FacebookInstagramXYouTubeEmail

Statement on Priorities for Kids During the Kentucky General Assembly Special Session

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The easy path as we approach this special session is to devolve to conventional thinking – that the pandemic and Kentucky’s recovery efforts are too polarizing and too complex for thoughtful and direct solutions. Yet, we attest a hope that the special session can be a landmark moment when the General Assembly and the Governor come together for [...]

By |2021-09-16T12:59:01-04:00September 4th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room, Race Equity|
Read More

Update on the Kentucky Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity

When the final gavel sounded on the 2021 General Assembly, several pieces of legislation passed that will begin to close gaps in opportunity for children of color. Among these policies that became law was Senate Bill 10, co-sponsored by Senator David Givens, Senator Whitney Westerfield, and Senate President Robert Stivers, which established a Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity. The Commission is tasked with providing studies, research driven policy proposals, and annual reports crossing [...]

By |2021-09-02T16:58:26-04:00September 2nd, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
Read More

Increasing Compensation is Key to Ensuring Child Care is Available for Kentucky Families

As we’ve shared throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the current public health crisis has shown that without child care, our families, our communities, and the economy cannot successfully function. And as many early childhood advocates and providers have continually shared, the pandemic has only exacerbated the challenges facing Kentucky’s child care workforce as a result of limited public investment. According to a survey conducted in late 2020, following mandated shutdown of child care centers to protect [...]

By |2021-09-02T14:29:52-04:00September 1st, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education|
Read More

The Fruits of Our Labor: New Child Population Data

Remember the 2020 Census? It seems like forever ago in this topsy turvy world, but it was just last year (April through October) that everyone in the U.S. was asked to complete the short questionnaire to determine how many people live here. Despite the many challenges wrought by the pandemic, our state achieved a higher self-response rate for the 2020 Census than in 2010! The fruits of our labor paid off – and when I say “our” [...]

By |2021-08-19T16:01:16-04:00August 19th, 2021|Blog, Kids Count, Race Equity|
Read More

Thinking Critically About Race and Its Impact on Kentucky’s Children

“Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” — President Abraham Lincoln As parents, we want to protect our children. We want to wrap them in love and ensure that they are treated with respect. We want them to have access to the best opportunities and [...]

By |2021-08-11T14:32:30-04:00July 30th, 2021|Blog, Education, Race Equity|
Read More

Friendly Reminder: Yes, It’s Time to See Your Dentist!

This post from the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader, Kentucky Health News, and Northern Kentucky Tribune in July 2021. By Dr. Stephanie Poynter and Linda Poynter, PHRDH, BHS  Like many Kentuckians, we are eager for a summer of “back-to-normal” activities – backyard BBQs with neighbors, family trips to our favorite state parks, and evenings at the county fair.  One big “back-to-normal” activity for families across the Commonwealth this summer is reviewing that ever-growing back-to-school checklist. As a dentist and dental [...]

By |2021-07-15T10:32:31-04:00July 15th, 2021|Blog, Health, Race Equity|
Read More

5 Considerations for Your Child’s Education

If we are honest, there are a lot of things to be stressed about when we think about how our kids are doing after enduring a clear disruption to their schooling. But before you let the panic pile on, here are some things families should consider concerning their child's academic success post-pandemic: 1. Your child has been through a very difficult time and may be experiencing academic fatigue. Although there may be some anxiety concerning [...]

By |2021-07-15T13:42:30-04:00July 13th, 2021|Blog, Education, Health, Race Equity|
Read More

Address the Root Cause of Behavior, Don’t Criminalize It

Kids are kids, and we should not expect them to act like tiny adults. However, when our response to elementary school-age children who get in trouble involves the juvenile justice system, that’s exactly what we’re doing. Interacting with police, being in court, and experiencing incarceration can be traumatic. It can also negatively impact a child’s development, interrupt their schooling, and keep them in a system that’s easy to get into and difficult to get out [...]

By |2021-07-07T11:07:07-04:00July 7th, 2021|Blog, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
Read More

Kentucky Announces Plans to Bolster Child Care with Federal Relief Funds

The latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book co-released by Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Annie E. Casey Foundation data shows that Kentucky is moving in the wrong direction on 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in school, with 60% of this age group not enrolled in school. Of those who are enrolled, we know that many children in Kentucky attend preschool through a licensed child care center, which serves a dual purpose of helping children get the [...]

By |2021-07-01T12:55:54-04:00July 1st, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Race Equity|
Read More

Implementation of 2021 Wins for Kids

Many of you joined us in advocating for the 2021 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy and budget priorities through virtual meetings, calling, or emailing your legislators, attended Children’s Advocacy Week, and so much more throughout the 2021 legislative session. Your critical efforts paid off with legislative wins for children and positive investments in the state budget. These new laws went into effect June 29th and the new state budget will take effect July 1st. Blueprint [...]

By |2021-06-30T13:04:48-04:00June 30th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
Read More
Go to Top