and families across the Commonwealth. Bloom Kentucky is a collaborative initiative of grantmaking organizations from across the Commonwealth focused on statewide policy changes and budget investments that aim to prevent and mitigate the multi-generational impacts of childhood adversity so that [...]
The federal stabilization payments for child care – dedicated to wages and fixed expenses – funded through the American Rescue Plan have all been dispersed. This month, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Beshear Administration will issue one final stabilization payment to child care providers. Beginning in 2024, all the additional American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will focus on projects like the Child Care Assistance Program, start-up grants for family child care [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth released the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2024 priority agenda. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful [...]
This originally appeared as an op-ed in Kentucky Today and the Herald Leader on November 30, 2023. By Norma Hatfield As we approach a new year, let’s not forget kids in kinship care. Kinship care is when a child is living with relatives or close family friends other than their parents. These children may be victims of abuse and neglect and/or formally in the child welfare system, while many for a myriad of reasons are informally [...]
By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Mental health is an integral part of kids’ everyday lives and a focus area nationally as mental health issues among youth have increased in recent years. Addressing these concerns is vital for youth since mental health struggles are leading causes for poor health outcomes and difficulties in school and relationships. Since the pandemic, mental health among youth has declined drastically in Kentucky, which can be attributed to [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Investing in the “Kid Workforce” Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child well-being Louisville, KY – The 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the [...]
Kandice Williams and students You may have once heard the quote, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” As we look toward celebrating the Future Teachers of America Day, which is celebrated annually on November 20th– it’s important that we pause and reflect on how we are empowering Kentucky’s future teacher workforce. During a recent Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) presented on Kentucky [...]
