By Beatrice Roussell I was sitting in the trunk of my car – 6 feet away from two of my best friends – eating McAllister’s. They looked at me with admiration and asked, “How are you doing?” I knew what they were referring to: my eating disorder. As someone who is in recovery from a severe eating disorder (ED), the idea of quarantine sounded like a relapse danger-zone. With so much time and not a [...]
Terry Brooks is joined via phone by Nikki Thornton, Director of Program Operations at True Up, and Tia Humphrey, a member of the Voices of the Commonwealth. They discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting young people in or transitioning out of foster care and the supports they need to stay healthy and safe during this time. Join a virtual support group with VOC members every Friday at 3 PM CT/4 PM ET. RSVP [...]
Terry Brooks is joined via phone by Abby Drane, President & CEO of Seven Counties Services and Bellewood & Brooklawn, and Dale Suttles, president of Sunrise Children’s Services. They discuss how their organizations have adjusted to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and ways they are helping the youth in their care and the families they serve cope with stress and trauma. This is part of a series of conversations where we examine the [...]
Terry Brooks is joined via phone by Kentucky Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Caywood and Dr. Jay Miller, Dean of the UK College of Social Work. They discuss the priorities of DCBS during the pandemic, the importance of self-care and wellness of those in the helping professions, and how practices within the child welfare system will be impacted as the commonwealth reopens and recovers from the pandemic. This is part [...]
While Kentucky was trying to address the immediate needs of families across the commonwealth in the wake of COVID-19, the final gavel sounded on the 2020 General Assembly. There was some good news for kids in this year’s legislative session—including its unprecedented one-year budget—while progress stalled for many policies and budget priorities that would help kids and families. Two types of leaders make these wins for kids possible: legislative champions and, just as importantly, the [...]
Kids, young adults, and families across Kentucky are already feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—and will be for months to come. Those who have been involved in the child welfare system are facing many challenges, and as the state rebuilds and makes plans to support these kids and families navigating tough situations, it is important that our leaders understand their experiences. Kentucky Youth Advocates, in partnership with Casey Family Programs, is hosting nine virtual [...]
Last updated May 21, 2020 On April 20th Governor Beshear announced the closure of Kentucky’s public schools for the remainder of the academic year in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. As a result, our local, state, and federal leaders have worked to secure much needed support for the K-12 community through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Kentucky is eligible to receive over $43 million from the U.S. Department of [...]
Terry Brooks is joined via phone by Pam Darnall, president and CEO of Family and Children's Place in Louisville, and Tammy Weidinger, president and CEO of the Brighton Center in Northern Kentucky. They discuss the critical services Kentucky's Health Access Nurturing Development Services (HANDS) home visiting program provides, current disruptions to the service for many Kentucky families, and the needs of HANDS providers and the families they serve now and post-pandemic. Families can learn [...]
These are unprecedented times. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, along with Governors across the nation, has issued strict orders to practice social distancing and stay “Healthy at Home” to slow the spread of the virus. While physical distancing practices are presumably decreasing the positive COVID-19 cases throughout the state, Kentucky is also experiencing another decline that has much more concerning implications for some of our most vulnerable Kentuckians. Recent reports [...]
Last updated May 21, 2020 During the COVID-19 pandemic, families and health care providers are looking to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) for guidance on accessing care and coverage. Prioritizing the health of Kentucky families requires continued federal and state level action to support the following. Connect families to health coverage The state and federal government have taken action to ensure families [...]
