Making Kids Count

Terry Brooks provides a landscape of the 2023 General Assembly, an update on the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children, and ways for advocates to speak up for kids leading up to the first day of session on January 3, 2023. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and p...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Terry Brooks discusses the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly and impacts on kids and their families with Senators Julie Raque Adams and Whitney Westerfield and Representative Killian Timoney. Learn more about Blueprint for Kentucky's Children priority wins and missed opportunities in 2022 at kyyouth.org/blueprintky/. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Ke...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Kentucky Youth Advocates took a detailed look at the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly, Blueprint for Kentucky's Children wins and missed opportunities, and what it means for kids and their families. Learn more about priority bills, how to take action, and view the Bill Tracker at kyyouth.org/blueprintky/. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Kentucky Youth Advocates takes a deep dive into the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly so far, including the progress of bills related to kids and themes emerging from the legislative session. Thank you to our panelists, including Shannon Smith from the American Heart Association, Rachel Bingham and Mavis Williamson from the Kentucky Administrative Office of th...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Terry Brooks sits down with partners across the political spectrum to discuss the current budget proposals, along with how kids and families could be affected by the new state budget. Thank you to our panelists, including Jason Bailey with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy; Jim Waters with the Bluegrass Institute; and Ashli Watts with the Kentucky Cha...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we launch the 2022 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children state policy and budget priorities. The priorities address health, child welfare, education, families' economic security, and more. We also heard from Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and House Minority Floor Leader Joni Jenkins as we look ahead to the 2022 legislative session. Learn mor...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the latest data on child well-being featured in this year's edition of the Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book. The 2021 book focuses on advancing racial equity across the Commonwealth and features a number of data disaggregated by race. We were also joined by State Representatives Samara Heavrin and Nima Kulkarni for a panel discussion on...

The 2021 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book examines data disaggregated by race/ethnicity, the impacts of systemic racial injustice on children and families, and solutions to advance racial equity so that every child can thrive. The 31st edition of this publication also features the latest data on 17 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the state of tobacco use among youth throughout Kentucky, as well as data, policy, and state budget opportunities to prevent and mitigate nicotine and tobacco use --including the new Nix the Next campaign. Thank you to our panelists: Hannah Abdon, high school senior from Boone County; Allison Adams of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Betsy...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the early childhood ecosystem available to serve Kentucky kids and their families, along with what is needed for a strong workforce. Thank you to our panelists, including Lauren Hogan, Managing Director of Policy and Professional Advancement at National Association for the Education of Young Children; Kevin Fields, President/Chief Executive Offic...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss policies and programs to best support parents of babies. As part of the Kosair Charities Face It Movement's TEN-4 week, panelists discuss healthy development, opportunities for family engagement, and how community members can show up for families with young children. Thank you to Keith Inman of Kosair Charities for sharing remarks and to our...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we continue the discussion on the challenges, opportunities, and future of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services workforce. DCBS Commissioner Marta Miranda-Straub and members of DCBS leadership have a conversation with community stakeholders, including Kathy Adams, Director of Public Policy for Children’s Alliance; Tiffany Hall, COO at Volunt...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future of the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services with Commissioner Marta Miranda-Straub. We also heard remarks from Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander and DCBS Deputy Commissioner Lesa Dennis. This is part one of a two-part series with DCBS. Tune in for part two on We...

Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, shares a call-to-action on priorities for kids during the 2021 special session. Look up your state Senator and Representative contact information and read our full statement about the special session at kyyouth.org. Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate !

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss routine immunizations and the COVID-19 vaccination for Kentucky kids. Thank you to our panelists: Allison Adams, Vice President for Policy at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Dr. Michael Kuduk, Vice President of the Kentucky Medical Association and pediatrician with UK Healthcare; and Kelly Pullen, Executive Director of the Aetna Better Hea...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum we continue the discussion about the Bloom Kentucky initiative and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Childhood Environments. State Representatives Kim Moser and Nima Kulkarni join the forum to share their insights on policy and state budget priorities in the 2022 General Assembly that could prevent and mitigate childhood trauma. Learn more...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the impact of the pair of ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adverse Childhood Environments. We discuss the various types of adverse experiences/environments, how to move upstream in preventing ACEs, and Bloom Kentucky, a new statewide initiative to advocate for policy changes that will address ACEs. Thank you to our panelists: Ben Chandler,...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the upcoming school year as our commonwealth continues to navigate a pandemic, socioemotional needs, and different learning needs with education leaders from across the state. Thank you to our panelists: Penny Christian, immediate Past President of the 16th District PTA and Vice President of Leadership Outreach for the Kentucky PTA; Dr. Jim Flynn...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the future of public education and workforce in Kentucky with Jacqueline Coleman, Lt. Governor and secretary of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, and Dr. Jason Glass, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaM...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss how we can best support youth who are LGBTQ+, especially as many of them are at risk of facing certain challenges, including homelessness, trafficking, mental health needs, and more. Thank you to our panelists: Rick Wurth, Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, and Eltuan Dawson, youth advocate and board member of Sweet...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss opportunity youth--young people ages 16 to 24 who are neither employed nor in school--including new research, policy recommendations, and program developments across the state. Thank you to our panelists: Kate Arthur, Community and Youth Services Director at Brighton Center; Dawn Carson, Street Outreach Supervisor at the Brighton Center; Roan Hea...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss updates relating to child nutrition and access to food, including summer EBT, federal investments, and more. Thank you to our panelists: Karena Cash, Advocacy Coordinator with Feeding Kentucky; Leigh Dixon, Community Support Advisor Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services; and Michael Halligan, CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank and Chair of...

This week on our Advocate Virtual forum, we discuss the 2021 national KIDS COUNT Data Book, which was recently co-released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Kentucky Youth Advocates. We review Kentucky data included in the book and discuss federal and state recommendations to improve child well-being and ensure an equitable and expansive recovery from the pandemic. View the Kentucky State Data...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss young children with special needs, including early identification of special needs and how communities, service providers, and policymakers can support these kids and their families. A special thank you to our panelists: Ivy Alexander, Executive Director of CHFS Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs; Judith Bradley, Founder of Jack B...

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss how school districts are developing their trauma-informed plans, what needs to be included, and how plans will be implemented. As a result of 2019's Senate Bill 1, the School Safety and Resiliency Act, each local board of education must develop a plan for implementing a trauma-informed approach in its schools by July 1, 2021. A special thank...