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Diving Deeper into HB 6 to Strengthen Kentucky’s Child Care Ecosystem

Affordable, quality child care continues to be a top priority for families that need to be a part of the workforce while still providing a safe and healthy environment for their young children. During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly dedicated more general fund dollars to child care than ever before. That was a first step towards developing Kentucky’s child care infrastructure. Now, during this budget session, Kentucky continues to brainstorm on how to [...]

By |2026-02-24T13:57:30-05:00February 12th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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A Look at the New Early Childhood Education Task Force

The 2022 legislative session has ended, and now Kentucky’s lawmakers are dedicating their time to interim meetings in order to learn more about issues pressing the Commonwealth. This year a new committee has been added specifically to look at Kentucky’s early care and education systems – the Early Childhood Education Task Force is chaired by Senator Danny Carroll from Paducah and Representative Samara Heavrin from Leitchfield. They are joined by Senators Wil Schroder, Reginald Thomas, [...]

By |2022-07-06T16:14:24-04:00July 6th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Race Equity|
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National Report Shows Need for Continued Investments in Child Care Assistance for Kentucky Families

Contact: Andrea Bennett abennett@kyyouth.org 502-381-1176 Jeffersontown, KY - Kentucky Youth Advocates joins the National Women's Law Center today in releasing the state-by-state report, Turning the Corner: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2014. The report examines five critical factors that determine the affordability, accessibility and quality of child care assistance for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Turning the Corner: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2014 compares data from February 2014 to data from February 2013 and 2001 [...]

By |2014-10-22T10:22:40-04:00October 22nd, 2014|News Room|
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Statement on Child Care Eligibility Being Raised to 140% of Poverty Beginning August 4

Kentucky families and local economies won today as Governor Beshear announced that the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) would be restored in early August.  Particularly significant is the Governor’s commitment to increase eligibility from its current level – 100% - to 140% this fiscal year with an increase to 150% of poverty in July 2015.  That means parents can keep their jobs and ensure quality care for their children.  That means child care centers – such [...]

By |2014-06-20T23:50:34-04:00June 20th, 2014|News Room|
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Ask Governor Beshear to Re-open CCAP Enrollment in July

Recently, Governor Beshear said that he might delay restoring child care assistance until August or even later. The legislature approved funding to restore assistance beginning July 1. That means the freeze on applications was supposed to be lifted and eligibility increased in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in about two weeks. The governor said state revenues are below expectations, but a cabinet spokesperson said that the shortfall should not impact child care payments. Please contact the [...]

By |2014-06-17T11:24:06-04:00June 17th, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|
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Children Won in the 2014 KY General Assembly

The 2014 Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up late last night. The day after, a review of the action taken by legislators in Frankfort this year shows major accomplishments for Kentucky children. Thank you to the many bill sponsors, leaders on budget issues, Governor Beshear, President Stivers, Speaker Stumbo, other members of House and Senate leadership, and all legislators that helped make these accomplishments possible! What do these wins mean? SB 176, sponsored by Senator Denise [...]

By |2014-04-16T14:54:12-04:00April 16th, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Video Stories Show the Importance of Full Restoration for Child Care in the Final Budget

Check out the videos below of parents and child care providers that have felt the significant impacts of the Child Care Assistance Program cuts that began last year. The Child Care Assistance Program helps low-income parents maintain employment or further their education while their children are learning and being cared for in a safe environment. Because of the cuts, Kentucky now has the lowest eligibility level in the nation for parents to qualify for child [...]

By |2014-03-25T16:35:17-04:00March 25th, 2014|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|
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Statement in Response to the Governor’s 2014 State of the Commonwealth Address

It is altogether fitting and proper that a major piece of the Governor’s speech was about kids and families.  The Governor, in fact, took an important first step in protecting children from abuse - he is appropriately touted as a health reformer whose efforts work - and he and the First Lady were pivotal in raising the graduation rate. And much of the vision that he describes is truly aspirational for children.  Once again, his [...]

By |2014-01-07T20:33:03-05:00January 7th, 2014|News Room|
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New KIDS COUNT Report finds Critical Investments Should Target the First Eight Years of Life

Jeffersontown, KY — The KIDS COUNT policy report, The First Eight Years: Giving Kids a Foundation for Lifetime Success, co-released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Kentucky Youth Advocates, presents a strong case for investing in quality early learning opportunities and supporting parents to ensure their young children are on the right track for success. The first eight years of a child’s life are critical for developing needed emotional and cognitive skills for [...]

By |2013-11-04T00:01:06-05:00November 4th, 2013|News Room|
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Fund Kids First Rally reminds us that the state budget is about priorities

Kids’ champions and kids themselves gathered on Monday morning and rocked the Rotunda.  Folks who had been impacted by child care cuts and kinship care cuts and folks who had received a “hand up” for a better life because of those supports stood and eloquently shared their stories. There were more than a few moist eyes as those gathered heard stories about a grandmother worried about what would happen if the five grandchildren she was [...]

By |2013-08-22T15:12:04-04:00August 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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