By Melissa Collins, Child Welfare Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates With all of the uncertainty and stress as a result of these unprecedented times, it is so important to take time to care for ourselves. To help make this happen, Kentucky Youth Advocates and our partners at the Bounce Coalition are teaming up to launch the #TakeCareKY campaign to promote self-care throughout Kentucky. Next week, August 3rd - August 9th, both KYA and Bounce [...]
This news release was originally posted by the Prichard Committee on July 23, 2020. According to a recent survey of Kentucky parents and families, nearly 30% of respondents are struggling to find child care following the end of mandated closures in June due to the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, more than half of the 1,570 survey respondents reported being moderately to extremely stressed about sending their child back to child care. The Prichard Committee, along with [...]
This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum we discuss the challenges facing kids with special needs and their families during COVID-19, including shifting services during quarantine, increased needs within schools, preschools, and the home, and opportunities for budget investments and policy changes. Panelists include Dana Eckert, Case Manager with Seven Counties Services; Dr. Debbie Mays, Education Consultant with the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative; Kristy Stiltner, Mental Health Director with Mountain Comprehensive Care; and Lori [...]
This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Terry Brooks was joined by Dr. Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture; Leah Feagin, Vice President of the Kentucky School Nutrition Association; and Kate McDonald, KY Kids Eat Coordinator with Feeding Kentucky. They discuss challenges and bright spots in addressing access to nutritional, affordable food across the Commonwealth during the pandemic. This is part of a series of conversations where we examine the immediate [...]
By Melissa Collins, Child Welfare Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates On Sunday, March 15th, my life as a college student was flipped upside down like so many of my fellow college students across the nation. At 12:48 PM, the President of my college informed the student body of the course of action being taken in the wake of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). All students were asked to pack up their belongings and depart from campus [...]
This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, advocates from across the state heard a discussion on changes in policies, practices, and systems that will advance racial equity for Kentucky kids and their families. Panelists include Karina Barillas, Executive Director of La Casita Center; Dr. Kish Cumi Price, Director of Education Policy & Programming at Louisville Urban League; Keturah Herron, Policy Strategist with ACLU of Kentucky; and Vivian Lasly-Bibbs, Acting Director of CHFS Office of [...]
This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, advocates heard from three young people from Barren, Harlan, and Jefferson counties about their unique experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, how the National KIDS COUNT data is reflected in their lives, and ideas for improving outcomes for every Kentucky child. This is part of a series of conversations where we examine the immediate and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Kentucky kids and the systems that [...]
This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Terry Brooks was joined by the recently appointed Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services, Marta Miranda-Straub. DCBS includes a number of human services, such as public benefits, child care, child welfare, and more. They discuss challenges and opportunities and Commissioner Miranda-Straub's priorities around trauma-informed care and racial justice as she steps into her new role. This is part of a series of conversations where [...]
Terry Brooks shares Kentucky's measurable, but still inadequate, improvements in child well-being as highlighted in Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest KIDS COUNT Data Book, how this data can be used as a guidepost as advocates and decision makers thoughtfully move forward from the immense and disparate impacts of the pandemic, and recommendations to expand opportunities for all Kentucky children to thrive. View the Kentucky State Data Profile Sheet, and read our press release. [...]
Child Well-Being Data Highlights Continued Areas of Need as the Commonwealth Prepares to Recover from the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic KIDS COUNT® Data Book provides comprehensive annual report on child well-being in the U.S. LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Kentucky ranks 37th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the latest edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Kentucky’s measurable, but still inadequate, improvements were due [...]
