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Kentucky parents are worried about their kids' educational and social development as well as the safety of their children if they are forced into using lower-cost, lower-quality care, according to a March 2024 survey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

As KY child care crisis worsens, advocates highlight career pathways

The shrinking supply of child-care workers continues to impact Kentucky, and advocates say helping more people receive a Child Development Associate …

A Kentucky bill to ban Broad Based Categorical Eligibility for the federal SNAP program would result in at least 21,400 children losing SNAP statewide and would threaten funding for meals at schools and child care centers, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY School districts say SNAP Cuts legislation could worsen student hunger

Kentucky school districts say a proposed bill to tighten restrictions on SNAP participation will lead to an uptick in student hunger. House Bill 367 …

According to the Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 15% of Kentucky high school students reported having seriously considered suicide within a 12-month period. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY bill would strengthen trauma-informed resources in schools

Suicide rates among young Kentuckians are rising and proposed legislation would strengthen trauma-informed care in schools and boost youth suicide pre…

A study by Wallethub ranked Kentucky 43rd in the nation for residents' dental health. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky dentists expect more child tooth decay if "opt out" fluoride bill passes

A bill moving through the Kentucky Legislature would make fluoride treatment in drinking water optional for local municipalities. House Bill 141 …

Un estudio realizado por Wallethub clasific� a Kentucky en el puesto 43 del pa�s en cuanto a salud dental de los residentes. (Adobe Stock)

Dentistas de KY esperan más caries en niños si se aprueba proyecto de ley

Un proyecto de ley que se está debatiendo en la Legislatura de Kentucky haría que el tratamiento con fluoruro en el agua potable sea opciona…

Kentucky now ranks 14th in the nation in child victims of maltreatment, according to the latest Child Maltreatment report from the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Child abuse in Kentucky declines slightly; most victims younger than 4

Kentucky saw a 48% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2018 to 2022, according to the latest federal data. However, child abuse and …

Around $330 million in annual federal funding for child care in Kentucky is slated to expire in September, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky child-care providers face uncertain future when federal funding expires

Child-care providers in Kentucky are bracing for severe funding cuts when $330 million in annual federal funding expires in September. A recent …

More than half (59%) of Kentucky residents have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience or ACE, according to data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY communities address ACEs to prevent substance-use disorders

Communities across the Commonwealth want to minimize traumatic experiences for the state's youngest residents - as a way to help stem the drug epidemi…

M�s de la mitad (59%) de los residentes de Kentucky han experimentado al menos una Experiencia Adversa en la Infancia o EAI, seg�n datos del Departamento de Salud P�blica de Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Comunidades abordan las EAIs para prevenir trastornos por uso de sustancias

Las comunidades de toda la Commonwealth quieren minimizar las experiencias traumáticas de los residentes más jóvenes del estado…

The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children is a coalition of groups focused on health, child welfare, juvenile justice, education, family supports and other issues that affect the Commonwealth's youngest residents. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY youth speak to lawmakers on mental health, drug epidemic, more

Protecting, supporting and listening to Kentucky's kids is the focus of Children's Advocacy Week. As events at the Capitol in Frankfort wrap up…

The National Rural Education Foundation flagged Kentucky's educational outcomes as

Appalachian teachers say 'intense' challenges ahead for education in region

Educators in Appalachian Kentucky said significant school disruption and remote learning during the COVID pandemic combined with the devastating flood…

State data show in Kentucky, more than 45% of women and around 35% of men have experienced intimate partner violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY domestic violence data project aims to improve services

An effort is underway in Kentucky to better collect and analyze domestic violence data, with the goal of improving the lives of survivors and their …

Panelists discuss the 33rd edition of Kentucky Youth Advocates County Data Book, which looks at how Kentucky kids are faring in terms of economic security, education, health, family and community. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY faces workforce crisis in sectors that support children

New county-level data show Kentucky is facing a severe shortage of workers in sectors supporting children, including teachers, counselors, child care …

Research shows Black women have a maternal mortality rate nearly three times that of white women in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report finds Kentucky maternal deaths extend into postpartum period

Maternal mortality has increased in Kentucky, and the latest data from the United Health Foundation show more moms - especially those of color - are …

Firearm fatalities have now surpassed car accidents as the number one killer of U.S. children, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. (Adobe Stock)

Report ranks guns top killer of American children, teens

Gun deaths among children nationwide have increased by 87% over the past decade, while injuries and deaths from car accidents have decreased by …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

A call for greater focus on youth justice in Kentucky

The number of children behind bars in Kentucky has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates said more work could be done to create …

Medicaid coverage during early life stages- even before birth - is linked to improved health outcomes for the next generation, according to a study published in American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Kids Often Eligible for Medicaid, Even if Their Parents Aren’t

Kentucky begins its eligibility review of kids' Medicaid coverage this month - and experts say it's vital the process goes seamlessly, so kids aren't …

La cobertura de Medicaid durante las primeras etapas de la vida -incluso antes del nacimiento- est� vinculada a mejores resultados de salud para la siguiente generaci�n, seg�n un estudio publicado en American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)

Expertos: Niños suelen ser elegibles para Medicaid, incluso si sus padres no lo son

Kentucky comienza su revisión de elegibilidad de la cobertura de Medicaid para niños este mes, y los expertos dicen que es vital que el …

Ninety three percent of U.S. kindergartners were vaccinated against measles in 2021, according to a CDC study. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Catch Up on Kids’ Immunizations During Back-to-School Season

Health experts are urging parents to check on the status of their child's vaccinations, amid pertussis and COVID-19 outbreaks among children that …

El 93% de los ni�os de guarder�a de EE.UU. fueron vacunados contra el sarampi�n en 2021, seg�n un estudio de CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Expertos: Póngase al día con las vacunas de los niños para el regreso a clases

Expertos en salud llaman a los padres a comprobar el estado de las vacunas de sus hijos, en medio de brotes de tos ferina y COVID-19, que han …

Child care prices for a single child ranged from $4,810 for school-age home-based care in small counties, to $15,417 for infant center-based care in very large counties, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Child Care Providers Face Uncertain Future as Federal Funding Runs Out

New federal data show child care expenses are out of reach for most families, and in Kentucky, providers are struggling to keep their doors open…

In 2021, some 53% of working adults ages 25 to 54 were parents, and more than a third of those parents had young children, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe stock)

New Data Shows Well-Being of Kentucky Kids Worsens

The latest Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book shows Kentucky, along with other Appalachian and Southeastern states, ranks in the bottom …

From left: Angela Hayes, Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Dr. Patricia Bautista-Cervera and Kelly Taulbee at the Kentucky Immunization Summit held May 10. (Amber Malott)

Push to Get KY Kids Back on Track for Routine Vaccinations

Two regional pediatric immunization symposiums are being held this month in Morehead and Owensboro, where experts will share strategies to promote …

De izquierda a derecha: Angela Hayes, Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, Dra. Patricia Bautista-Cervera y Kelly Taulbee en la Cumbre de Inmunizaci�n de Kentucky celebrada el 10 de mayo. (Amber Malott)<br />

Impulso para que niños de KY vuelvan a las vacunas de rutina

Este mes se celebran dos simposios regionales de inmunización pediátrica en Morehead y Owensboro, donde los expertos compartirán …

Kentucky children attend one of the robotics camps organized by Save the Children. (Alissa Taylor)

Summer Break Brings Uncertainty for Many Rural Kentucky Kids

In eastern Kentucky, advocacy groups are expanding summer learning opportunities for families. Isolation and learning loss plague many rural …

Former Kentucky foster youth Tia Humphrey now helps advocate for policies that help ensure young people leaving foster care are off to a good start as they enter adulthood. (Tia Humphrey)<br /><br />

KY Foster Youth Transitioning into Adulthood Face Resources Gap

Kentucky's former foster youth have a steeper climb into adulthood than their peers, according to new research. Among 21-year-olds with foster-care …

An estimated 600,000 children nationwide were determined to be victims of maltreatment, the lowest number of children identified as victims of maltreatment in the last five years, according to 2023 data from the Children's Bureau at the Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

New Kentucky Law Closes Gaps in Child Abuse Reporting

A new Kentucky law closes gaps in child abuse reporting and prevention laws and strengthens supports for at-risk families. Senate Bill 229 requires …

The nation's child population count fell from 74.2 million in 2010 to 73.1 million in 2020, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Latest Census Data Shows Kentucky's Child Population on Decline

The nation's child population is shrinking, including in Kentucky, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation that looks at the …

Around 2.5 million children in the United States live in a household with their grandparents, according to the website Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Updates to KY Benefits Program 'KTAP' Aim to Help Family Caregivers

New changes to Kentucky's temporary benefits program - known as KTAP - increase the amount of money families receive to keep pace with inflation…

Research shows having access to health care can influence children's physical and emotional health, growth, development and their capacity to reach their full potential as adults. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 70,000 Kentucky Kids at Risk of Losing Health Coverage

A pandemic-era law that helped keep children and families continuously covered through Medicaid ends this spring, and new research from the …

Las investigaciones muestran que tener acceso a la atenci�n m�dica puede influir en la salud f�sica y emocional, el crecimiento, el desarrollo y la capacidad de los ni�os para alcanzar su m�ximo potencial como adultos. (Adobe Stock)

Informe: 70,000 niños de KY corren riesgo de perder cobertura médica

Una ley de la era de la pandemia que ayudó a mantener a niños y familias cubiertos continuamente a través de Medicaid finaliza esta pri…

Children's Advocacy Day at the Kentucky Capitol began in 2004 as an effort to unite advocates from across the state to raise their voices on behalf of children's safety, health, education and economic well-being. (Mara Powell)

Advocacy Day Lifts Up Kentucky Kids

Child abuse reporting dropped during the pandemic, and advocates said strengthening the state's system to ensure suspected cases of child …

In 2020, more than 8,000 Kentucky children were placed in foster care. (Adobe Stock)

KY Foster Kids Say They Want Stability and Better Care

According to a new report, a significant number of the state's youths are institutionalized, not because of a need for intensive supervision but …

Each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000 to 80,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infection, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

RSV, Flu, COVID: KY Faces "Triple Threat" This Winter

The flu, COVID and RSV are rapidly spreading in Kentucky, and health experts say that's a problem for hospitals, schools and the state's vulnerable …

Se estima que cada a�o en los Estados Unidos, entre 58,000 y 80,000 ni�os menores de 5 a�os son hospitalizados debido a la infecci�n por el VRS, seg�n los CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

RSV, gripe y COVID: KY enfrenta "triple amenaza" este invierno

La gripe, el COVID y el RSV se están extendiendo rápidamente en Kentucky, y los expertos en salud dicen que esto representa un problema …

Around one in five Kentucky children have experienced at least one type of ACE, according to data from the National Survey of Children's Health. (Adobe Stock)

Rural KY Schools Tackle Childhood Trauma

Russell County teachers, staff, counselors, and bus drivers have received intensive training on the effects of childhood trauma on kids' mental and …

Alrededor de uno de cada cinco ni�os de Kentucky ha sufrido al menos un tipo de ACE, seg�n datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud Infantil. (Adobe Stock)

Escuelas rurales de KY abordan traumas infantiles

Maestros, consejeros, conductores de autobús y personal escolar del condado de Russell han recibido una formación intensiva sobre los …

More Kentucky kids are considering their safety at school. According to the latest Kentucky Kids Count County Data Book, published by Kentucky Youth Advocates, more than 90% of the state's high school students think adults at their school work hard to make sure students are safe. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental Health, Gun Prevalence Top Concerns for Kentucky Kids

Across the state, kids say they want more resources for mental health - according to the recently released 2022 Kentucky Kids Count County data book…

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky named Denise Hall recipient of its 2022 Gil Friedell Award for her career spent serving youths in Trimble County through substance-use prevention efforts. (Adobe Stock)

KY School District Takes Lead on Mental Health, Drug-Use Prevention

In Trimble County, school staff are expanding services for students and families aimed at curbing vaping, marijuana and opioid use, and increasing …

Kentucky has received $45 billion over the past several years in the form of stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits, a monthly child tax credit, state and local aid and more, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Say KY Should Hit Pause on Tax Cuts Amid Recession Fears

The amount of income tax Kentucky residents pay is slated to decrease slightly beginning next year, but experts say the Federal Reserve's decision to …

Rates of child abuse and neglect are five times higher for children in families with low socioeconomic status, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Trust Your Gut, Know the Signs to Spot, Prevent Child Abuse

Child abuse cases in the state dropped between 2019 and 2020, but Kentucky still ranks fifth among states for incidents of child maltreatment…

According to the Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in seven Kentucky high school students reported having seriously considered suicide within a 12-month period. (Adobe Stock)

Some KY Schools Offering Mental-Health Services Amid Youth Crisis

A pilot program launched by the Todd County School District and the county's local health department offers free mental-health case-management service…

De acuerdo con la Encuesta sobre el comportamiento de riesgo de j�venes en Kentucky, uno de cada siete estudiantes de secundaria inform� haber considerado seriamente el suicidio en un per�odo de 12 meses. (Adobe Stock)

KY Algunas escuelas ofrecen servicios de salud mental en medio de crisis juvenil

Un programa piloto lanzado por el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Todd y el departamento de salud local, ofrece servicios gratuitos de administraci…

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, nine out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Innovation Lab Aims to Spur Creative Solutions to End Child Hunger

A new initiative is providing funding to individuals and grassroots groups across the Commonwealth with creative solutions to reduce hunger among rura…

Increased awareness of the dangers of unlocked medication has led to a 33% drop in emergency-room visits for suspected accidental poisonings in children younger than age 6 between 2012 and 2020 worldwide, according to research by Safe Kids Worldwide.(Adobe Stock)

Medicine Storage Campaign Aims to Reduce Accidental Poisonings Among Kids

Small children are landing in the hospital because of accidental poisoning from ingesting medication meant for adults. Experts are working to give …

Save the Children staff at an elementary school in Perry County, preparing to distribute bottled water and supplies to residents. (Save the Children)

As Flood Recovery Continues, KY Kids Face Uncertain Start of School Year

Despite numerous challenges, eastern Kentucky schools and advocacy groups are working to make the upcoming school year as normal as possible and get …

It's estimated more than 4 million children younger than age 19 lacked health insurance coverage in 2020, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Continuous CHIP Eligibility Could Keep More KY Kids Covered

The federal health insurance program for children helps keep more than 620,000 Kentucky kids insured. A new report finds that CHIP, which marks its 2…

Se estima que m�s de 4 millones de ni�os menores de 19 a�os carec�an de cobertura de seguro m�dico en 2020, seg�n datos del censo de EE. UU. (Adobe Stock)

Elegibilidad continua de CHIP podría mantener cubiertos más niños en KY

El programa federal de seguro médico para niños "CHIP", por sus siglas en inglés, ayuda a mantener asegurados a más de 620,000 ni&…

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