Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Address the Root Cause of Behavior, Don’t Criminalize It

Address the Root Cause of Behavior, Don’t Criminalize It

Kids are kids, and we should not expect them to act like tiny adults. However, when our response to elementary school-age children who get in trouble involves the juvenile justice system, that’s exactly what we’re doing. Interacting with police, being in court, and experiencing incarceration can be traumatic. It can also negatively impact a child’s development, interrupt their schooling, and keep them in a system that’s easy to get into and difficult to get out [...]

By Cortney Downs|2021-07-07T11:07:07-04:00July 7th, 2021|Blog, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Kentucky Announces Plans to Bolster Child Care with Federal Relief Funds

Kentucky Announces Plans to Bolster Child Care with Federal Relief Funds

The latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book co-released by Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Annie E. Casey Foundation data shows that Kentucky is moving in the wrong direction on 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school, with 60% of this age group not enrolled in school. Of those who are enrolled, we know that many children in Kentucky attend preschool through a licensed child care center, which serves a dual purpose of helping children get the [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2021-07-01T12:55:54-04:00July 1st, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Race Equity|

Implementation of 2021 Wins for Kids

Implementation of 2021 Wins for Kids

Many of you joined us in advocating for the 2021 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy and budget priorities through virtual meetings, calling, or emailing your legislators, attended Children’s Advocacy Week, and so much more throughout the 2021 legislative session. Your critical efforts paid off with legislative wins for children and positive investments in the state budget. These new laws went into effect June 29th and the new state budget will take effect July 1st. Blueprint [...]

By Mahak Kalra|2021-06-30T13:04:48-04:00June 30th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Child Care Centers: Safe Spaces for Children to Grow, Learn, Play, and Thrive

Child Care Centers: Safe Spaces for Children to Grow, Learn, Play, and Thrive

We know that for many children summer brings changes to daily routines formed during the school year, including how children spend their free time and their food and drink choices throughout the day. But licensed child care centers continue to provide a safe, structured environment for children when they are out of school and new regulations took effect this month that codified Senate Bill 45, passed during the 2020 legislative session. SB 45 ensures all [...]

By Alicia Whatley|2021-06-30T14:22:44-04:00June 21st, 2021|Blog, Education, Health|

Actions to Mitigate Food Insecurity in the United States

Actions to Mitigate Food Insecurity in the United States

By Nikky Patel, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates In the past year, many Americans have experienced a lack of access to healthy food and, although food insecurity is not a new issue, we have vividly felt its effect throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the federal government and Congressional leaders have been responsive to this issue and continue to apply lessons learned throughout the pandemic to take action that will address hunger and food insecurity in [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2021-06-30T14:28:55-04:00June 16th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|

Trauma-Informed Plans: An Opportunity for More Positive Learning Environments

Trauma-Informed Plans: An Opportunity for More Positive Learning Environments

When the gavel sounded on the 2019 legislative session, advocates across the state celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 1, the School Safety and Resiliency Act. This bipartisan effort brought together lawmakers, behavioral health experts, and school administrators to ensure all students can learn in a safe and supportive school environment. While the bill encompassed multiple areas of school safety, including requiring procedures and oversight to strengthen school security if a threat occurs, it also [...]

By Carli Mosby|2021-06-30T14:28:23-04:00June 10th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Health and Mental Health

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Health and Mental Health

The Kentucky legislature has proven that a bipartisan blend of head and heart can be effective when addressing young people’s well-being. From school safety and resilience to reforming the child welfare system, they have shown that finding common ground to achieve common sense solutions results in critical systemic changes. And issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, though strongly polarizing, do not have to be any different. There should be an unanimity of voice [...]

By Cortney Downs|2021-06-30T14:30:29-04:00May 20th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Stay informed on the progress of the 2014 Blueprint priorities in the KY legislature

Stay informed on the progress of the 2014 Blueprint priorities in the KY legislature

Want to stay up to date on the progress of the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children priorities? We will be updating our "Legislative Updates" page each week during the 2014 General Assembly session. Click the "Legislative Updates" badge on the right hand side of our homepage at kyyouth.org. You can also go directly there by clicking here.

By Andrea Bennett|2014-01-23T11:42:39-05:00January 23rd, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Reminder – Complete the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Survey by Monday

You have just a few more days to give input on the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth working to improve the lives of children. Please complete the 2014 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Survey by Monday, August 19. Find the survey here. The Blueprint aims to promote safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in [...]

By Katie Carter|2013-08-15T10:47:17-04:00August 15th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Complete the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children survey to help determine top 2014 Blueprint child priorities

The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is is beginning its 7th year. The Blueprint is a policy initiative supported by children’s advocates across the Commonwealth to improve the lives of children in Kentucky. The Blueprint aims to achieve safe and healthy families, a fair deal for working parents and a fair opportunity for every child in Kentucky. Responding to a challenge from legislators asking child advocates to speak with a common voice, children’s advocacy groups formed the Blueprint [...]

By Katie Carter|2013-08-05T17:23:56-04:00August 5th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|