COVID-19 and Kentucky Kids: Child Abuse Prevention & the TEN-4 Bruising Rule

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss child abuse prevention, including the TEN-4 bruising rule, and how the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism are impacting family safety and dynamics. Panelists include Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce, Professor of Emergency Medicine Pediatrics and Preventive Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and co-creator of the TEN-4 Bruising Rule; Dr. Melissa Currie, Medical Director and Chief of the Kosair Charities Division [...]

By |2020-09-24T14:51:42-04:00September 24th, 2020|Podcast|

Kentucky’s Child Poverty Rate Remained Steady from 2018 to 2019

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Kentucky’s Child Poverty Rate Remained Steady from 2018 to 2019 Household Pulse Survey Data Show Impact of the Pandemic on Family Housing Stability and Food Access Louisville, KY – New data released this week by the U.S Census Bureau reveals that 21.7 percent of Kentucky children lived in poverty in 2019, which is not statistically different than the 2018 rate of 23.0 percent. With over one in five children living in [...]

By |2020-09-18T16:39:27-04:00September 18th, 2020|Economic Security, News Room, Race Equity|

Kentucky Child Health Insurance Coverage Remained Virtually Unchanged from 2018 to 2019

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Kentucky Child Health Insurance Coverage Remained Virtually Unchanged from 2018 to 2019 Impact of Pandemic on Children’s Coverage Unknown Until Next Year Louisville, KY – New health insurance data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the percent of Kentucky children under 19 with health coverage was 96.2 percent in 2019 (not statistically different from 2018). When disaggregated by race/ethnicity, the data reveal stark disparities in health coverage [...]

By |2020-09-17T17:56:41-04:00September 17th, 2020|Health, Medicaid, News Room, Race Equity|

COVID-19 and Kentucky Kids: An Update on Child Care

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss recent state enacted child care changes and the impact on families and providers. Panelists included Dr. Sarah Vanover, Director of the Kentucky Division of Child Care; June Widman, executive director, Appalachian Early Childhood Network; and Dawn Thompson, Assistant Director, and Kathy King, special projects manager, of Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C). Learn more about the recent child care updates and TAKE ACTION by telling your [...]

By |2020-09-16T13:41:28-04:00September 17th, 2020|Podcast|

Save the Dates: Children’s Advocacy Week at the Capitol February 1st-5th

For 16 years advocates for kids have gathered in Frankfort for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. On Children’s Advocacy Day, advocates fill the halls of the Capitol and ask their elected officials to step up for Kentucky kids—leading to many policy wins and building awareness of issues facing kids and their families. Children’s Advocacy Day is critical to building a brighter future for Kentucky kids. Amidst COVID-19, the strains on families, communities, and the [...]

COVID-19 and Kentucky Kids: Supporting Kinship Families

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss kinship care in Kentucky amidst COVID-19, the important role of support groups, and what advocates can do to stand up for kinship families. We also presented a new handbook for relative caregivers to use as a resource as they navigate caring for vulnerable children and understanding the complex child welfare system. Panelists include Mary Jo Dendy, Family Resource Center Coordinator with Fayette County Public Schools; [...]

By |2020-09-10T16:12:10-04:00September 10th, 2020|Podcast|

Child Care: State Offers Some Limited Relief and Now It is Time for Congress to Act

On August 31st, Governor Beshear announced a number of measures intended to provide some relief to Kentucky’s child care providers and the kids and families who rely on them. Let’s be clear – there are no magic wands when it comes to the challenges presented by COVID-19 for the child care sector. The announcement represents a commendable and unenviable job of listening to providers, listening to families, and taking steps to prop up the fundamental, [...]

By |2020-09-10T15:17:30-04:00September 9th, 2020|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

Op-Ed: Kentucky Kids Need Federal Action Now

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal September 3, 2020.  By Terry Brooks, executive director Kentucky Youth Advocates To say that autumn 2020 may bring surprises is the classic understatement. Can you imagine a year ago – or even a few months ago – seeing a September when kids are in front of a screen at home instead of in a classroom at school? Or an October when talk about college football playoffs [...]

By |2020-09-03T13:58:55-04:00September 3rd, 2020|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Promoting Cessation to End Teen Vaping

In Kentucky, rates of youth cigarette smoking have been decreasing, but the usage of e-cigarettes has surged. The percentage of twelfth grade Kentucky students using e-cigarettes jumped from 12.2% to 26.7% from 2016 to 2018. This upward trend for youth e-cigarette use is being seen by high schools nationwide with 25% of all high school students reporting use of electronic nicotine products in 2019. While teen vaping has increased, new research from JAMA Pediatrics indicates [...]

By |2020-09-03T15:19:26-04:00September 1st, 2020|Blog, Health|

Federal COVID-19 Relief Updates and Calls To Action

Updated September 16, 2020 Tumbleweeds seem to be blowing around the halls of Congress these days as families continue to struggle to feed their children, pay their rent, care for their children, and work to overcome the challenges of life during COVID-19. For a brief moment it seemed like politics would be put aside in favor of doing what is best for kids and families. But the spectacular leadership of our representatives in Washington seen [...]

By |2020-09-16T09:28:42-04:00August 31st, 2020|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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