Making Kids Count

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the intersection of incarceration, substance abuse, and parenting--including new data about mothers who are incarcerated and state policy changes that would allow parents to be held accountable while remaining connected to their child. Panelists included Jennifer Hancock, president and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States, and Chaly Downs, graduate of VOA's Freedom House Women's Addiction Recovery Program.

Check out the new Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children issue brief released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, Data Trends and Policy Recommendations to Address the Impact of Maternal Incarceration on Kentucky’s Children, which shows that the number of women incarcerated has grown at an alarming pace in Kentucky in recent decades and that women incarcerated are more likely to be a parent and to be incarcerated for a drug offense.

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the 2021 Blueprint for Kentucky's Children state policy priorities, which seeks to address child health, safety, education, families' economic security, and more. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers also joins the forum for a look ahead to the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly.

As the commonwealth works to overcome the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and address systemic racism, the Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. View the 2021 priorities and fact sheets for additional information at kyyouth.org/blueprintky/.

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we continue our discussion on data and policy solutions from the new 2020 KIDS COUNT County Data Book, including the theme of this year’s book — the impact of the “dual pandemics” of COVID-19 and racial injustice. A special thanks to state Senator Julie Raque Adams, Majority Caucus Chair, and state Representative Angie Hatton, Minority Whip, for sharing their takeaways from the data and a look ahead to the 2021 General Assembly.

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss data and policy solutions from the new 2020 KIDS COUNT County Data Book, including the theme of this year's book -- the impact of the "dual pandemics" of COVID-19 and racial injustice. Panelists included Dr. Henrietta Bada, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Division, Kentucky Department for Public Health; Mike Hammons, Senior Director of Advocacy for Learning Grove; and Dr. Kish Cumi Price, Director of Education Policy and Programming at Louisville Urban League.

View the 2020 County Data Book materials and access the slide deck from the data presentation at kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss Medicaid open enrollment, including what's new for this year, such as the Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) program that will provide health services for all kids living in foster care. Panelists include Allison Adams, Vice President for Public Policy at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Veronica Cecil, Deputy Commissioner at Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services; Kelly Pullen, Executive Director of Kentucky SKY; and Ashley Shoemaker, Director of Outreach and Enrollment at Family Health Centers.

Learn more about Medicaid open enrollment and kynect at kyyouth.org

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, Dr. Joe Bargione of the Bounce Coalition led us through a self-care workshop to help us maintain the energy we need to continue our advocacy on behalf of Kentucky kids. As advocates battle the pandemic, support the community, experience personal and professional uncertainty, and sift through election news, it is important that we continue to care for ourselves.

Watch a video recording of the presentation and download the self-care worksheet at kyyouth.org. Learn more about the Bounce Coalition and request a training at www.bouncecoalition.org.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss substance use amidst COVID-19, the intersection of trauma and substance use, and how state policies and budget investments can best respond and prevent substance use, especially for families with children. Panelists included Toya Gatewood, Clinical Manager at the Morton Center; Carolina Glover, Case Manager for the Daviess Circuit Court, Family Division; and Tiffany Hall, Chief Operating Officer at Volunteers of America Mid-States.

Register to join one of nine regional virtual forums for updates on the implementation progress on the federal Family First Prevention Services Act in Kentucky at kyyouth.org.

Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss human trafficking and exploitation, including types of trafficking, prevalence in Kentucky, prevention and intervention strategies, and the impact of COVID-19. Panelists included Marissa Castellanos, Director of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative at Catholic Charities of Louisville; Rebecca Sim, Director of the Immigration Legal Services at Catholic Charities of Louisville; and Dr. Ginny Sprang, Executive Director of the Center on Trauma and Children at the University of Kentucky.

Learn more about human trafficking through the National Human Trafficking Hotline and in the latest Kentucky Child Victims of Human Trafficking Annual Report from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation, call the toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Thank you to Aetna for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

Amy McGrath, Kentucky candidate for the U.S. Senate, joined child advocates on October 15th to discuss federal issues and solutions focused on kids, families, and strong communities. The forum was hosted by Kentucky Youth Advocates, in partnership with the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children, Council for Agency Executives, Kosair Charities Face It Movement, Kentucky Nonprofit Network, and Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Please note, an invitation has been extended to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to participate in a parallel forum.

Thank you to Aetna for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate

This week on our Advocate Virtual Forum, we discuss the data and health impacts of Kentucky youth tobacco use, recent policy wins to curb tobacco use among youth, and policies to consider in the 2021 Kentucky legislative session to continue improving youth health and well-being. Panelists included Bonnie Hackbarth, Vice President of External Affairs at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Shannon Smith, Kentucky Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association; and Ben Robinson, a youth from Daviess County.

Thank you to Aetna for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast.

Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate