Kinship care

Fund Kids First Rally Draws Hundreds to Frankfort on First Day of Special Session

Fund Kids First Rally Draws Hundreds to Frankfort on First Day of Special Session

Jeffersontown, KY –Hundreds of child advocates from across Kentucky are in Frankfort today on the opening day of the special legislative session for the Fund Kids First Rally. Those present are speaking out for restored funding to the Child Care Assistance and Kinship Care Programs and asking state leaders to “Fund Kids First” when they return to Frankfort in January to work on the next two-year budget. The rally comes after the state ended its [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2013-08-19T12:00:11-04:00August 19th, 2013|News Room|

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

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 Andrea Bennett|2013-08-19T06:00:30-04:00August 19th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Final details for the “Fund Kids First” Rally on Monday

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 Andrea Bennett|2013-08-15T13:01:40-04:00August 15th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Blowing smoke on child care and kinship care

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 Terry Brooks|2013-07-25T10:40:41-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Sign-on to speak out against cuts to child care and kinship care

Sign-on to speak out against cuts to child care and kinship care

Since April 1, no new families have been able to receive child care assistance or apply for the Kinship Care Program. Child care assistance helps low-income working families afford child care while the Kinship Care Program provides financial support to grandparents and other relatives who are raising children because they cannot live safely with their parents. In addition, the state raised income eligibility limits for child care assistance from 150 percent to 100 percent of [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-07-25T10:05:44-04:00July 25th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Cabinet responds to advocates’ concerns regarding cuts to children’s program

Cabinet responds to advocates’ concerns regarding cuts to children’s program

Since April 1, no new families have been able to receive child care assistance or apply for the Kinship Care Program, which provides financial support to non-parental, relative caregivers, like grandparents. In addition, the state raised income eligibility limits for child care assistance from 150 percent to 100 percent of the poverty level, causing 8,700 families to lose child care assistance each month. This stems from a decision by the Department for Community Based Services [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-07-18T15:06:53-04:00July 18th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Remember the original meaning of “The Pursuit of Happiness” this Independence Day

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 Terry Brooks|2013-07-03T12:12:32-04:00July 3rd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Participate in Statewide Call-In Day on July 1 to restore funds for child care and kinship care

Participate in Statewide Call-In Day on July 1 to restore funds for child care and kinship care

On July 1, major cuts to child care supports go into effect causing 8,700 families to lose child care assistance each month. Helping families pay for child care makes it more likely they can get and keep a job. The state has also stopped new applications for the Kinship Care Program, which provides financial support to non-parental, relative caregivers, like grandparents. Research shows that children who have been abused and neglected experience less trauma when placed [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2013-06-27T10:52:25-04:00June 27th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Kinship care support doesn’t make it easier, it helps to make it possible

Kinship care support doesn’t make it easier, it helps to make it possible

I got to know some of the best Kentuckians you could ever meet at last week’s public hearing on the cuts to kinship care and child care subsidies. I had the privilege of driving to Frankfort with Phyllis, a 63 year old grandmother who is stepping up to raise her 16 month and 3 year old granddaughters, both who were born addicted to cocaine. As the married mother of two girls the same age, I [...]

By Patricia Tennen|2013-05-30T14:56:48-04:00May 30th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Gov. Beshear Needs to Reverse Cuts to Kinship Care and Child Care Assistance

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 Terry Brooks|2013-05-22T10:41:35-04:00May 22nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|