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If you didn’t make it to the Fund Kids First Rally on August 19, you can still help!

Hundreds of child advocates from across Kentucky were in Frankfort on the opening day of the special legislative session on August 19 for the Fund Kids First Rally. The rally came after the state ended its fiscal year with a $70.6 million surplus and put some of the surplus into the rainy day fund. This occurred after the Governor implemented deep cuts to the Child Care Assistance Program and the Kinship Care Program. Child advocates [...]

By |2013-08-19T06:00:30-04:00August 19th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Final details for the “Fund Kids First” Rally on Monday

The Fund Kids First Rally is four days away! We are excited to join you in Frankfort as the Kentucky General Assembly begins a special legislative session for a rally at 11 am EDT on Monday. Find final details about the rally including logistics, what to bring, and RSVP information below. Final Details for the Rally Bring with you… An umbrella and wear a poncho to use as a visual – “Budget cuts = Rainy [...]

By |2013-08-15T13:01:40-04:00August 15th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Blowing smoke on child care and kinship care

Kacey Musgraves is a new country music sensation.  Her opening number, “Blowing Smoke” goes like: Between the lunch and dinner rush Kelly caught that out bound bus for Vegas. And we're all out here talkin trash, makin bets, Lips wrapped round our cigarettes. She always thought she was too good to be a waitress. We all say that we'll quit someday When our ship comes in we'll just sail away. But we're just blowin smoke. [...]

By |2013-07-25T10:40:41-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Lessons from Dr. Heckman on early childhood development

“Invest in prevention-not remediation.” That was the primary message of Dr. James Heckman’s lecture that took place in Henderson, Kentucky on Tuesday July 23, 2013. The Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago has been a part of several studies surrounding early childhood development and the relationship that early education has with the economy. Dr. Heckman is also considered an expert in the economics of human development. Dr. Heckman’s research of [...]

By |2013-07-25T09:41:20-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security, Education|
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It takes a lot to get by in Kentucky

It’s pretty clear by now that families across Kentucky are still struggling in the wake of the recession. Although unemployment has been decreasing, the number of children in poverty continues to climb, as does the number of households relying on food stamps to feed their families. Times are tough and they don’t appear to be getting much better. Last week, the Economic Policy Institute released their updated Family Budget Calculator (which you can check out [...]

By |2013-07-10T16:10:17-04:00July 10th, 2013|Blog, Economic Security|
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Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

“The pursuit of happiness.”  That phrase animates an essay by Jon Meacham in the most recent edition of TIME. It made me remember Mary Kay Tachua – the most brilliant professor I ever experienced.  More than forty years ago, an administrative error at the University of Louisville put Dr. Tachua as the professor of an undergraduate section of American History.  Dr. Tachua was renowned as a graduate professor; social activist; and, perhaps on special and [...]

By |2013-07-03T12:12:32-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Gov. Beshear Needs to Reverse Cuts to Kinship Care and Child Care Assistance

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on May 22, 2013. You can find it online here. It was not as dramatic as scenes in Frankfort can be. There was neither a gallery of cameras nor the moment of confrontation between elected leaders. But on Tuesday, a very important event took place in Frankfort. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services held a public hearing regarding the recent cuts to kinship [...]

By |2013-05-22T10:41:35-04:00May 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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A Sure-Fire Bet for Kentucky Kids

When it comes to March Madness, I think I am an expert.  I look at every rating system known to mankind.  I compare offensive and defensive efficiencies of each team.  I analyze the relative strength of every conference.  And the result?  Well, all four granddaughters beat me (and the two youngest are only three years old!) but I did edge out my four year old grandson in our family bracketology contest!  When it comes to [...]

By |2013-05-02T11:55:19-04:00May 2nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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Kids, Families and State Budget Debates

There is a swirl of speculation about the topic.  Is the Governor going to call a special session, and – if so – what will be on “the call?”  Or what are the priorities emerging at this very moment in Cabinet-level planning for the 2014-16 budget? Any talk about budgets offers us both hope and worry.  Will it spotlight the very real need for fundamental and systemic changes in the state’s tax and budget structures [...]

By |2013-04-25T11:04:15-04:00April 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Survey of Child Care Providers Shows Subsidy Cuts Likely to Impact Access to Child Care

Jeffersontown, KY- The cuts to the child care subsidy program that took effect April 1st put availability of child care at risk, according to a survey of child care providers released today. The survey of nearly 400 child care providers, representing 66 counties across Kentucky, shows that the cuts in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will not only hurt the children that lose assistance, but will cause many child care centers to close, leaving [...]

By |2013-04-03T10:56:52-04:00April 3rd, 2013|News Room|
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