children
How are Kentucky’s kids faring? New report offers education, health insights
Fewer Kentucky kindergarteners were ready to learn in the 2022-2023 school year than in 2018, according to a new report that measures child welfare. This insight comes from the Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, released by Kentucky Youth Advocates Wednesday. Kids Count is part of a national initiative from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. […]
Kentucky ACLU appeals to U.S. high court for transgender minors’ medical care
The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678. The American Civil Liberties Union on Friday filed a petition for a certiorari asking the United States Supreme Court to overturn an […]
‘Disappointing’ report shows how Kentucky children are faring
A new report that evaluates the well-being of children in the United States every year shows that Kentucky is one of the worst places for youngsters to live. In fact, the commonwealth ranked No. 40 overall for key indicators of well-being, including financial security, education and child deaths. These numbers come from the annual Annie […]
House Bill 3 would lock up more kids, even though research shows detention’s harms
All children deserve a chance to succeed, even those who’ve made mistakes. But when we emphasize detention over the supports that we know make a difference for kids, their ability to thrive is severely hampered and public safety in the commonwealth suffers. That’s why lawmakers should fix harmful provisions in House Bill 3 before this […]
Federal report shows 11 children died from maltreatment in Kentucky in 2021
The number of Kentucky children who were victims of abuse or neglect improved in 2021, according to a new report, but the commonwealth’s is still worse than the national maltreatment rate. The Child Maltreatment 2021 report, from the United States Department of Health & Human Services, found that Kentucky had 14,963 child victims in 2021. […]
When gun violence ends young lives, these men prepare the graves
This article was republished from KHN (Kaiser Health News). MILLSTADT, Ill. — It was a late Friday afternoon when a team of men approached a tiny pink casket. One wiped his brow. Another stepped away to smoke a cigarette. Then, with calloused hands, they gently lowered the child’s body into the ground. Earlier that day, […]
How does a child become a shooter?
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. In the aftermath of a shocking incident in which a first grader shot and seriously injured a teacher at a school in Newport News, Va., the city’s mayor asked the question: “How did this happen?” Some details are now known: The child took […]
Kentucky Youth Advocates outlines 2023 goals to help children and families
On the first day of the regular legislative session, Kentucky Youth Advocates outlined priorities to achieve its 2023 goal of making the state “the best place in America to be young.” Kentucky ranks high for adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, which are traumas or stressors in a person’s life before their 18th birthday. They can […]
Residential foster care in Kentucky is physically, mentally unsafe, say some who have been there
One young adult remembers taking a daily allergy pill upon entering a Kentucky residential foster care facility and leaving “on 13 medications within six months.” Another lost the privilege of calling their mother after a riot at their location. These were among the experiences 46 young adults shared with Kentucky Youth Advocates’ researchers, who examined […]