Protecting, supporting and listening to Kentucky's kids is the focus of Children's Advocacy Week. As events at the Capitol in Frankfort wrap up, advocates have outlined critical policy recommendations they say will help shape better lives for kids.

Alicia Whatley, policy and advocacy director for Kentucky Youth Advocates, pointed to House Bill 275, aimed at reducing the risk of child sexual abuse and exploitation by mandating that all schools cannot enter into nondisclosure agreements about misconduct involving minors or students. Whatley said it would prevent teachers with a history of inappropriate relationships with students from maintaining a "clean" employment record.

"Part of that bill's purpose," she said, "is to ensure that teachers don't have the ability to do that and put more kids at risk."

Other priorities of the "Blueprint for Kentucky's Children" coalition include increased housing stability, investments in child care, enforcement of youth vaping-prevention laws, and creating a continuum of care for youths in the juvenile justice system.

Kentucky's Medicaid reimbursement rates for mental-health services lag behind bordering states, in some cases by more than 35%.

Grayson County high school student Amelia Williams said serious mental-health issues in her school have become commonplace. She said she believes it's critical to expand access to counseling and treatment for youth.

"You will have so many kids in your class that will be failing because of all this mental stuff they have going on," she said. "It's just so prominent in schools now. I feel like now more than ever, is really the best time to act, because we are in a period of new ideas and new solutions."

Whatley noted that Kentucky has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, especially among Black women. The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children calls for reducing barriers to opening free-standing birth centers, health-care facilities designed for childbirth in a home-like environment, suitable for low-risk pregnancies.

"This is an option that lets women have a birth setting that is outside of a hospital," she said, "using the midwifery model of care."

According to state data, more than 90% of maternal deaths in Kentucky are considered preventable.

Child care workers across the nation, including in Tennessee, are struggling with poverty-level wages according to a new report.

It revealed in Tennessee, the median wage for early childhood educators is less than $15 an hour.

Anna Powell, senior research and policy associate for the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California-Berkeley, said the median wage nationally for early childhood educators is just $13.07 an hour, which has resulted in some workers relying on public assistance.

"In Tennessee, we estimate the median hourly wage to be $11.57 for a person working in early care and education," Powell reported. "Meanwhile, the living wage in that state is about $15.03, so that means there's a gap of about 23%."

The 2024 Early Childhood Workforce Index showed pay scales are insufficient for a single adult to earn a living wage in any state. Alarmingly, nearly half of child care workers rely on assistance programs, such as SNAP benefits and Medicaid, to survive.

Powell pointed out the data also show serious inequities in wages.

"While the overall wages are low, we do find evidence that Black and Latina women are earning even less on average," Powell explained. "For example, up to $8,000 less a year, regardless of their education levels."

The study suggested boosting public funding for early childhood education, as the U.S. invests only $4,000 per child annually, far less than the $14,000 in other wealthy countries.

The pandemic highlighted the critical role of educators and Powell pointed out COVID relief funds showed potential solutions are within reach.


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November is National Adoption Month and In Pennsylvania, more than 3,000 children in foster care are waiting for new families through adoption.

Abigail Wilson, director of child welfare, juvenile justice and education services at the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services, said nationwide, more than 108,000 children are in foster care awaiting adoption.

Wilson suggested now is a great time to learn more about the joys and the challenges of adoptive families, adding the data provide insights into the racial composition of the children who need permanent families.

"Median age was around seven years old, and the racial breakdown was 43% white children, 23% Hispanic, 21% Black, 9% two or more races," Wilson reported. "High majority of the white, Hispanic and Black children."

Wilson noted Pennsylvania uses the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network, which is part of the Department of Human Services. It focuses on matching children to families and resources.

Rachel Kuhr, chief program officer for Jewish Family Service of Harrisburg, said in the last 20 years, Pennsylvania has significantly increased its services for families seeking permanency for children. She pointed out funding has allowed the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network to provide resources to adoptive families.

"It allows any family who has adopted a child and lives in Pennsylvania, and the child is under 18, to access supportive services," Kuhr outlined. "The state funds three services: case advocacy, which begins with assessment and then respite funding and support group."

She emphasized support groups are the top request from adoptive families and families are informed about the services before finalizing adoptions so they can seek help when needed.

Kim Kupfer, post-permanency coordinator for Jewish Family Service, said they have seen an increase in mental health issues affecting kids and families since the pandemic. She described how post-permanency services have helped a family of three, including two biological brothers with HADDS, a condition linked to developmental delay and autism.

"We offered a support group virtually about mental health topics," Kupfer recounted. "She did do that one, because it was virtual. It's a single Mennonite mom. Her name is Samantha. She's needed so much help with both the boys, navigating three systems. One of them is the school system, because she did not want to send her oldest to public school."

She stressed the mother was able to see the benefits of the local public school for her son with special needs, and he has been thriving there for almost three years.

According to some experts, a significant undercount in Florida's 2020 census may have lasting consequences for the state, jeopardizing vital funding and representation for communities in need.

The census affects funding allocations for key Medicaid and early education programs.

Dominic Calabro, president and CEO of Florida Tax Watch, said the 750,000 uncounted residents have left the state "shortchanged," costing Florida billions in federal resources and potentially reducing its influence in national elections.

"When it comes to caring for children, this is, conservatively, I mean absolute, the lowest number is 10 billion, but it's more like 20, 21 billion plus over 10 years," Calabro outlined. "That's a lot of dough. That's money that's going to other states and communities where people Americans no longer live."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, undercounts are a common challenge for states with transient populations. The Bureau has acknowledged historical undercounts, their effects and how they are "diligently working to address this issue" to improve census accuracy. Florida's shortfall also affects political representation.

Calabro believes the undercount may have cost Florida one or two congressional seats, reducing the state's voice in federal policymaking.

Local governments and organizations relying on the funding may face service challenges. Looking ahead to the 2030 census, Florida officials and advocacy organizations, including Florida TaxWatch, are exploring ways to reach more people.

Calabro stressed the plan is to get everyone to work together.

"Then focus on the harder to reach folks like children and those, particularly those under the age of six, and those that are both minorities and those are transient and moving about and migrants," Calabro explained.

In 2022, the Census Bureau formed the Undercount of Young Children Working Group, which is focused on identifying underlying causes of the undercount of young children and improving data on this population. The working group is researching ways to enhance the count of young children in the 2030 census.


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