Making Kids Count

This week, Terry Brooks and the Kentucky Youth Advocates' policy team take a detailed look at the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly, Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children wins and missed opportunities, and what it means for kids and their families. Learn more about the 2023 Blueprint priority bills and other bills that are good for kids at kyyouth.org/bill-tracker/. 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.

Terry Brooks sits down with Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky Senate Minority Floor Leader and Congressman-Elect for Kentucky's 3rd District, to discuss the landscape and his priorities for children and families as he leaves Frankfort and heads to Washington, DC. 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.

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 programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

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 Kentucky for supporting this virtual forum. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s wellbeing in mind.

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 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.

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 the Courts, Mandy Simpson from Metro United Way. and Cortney Downs with Kentucky Youth Advocates. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2022 policy agenda, stay updated on the progress of bills that are good for kids on the Bill Tracker, and look up who represents you in Frankfort 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.

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 Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children state budget priorities 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.

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 more about the 2022 Blueprint priorities 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.

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 using this data to drive change. Check out the data book, press release, and detailed data for every Kentucky county at kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count. The 2021 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a number of KIDS COUNT sponsors, including Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, Kosair Charities, and Charter Communications. 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.

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 improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. At the virtual press conference, Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, is joined by state legislators, community partners, and youth including: Ryan Sadler, president, Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare; State Senator Gerald Neal; State Representative Killian Timoney; Karina Barillas, executive director, La Casita Center; Anita Rodriguez, high school junior; Eltuan Dawson, Peer Network Member, True Up; Dale Robinson, co-founder, Wanda Joyce Robinson Foundation; and, Shamitha Kuppala, high school senior. View the data book, press release, and detailed data for every Kentucky county at https://kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/ The 2021 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book was made possible with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a number of KIDS COUNT sponsors, including Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare, Kosair Charities, and Charter Communications.

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 Clemons of the Hazard/Perry County Chamber of Commerce; and, Shannon Smith of American Heart Association. Learn more about Nix the Next, a campaign to prevent the next generation from ever becoming addicted to nicotine, at nixthenext.org. Text NixTheNext to 46839 to take action. 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.

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 Officer at Louisville Central Community Centers, Inc; Jennifer Washburn, Executive Director at iKids Childhood Enrichment Center; and Brenda Hagan, Project Specialist at Kentucky Governor's Office of Early Childhood. 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.

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 panelists, Elena Diehl from GrowBabyGrow and Erica Wade from The Center ODC. 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.

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 Volunteers of America Mid-States; Rick Wurth, CEO of Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky; and, Melissa Goins of the state Office of FRYSC. This is part two of a two-part series with DCBS. Listen to part one in the September 16, 2021 Making Kids Count episode. 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.

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 Wednesday, September 22 at 10:00 AM ET. 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.

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.

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 Health of Kentucky Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) Program. August is National Immunization Awareness Month -- learn more and find resources at kyyouth.org. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will be hosting their 2021 Howard L. Bost Memorial Virtual Health Policy Forum on Tuesday, September 21st on Kentucky vaccine policy including myths, messengers, and messages -- register at healthy-ky.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.

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 about Bloom Kentucky at BloomKentucky.org, and in our previous Making Kids Count podcast episode from August 12, 2021. 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.

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, President and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky; Jo Cruz, an Independent Consultant and trainer with the Bounce Coalition; and, Cortney Emberson, with St. Joseph Children's Home. Learn more about Bloom Kentucky at BloomKentucky.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.

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, Executive Director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents; and Brent McKim, President of the Jefferson County Teachers Association. This is part two of our education series -- listen to the part one episode featuring Lt. Governor Coleman and KDE Commissioner Glass, which aired July 29th. 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.