Have you ever used Kentucky KIDS COUNT data? Do you care about funding for programs like the Child Care Assistance Program, school meals, and SNAP? Is it helpful to understand the demographics of people in your community? Have you driven on a highway in Kentucky this week? If you answered yes to any of these questions (and we suspect you all did!), then we need your help! The U.S. Decennial Census has been [...]
Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a community with the resources needed to thrive. The 2030 Census will determine how federal funding is distributed for critical programs that support children, families, and communities – including the National School Lunch Program, Child Care Assistance Program, and road and community development funding. Next year, local governments have an important opportunity to make sure communities are ready for the 2030 Census: the Local [...]
By Jennifer Nguyen, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates When I first ventured into my internship at Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), my understanding of the U.S. Census was fairly basic: it was a broad survey that happened every ten years, something the “adults” in my household handled, and a process that felt completely distant from my everyday life. During my first week, sitting down with my supervisor to dive into our [...]
As the KIDS COUNT grantee for Kentucky for nearly 40 years, Kentucky Youth Advocates knows the importance of counting kids! Each year, we report on child well-being in each of the 120 counties of our Commonwealth. Many key data points included in the annual report come from the Census, including measures like children living in poverty, children with health insurance coverage, and population data that allows us to calculate rates to make the [...]
In 2027, local governments will have the opportunity to influence how much federal funding they get through 2040 for crucial programs that support child well-being, economic development, and infrastructure. This opportunity? The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA). The Local Update of Census Addresses, also known as LUCA, is the main tool the U.S. Census Bureau uses to create the address list for the decennial Census. Although the 2030 Census may seem far [...]
When we talk about “resilience,” we often talk about how individuals respond after a crisis. Someone standing strong despite the challenges faced. But resilience often starts long before a crisis, and our ability to adapt, recover, and thrive is heavily shaped by the communities we live in. If we want Kentuckians to be resilient, we need to ensure the communities they live in are also resilient. To help communities assess their levels of [...]
Patterns emerge all the time around us, whether watching the beautiful display of a spider spin its web in a meticulous, lattice-like fashion or the furiously fast movement of a hummingbird’s wings as nectar is consumed in a moment of time. Bottom line, if we are not paying attention then we just may miss a chance to bring to light what is happening. One pattern that caught my eye recently was a U.S. Census [...]
If you’ve read the previous blogs, you’ll know that the census isn’t just once a decade. It’s an ongoing process. Each year the Census Bureau releases data at different points during the year that cover different subject matter. Understanding the ACS In January, the American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates were released. These topics are the same as the one-year estimates released in September, but the five-year estimates are considered more accurate. For the one-year [...]
In the region of Kentucky where I grew up – the beautiful Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky – communication is woven into the fabric of communities. The annual Swappin’ Meetin’ held each Fall at Southeast Community and Technical College would showcase that communication through storytelling, songs, and the many conversations of neighbors and friends. While the stories and songs will be saved for our beloved community gatherings, we want to hear from our Appalachian communities [...]
Nothing quite matches the pride of a new grandparent or auntie showing pictures of a new baby. At a meeting, at the grocery store, or after church, they are quick to pull out their phones and share a few pictures of the new bundle of joy. This year, I’ve been that auntie, showing off my sweet niece who was born this past Winter, when I’m catching up with friends. As much as we care for [...]
