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Nationwide, more than 2.8 million children received a lunch through the Summer Nutrition Programs on an average day in July 2023, a decrease of 170,926 children from July 2022, according to the Food Research and Action Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: More Kentucky kids participating in summer meal programs

The number of Kentucky kids who ate free breakfast and lunch through Summer Nutrition Programs jumped by 65% between the summers of 2022 and 2023…

The average household income of families already sending their children to private schools in Kentucky, who are the likely primary beneficiaries of universal voucher legislation, is 54% higher than public school families, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

KY ballot measure would divert public money to private schools

Kentuckians casting a vote on Amendment 2 this November will decide whether to change the state Constitution to allow public funding of private school…

Around 600 million people are released from state and federal prisons annually, with another 9 million people cycled through local jails. Many do not have access to health care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky to provide health coverage for people leaving incarceration

Kentucky is one of a handful of states recently approved to provide health insurance coverage to soon-to-be released incarcerated individuals…

In 2021, an estimated 352,000 children and adolescents younger than 20, or 35 per 10,000 U.S. youths, had diagnosed diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Childhood diabetes becoming more common in Kentucky

Experts say sedentary lifestyles, food insecurity, and other factors are driving an increase in childhood diabetes in Kentucky. Research shows …

Se calcula que en 2021, 352,000 ni�os y adolescentes menores de 20 a�os, es decir, 35 de cada 10,000 j�venes estadounidenses, ten�an diabetes diagnosticada, seg�n los Centros para el Control y la Prevenci�n de Enfermedades. (Adobe Stock)

Diabetes infantil cada vez más frecuente en Kentucky

Expertos afirman que los estilos de vida sedentarios, la inseguridad alimentaria y otros factores están impulsando un aumento de la diabetes …

More than half of parents feel social media is affecting their children's development, from body image to self-perception, according to a recent CVS Health survey. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 70% of parents report concern over child’s mental health

Across the nation, 70% of parents say they're now more concerned about their child's mental health than physical health, according to a new survey by …

M�s de la mitad de los padres sienten que las redes sociales est�n impactando el desarrollo de sus hijos, desde la imagen corporal hasta la autopercepci�n, seg�n una encuesta reciente de CVS Health. (Adobe Stock)

Encuesta: 70% de los padres preocupados por la salud mental de sus hijos

En todo el país, el 70% de los padres dicen que ahora están más preocupados por la salud mental de sus hijos que por la salud fí…

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of young people held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000, a 77% decline. But racial disparities persist, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Justice Department launches investigation into KY youth detention centers

The U.S. Justice Department is launching an investigation into reports of physical and sexual abuse at Kentucky's eight youth detention centers - …

Downtown Hazard, Kentucky, is shown with one of several colorful murals added in recent years. (Austin Anthony for The Hechinger Report)<br />

As some rural states cut higher education, Kentucky does the opposite

By Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

Across the country, states and counties are advancing reforms to expand and improve youth diversion programs, according to a report from The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Youth detention on the decline in Kentucky

A new report showed a decade after being passed, Kentucky's juvenile justice reform law is getting results. It found 60% of juvenile cases were …

Pandemic-era federal funding sustained about 2,000 child-care providers since 2020, according to the Kentucky Center on Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

KY parents say reliable, affordable child-care linked to better mental health

More parents in Kentucky are switching jobs, delaying major purchases, cutting back on essential needs, and going into debt in order to afford child …

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…

The overall college enrollment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds decreased from 41% in 2010 to 38% in 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

KY wants colleges to redesign admissions with focus on low-income, first-generation students

Kentucky is one of a handful of states that's been awarded a $150,000 grant from Lumina Foundation to test changes to the college admissions process…

La tasa general de inscripci�n universitaria para j�venes de 18 a 24 a�os disminuy� del 41% en 2010 al 38% en 2021, seg�n el Centro Nacional de Estad�sticas Educativas. (Adobe Stock)

KY quiere que las universidades rediseñen sus procesos de admisión

Kentucky es uno de los pocos estados que ha recibido una subvención de $150 mil de la Fundación Lumina para probar cambios en el proceso de …

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 …

Cynthia, Tatum and Damareus, with other members of the True Up Peer Network. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)

Preventing homelessness among KY foster youth

A lack of housing options, mental-health challenges and a lack of connections and support have combined to drive an uptick in the number of foster …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Working caregivers face financial risks such as lost income, reduced career opportunities and subsequently lower Social Security and retirement benefits, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Family Caregiving In Kentucky Cost Billions

Unpaid caregiving by Kentucky's more than 600,000 caregivers is valued at more than $8 billion, according to new state data by AARP. AARP Kentucky …

A new report from Food Research & Action Center reveals nearly 1.6 million more children received school breakfast and 10.1 million more children received school lunch during the 2021-2022 school year compared with the previous school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fewer Kentucky Kids Receiving School Meals

Preliminary data shows schools are serving fewer meals than they did last year, largely due to the end of nationwide pandemic-era waivers which …

Every year, nearly 1,300 children die from guns and many more are seriously injured, according to data from Nationwide Children's Hospital. (Adobe Stock)

Jefferson County Schools to Distribute Secure Gun-Storage Info to Parents

The American Academy of Pediatrics says around one-third of American children live in homes with firearms, and of these households, 43% contain at …

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 …

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 …

La Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (Fundaci�n para un Kentucky Saludable) nombr� a Denise Hall ganadora del Premio Gil Friedell 2022 por su carrera dedicada al servicio de j�venes en el condado de Trimble para prevenir el uso de sustancias. (Adobe Stock)

KY Distrito escolar adelanta en salud mental y prevención de consumo de drogas

En el condado de Trimble, el personal escolar está ampliando los servicios para estudiantes y familias con el objetivo de frenar el uso de …

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…

Research shows economic insecurity, unreliable transportation and other challenges outside the classroom pose major barriers for two-year college students. (Adobe Stock)

KY College Boards Focus on Role of Equity in Student Success

Colleges and universities in Kentucky are looking at new ways to address the equity gap among their students, through specialized training for their …

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 …

Americans owe nearly $1.75 trillion in student-loan debt, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians Under “Crippling” Financial Stress from Student Loan Debt

Kentuckians collectively owe more than $20 million in student loan debt, and a new informal survey sheds light on how hefty student-loan payments …

En 2021, m�s de un tercio de los estudiantes de secundaria en todo el pa�s informaron haber experimentado problemas de salud mental durante la pandemia, seg�n datos del CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Expertos instan a enfocarse en hábitos saludables de verano para niños en KY

A medida que los estudiantes de Kentucky se acercan al inicio no oficial del verano este fin de semana, los defensores de los niños instan a las …

More than 600,000 children received a child protective services investigation response or alternative response nationwide in 2020, according to the Department of Health and Human Services Child Maltreatment Report. (Adobe Stock)

New KY Law Clarifies Definition of Child Abuse

Gov. Andy Beshear has signed legislation clarifying the definition of child abuse and neglect, and allowing the state to move faster on suspected …

Latino and multiracial students are more likely to plan to cancel or postpone their studies than students overall, according to a report by the Latino Politics and Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

KY Colleges See Enrollment Dip

Despite a college enrollment drop triggered by the pandemic, Kentucky's colleges are continuing to close gaps in graduation and retention rates…

FDA to Regulate Synthetic Nicotine as Vaping Among KY Teens Climbs

Last week President Joe Biden signed legislation that allows the Food and Drug Administration to regulate synthetic nicotine, used in vape products …

FDA regulará nicotina sintética ante el aumento del vapeo en KY

La semana pasada, el presidente Joe Biden firmó una legislación que permite que la F-D-A regule la nicotina sintética, utilizada en …

According to data from the Food Research and Action Center, more than 14 million kids received breakfast during the 2020-2021 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Statewide Push to Update Laws, Remove “Barriers to Breakfast” for KY Kids

Senate lawmakers are considering updating existing legislation to allow kids to eat breakfast at school 15 minutes after the bell. During National …

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KY: Youth