♪ >> I think we have more children coming into foster care and we definitely have decreased our Foster homes.

>> Hear how some foster parents are working to get more Kentucky families to open their homes to foster children.

With a child go into a courtroom.

>> And even music told to never had to go in the courtroom.

That can be a scary thing.

>> We're gonna say shun is teaching children and adults about the court system.

>> And my hope is when when the inquest loved one is released, that they continue to build on Pfizer has started here in this program.

>> The program at one Eastern Kentucky jail that's helping incarcerated parents stay connected with their children.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET and down the Kentucky Productions, Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to a special edition of Kentucky.

Addition for tonight.

Wednesday, November 23rd.

We thank you so much for joining us.

I'm Chip Polston in tonight for Renee Shaw.

>> Tonight we're looking at the issues, policies and programs that impact Kentucky's children.

We start with a new report by Kentucky Youth advocates its annual Kentucky Kids, County County Data book gives insights into the well being of Kentucky's children.

The report found that mental health was top of mind for many young people.

>> While it is really important that we look at that.

Our kids on a state basis.

Folks in local communities want to know how we're doing locally.

We release.

>> Disaggregated data where we take every one of those national indicators.

And we take it down to a county level.

So all 120 counties in Kentucky.

Get their own report card.

Every county in Kentucky.

Can take a look and see how are we doing in health and economic?

Well, being.

If families and community and education.

>> We are blessed in the commonwealth with many nonprofits, community-based organizations, community leaders, policymakers and other individuals who work diligently to help to end proof the quality of life for children across the state and tools like this county data book which provides an impressive snapshot of how our youth in Kentucky are doing across several indicators are really in trouble to help that important work.

A Kentucky kids were asked what they want to hear.

Their response was.

Listen to us.

>> You need a voice and they want their place.

Among my peers of high school and even middle school.

What is most talked about his mental health recently?

My classmates and I have dealt with COVID in the middle of December 10th back to back.

This is cause a lot of stories it in for the able to miss school as they fall behind.

That should be focused on going to school every day and seeing their friends, you know, bring about where the next meal is going to be or it will be safe and cared for their own household.

>> From the sheer call it in the destruction.

We will continue to lift up our students.

We will continue to elevate their voices.

We will continue to prioritize mental health as we continue to work during these challenging times.

And I'll close with a quote from Sadie.

She's a 14 year-old from Davies County and she said our words still matter, even if we're down.

And I think that is so critically important if there ever was a time where we can and should put aside our differences to ensure every child in Kentucky shares in the freedom.

The possibility it is now.

>> The annual report also showed a troubling trend when it comes to children in foster care, comparing 2014 through 2016 to 2019 through 2021.

Kentucky youth advocates said 88 counties had an increase in the rates of children in foster care with a 31% increase in the rate statewide.

It also showed a decline in the percentage of children leaving foster care and reuniting with their parents or caregivers.

With more children in foster care, the Cabinet for health and Family Services said there is greater need for more foster families.

We spoke to foster parents and social workers in Western Kentucky about recruiting and providing support for new Foster parents.

We've been fostering for 60 years.

We hear that part.

>> We just really felt strongly that it was a calling.

And so we started the classes and we started to see that in the lead.

>> We have over 1000 children in the to reverse region and we have about 500 foster homes and that just is not meeting our needs.

We could get anywhere from 7.

>> 2.

>> A live and children in foster care each week.

>> I would love for more families.

>> To kind of know about the need to come alongside to be able to offer support for to foster or adoptive families or also to the kids of Warren County.

>> I work actually for a foster parent recruitment support in training into TE Adam Riess.

Take on the network and I've been working for that for about 4 years.

And just recently, I don't know if it's because of COVID or whenever there has been a huge jump.

>> Think we have more children coming into foster care and we have definitely have decreased our Foster homes.

I think COVID had a factor in People were.

>> You know, just kind of on lockdown.

>> I think >> The common thing to do is to thank you have to wait for this perfect time to become a foster parent.

But it.

You just need to be ready to love who are looking for like basic needs to be met.

>> If they have some some place for them to sleep, where they can be safe, if they have food that they can they can give them opportunities that other kids have to be in extracurricular events, somebody to come and sit with them at the dinner table and do homework.

That's really like all we're looking for at this point.

We just need people to >> We don't want her parents to feel like they're doing it on their own.

We have lots of support.

We have mental health We do reimburse foster a daily per based on the child means every d*** learning something new that I'm learning how to be a parent.

>> How to understand what the kids are going just how resilient kids aren't normal.

>> It's been really neat for me to see our kids like just their ideas like brought in about the world to realize that even though kids come in the care daily that they're not that different from them, that they like to play and have fun just like them.

>> I would advise people to talk to foster parents already.

So that would be like family to family.

Hey, was it look like, you know, what are the ups?

What are the downsides?

>> And after people get involved, I think they find out this much more uplifting than they ever intended on doing.

Children.

>> Are so important in precious to our world and to our south.

It.

And the fact that we can play a small part in making a child feel safe.

And loved and supported.

Just really anything to be a part of.

>> Children who end up in foster care or kinship care have to go through the child welfare system.

First, luckily they have someone advocating on their behalf and a new book is introducing them to these court appointed special advocates or CASA volunteers.

>> I'm not afraid to do much of any hang to share them.

Ation of pasta and to make sure that we're reaching people and all different areas.

>> Oscar's family was my vision for passage, children that have advocates to be able to hear a story from their volunteer.

That explains what exactly is a CASA volunteer, that main purpose of this book is to educate and provide awareness.

So I think many people in the public don't know what cast is.

But for a child has a lot of uncertainty going on in this new person comes and introduces them south and says I'm your CASA.

So this story is a way for a volunteer to have a tool to let the town or the youth.

What a cast is.

This is my first book period.

When I was thinking about who I wanted to illustrate ad called mad at you and ask him, asked us to artwork fact, pass a superpower right?

Which is one of our 2 primary fundraising event here at Cass of Lexington, Liz Nap Singer who is one of our staff members here pass of Lexington is in cartoon version and this book and she is a volunteer manager.

But Hilda, who is our classic canine.

And she has a really unique job.

She goes to court with children and and then the 3rd person that's in the book that has actual real live person as Miss best at kindergarten teacher who taught for 49 years at Parable Elementary School.

>> And just retired this past year.

>> What I tried to through my my illustrations was bringing the different.

ideas of what family could be and what love is.

The story is about what can family be a in a broader sense?

>> And what love is I think he really knocked it out of the park in showing things that our children might think about a child go into a courtroom.

>> And even me as adults who, you know, has never had to go into a courtroom.

That can be a scary thing.

And to show the juxtaposition of this is the scary thing I have in my imagination of what could be happening what Casa does is calm those fears and reduce them by giving them.

But the reality is in good, helpful ways.

>> We're doing work.

That is very serious.

But we rely on pennies are even no funding to advertise what we're doing.

And so this book is one way that the general public could become aware of what is Casa and what is in need.

Maybe Cass it becomes a household name that more people are aware of and we can recruit more volunteers to do this.

Life change it work.

>> Kentucky ranks 11th in the nation when it comes to children who have had a parent incarcerated parental incarceration is often called a shared sentence because of the long-term impact it can have on a child.

A partnership between save the children and the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Perry County is looking to minimize the harm done to children with incarcerated parents by keeping them connected through letters, art activities and reading.

>> I was a mask, really?

I didn't know what I was doing with my life.

I didn't know which way to go at it.

I just didn't know what to do.

>> Megan Koza 16 when she began using drugs, she became an addict.

Dogs took over her life and he took her out of the lives of her children.

>> Got a couple drug charges and ended up here.

I was here for 2 months.

When I got in here, I realize that this isn't the life that I want to live anymore.

I didn't get to see my kids for 2 months.

So it open my eyes and my me want to change.

>> Comes this change came thanks to a program started at the Kentucky River Regional Jail by Wendy Hall.

The program coordinator for Save The Children.

>> I wanted to come into the Kentucky River Regional Jail parenting classes with and the incarcerated people here.

So that's kind of where it started when someone comes here and I've been on substances for a long they may have been a parent this I don't know what it's like to be a sober parent.

So this gives him like that little glance of what what they could have.

So it it this to work harder so they can get to that full time.

>> The programs, they're very helpful.

I was learning how to bond with my child.

I was parenting tips about it.

No.

>> GDL earned a B abouts school like the other opportunities that there was.

>> Substance use disorders are a major, major factor in lot of incarceration.

It has it.

You know, it's a detrimental effect on the children in every way, you know, ranging from their development to their education, to future opportunities and resources.

>> And the Sun says funding projects and organizations that assist children of incarcerated parents, particularly in rural areas, has become the focus of the foundation.

She chairs the Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation.

It has partnered with Kentucky Youth Advocates to identify develop programs like the one at the Kentucky River Regional Jail.

>> What we hope is that the Perry County.

Staff there, people who are doing this program can help.

But the little road map, you know that other jails could use.

>> With the help of the Kentucky Social Welfare Foundation.

Hall's expanded the program to include face-to-face visitations where inmates can read books with their children.

>> The current caregiver brings the or children in some cases and and we like for them to peak of the the end.

They and their incarcerated loved one gets a copy of the book and they get a copy of the book and that's kind of where their visit and it's kind of around this book.

You know, some of the relationships were nonexistent somewhere really strain.

So watching these relationships, build up and go, it's it's really cool.

Experience to watch.

And my hope is when when the inquest loved one is released that day continue to build on was that they started here in this program.

>> For Combs, the program not only showed her how to be a better mother to 2 children, but how to live a productive drug-free life.

>> I have 3 years clean.

Now my life is Work full time as a peer support specialist working with recovering addicts.

I go to college to become a substance use.

Counselor.

>> Just had a house built.

Through the Housing Development Mon Home also.

It's an amazing feeling.

It really is.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Echo Gammell.

>> Students, parents and educators faced an unprecedented challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic.

A report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress gave a clearer picture of how much the pandemic disrupted learning in the classroom.

The nation's report card released last month shows math scores for 4th graders in Kentucky fell 5 points this year compared to 2019, Kentucky 8th graders saw a bigger decline in math scores.

They were down 9 points nationally.

The average score declines in math for 4th and 8th graders were the largest ever recorded in that subject.

Reading scores for Kentucky.

4th graders were down 4 points, although down this score is slightly better than the national average.

That's not true for 8th graders in Kentucky.

Their reading scores fell by 5 points this year.

The pandemic erased gains made in student literacy skills over the last 2 decades in Kentucky.

National literacy advocate Maya pain.

Smith says more intentional focus on building vocabulary from birth to age 8 lays a strong foundation for reading proficiency when a child gets to school.

Renee Shaw spoke with her about how engaging young kids and more than just baby talk can make a real difference.

>> We know that many kids not just in Kentucky, but probably across the nation really don't have access to a home library.

They don't have books that they can grab off of the shelf.

How important is it to even just have that access at home?

>> I think it's critically important for all children have access to books, but more importantly for them to have access to a caregiver errant.

He can read with them it up with them.

Even when there isn't a book in hand, there's so much work that parent can do to build children's vocabulary just due back in court and they're cheering conversational exchanges.

And there's a lot of research to support that the kids who have the most conversation back and forth with adults have larger vocabularies, higher accuse and just better language skills.

Years later that support literacy.

>> So sometimes parents, particularly young parents.

First time parents want to do the baby talk, right?

because that's just where you are.

Would you recommend that our dear met recommend that we speak and whole sentences and words?

Haha.

>> I recommend that you definitely use regular vocabulary and speak to children.

You can speak in a slower kind of higher pitch, more exaggerated tone.

But you definitely want to give them real words because they'll need also all the vocabulary they can get down the road.

And when they're older, when they're 3, 4 and started notice print and we should make letters a topic of conversation.

There's so many kids these days are entering schools without knowing any letters without knowing how to write their name or even the first letter of their name.

Any work that Aaronson grand parents and community members can due to give kids that foundation both in vocabulary, but also in knowledge of how it works, letters, how they work in the sounds with the N-word.

That's so interesting.

Talk to us about the talk method.

What is that?

>> So I wanted to come up with it.

Easy to remember afternoon parents these days are stressed their fatigues.

They're distracted by that.

It says there's just a lot going on within homes in the world.

But every parent, regardless of their literacy skills has the ability to talk and nourishing ways with their child so that he is for taking turns because it's not just about talking at the child and narrating everything that's going on in their environment.

You really want it to be a conversation even before they're speaking words and can reap by and sentences, treat those keys and battles this conversation.

So the taking turns part is critical is asking questions.

Numerous studies show that when parents ask questions during the course of reading books and even just in the course of read a life that again, it stimulates the child's thinking and helps develop their brains in important ways, Ellis, for labeling him pointing system times.

You're tired and you don't know what to talk about with it.

But remember that everything in your environment is a word that they'll need to learn.

So you can just label table lawn chair and those everyday things.

And of course, as they get older, the label get more sophisticated and the case just KET the conversation going.

Talk as much as you can.

Books are wonderful.

We took departure for conversation with kids and so read as well but have discussion about that, too.

>> So how do parents and caregivers know that they can advance their child to the next literacy level, right?

How do they know that they may be commanded certain things and need to move forward?

>> So parents, I always recommend that parents get familiar with that developmental guidelines.

So they're published by the CDC and other authoritative organizations.

And they'll give you a sense of what kids can tip we do are typically do.

Do I know it's certain ages and stages and then this kid's approach school.

The school years.

You can look to your state learning standards to get insights into what the expectations are for that grade level.

And then you can do your part as a parent always to build the February to support their next level of literacy.

Learning and to seek out resources in your community.

Whether librarians are pediatricians, teachers and others to help support your child.

It really does take a village.

Sure.

Absolutely.

>> Is there a number of of words that a child should know before they enter kindergarten?

She is out that they should have mastered and understand not just kunri side but understand the meaning of.

>> I don't know that there's a specific number of words.

competing research on that and also in the average number of words, kids know.

But I think the important thing for parents is just to talk more and know that there have been studies that show that more talkative parents have more talkative children.

And so that those conversations and word that the kids are using.

I really important their expressive vocabulary, their ability to communicate ideas supports their ability to understand for tonight is when they encounter them and it down the road.

>> So I just wanted to ask finally, so parental conversation that one-on-one is important.

But what about the engagement that children can get from devices and television where there's conversation taking place there now.

That's one way is that beneficial in any way?

>> It really is in for that for a little little children semi.

But reading for lives.

The letter C action plan from birth, the sick bag have a strong emphasis on our youngest children.

And there's no research to support that.

Your one and 2 year-olds are learning from devices.

They really learn from contingent responses from real people and real life, though, tune into those these battles word their eye gaze, what they're pointing at, what they're interested in and take all of those opportunities.

Again to build their word banks.

And then when they get a little older, it's important that parents take those initial steps are teaching them about letters.

Letter names letter sounds later shapes because there's so much research showing that kids who enter kindergarten without knowing some letters are at it.

Significant disadvantage.

And it's hard to to catch up over time.

So whatever we can do in the years prior school makes teachers work a little easier in the classroom.

>> Offering >> career and technical training in high school continues to be a growing trend in education in Madison County, High School students can receive technical training in a variety of disciplines at 2 campuses.

We visited the Ignite Academy North campus to get a look at the new facility and see what students are learning there.

>> The mask, a board of education realizes the importance of workforce development, vision itself talks about being in partnership with the community and providing the skills needed for success.

So based off of that we realize that we needed upgrade or a rebranding of career technical education.

We have a North and South campus and the district has created these candidates to hopefully better prepare the kids to transition into their next.

Their next phase of life.

>> Everything's hands on whether or not you've got a mouse in your hand or a hammer in your hand.

>> That's a good learning environment.

I'm in the building.

Cars working on cars and getting to work.

Hands-on left parts tools and computers.

This can use your imagination to build things that you just want to build up her warm apparent part about being here.

>> When you give them something that's hands on when you give them something that is interactive, you're going to retain that information faster.

You're going to enjoy it.

What you're doing and you're going to find that reward at the end of it, that satisfaction?

I didn't know I could do that.

And now I do.

And that's that's why we're the first thing that programs like to do as it develops student interest.

>> Industry today is significantly different than what it was in the your 1950's 1960's.

So we want to build a new facility so that would shed a new light on the career Tech education.

>> It's very cool.

I really like the new building, the CNA class and like beds and means and they have a lot of new in the pharmacy tech right now.

And then in January asked RSC So by the time I graduate, I'll have my certificate in both and I can go work in a hospital or pharmacy.

That's just really great.

Community cause mean a lot of people out of the college for that.

And they're offering those classes here to take for free.

>> I forgot that.

Choose to do it again on and the 10 times over here.

You learn about that.

You want to learn about mine goals and go to the CDC and get my main fax machine and agree and I move the Bowling Green and decor engineer and is on the court that gives them the skills are going to need to navigate the workplace or navigate applying for college.

We just want to >> go alongside advise the kids the best we can to align with their goals for the future and set them up to be successful.

I make a good living for them and their families and the contributing members to the community.

>> A Jefferson County middle schooler is proving you can do anything.

You set your mind to Josiah.

Johnson was born without legs, but he's not letting that get in the way of playing the game.

He so loves.

>> I want people to feel bad.

When Marion Seymour School, 8th grader, Josiah Johnson was born without legs.

Despite the missing limbs, the tryout in made the varsity boys basketball team at more middle.

>> He made the scene.

We didn't put him on the team because November there really anything like that.

He actually showed up to every dry, all the data.

That is all that.

But it's up on the team.

I'm making a spot.

Johnson has always younger.

He do gymnastics.

>> Basketball was to support them in the capture of his own.

>> I was going on about what a lot of to the scoreline juniors and sophomores.

Now and they I was just going to pardon.

I still wait on this play, you know, in that slight, we have 9 by name the number because the White House 1, this year, you that love to represent more in his first year on the team.

He's already made a massive impact on a story.

We all made the list for dry out and what We've got to put those I I'm I'm on there and then lied.

All the players are that they were really mad at me now because we've got 3, 6, graders and 3 senators as well.

>> Why like that?

It was just outside, but they really love those ideas into his teammates is just one of them.

Johnson is a basketball player.

He wants to make sure everyone knows that people like the bathroom and that's what I just showing that you don't need that.

I want Tony to below and I don't want you to, you know, feel bad for the islands.

Beyonce greater this harder and harder because I know that he'll come in and take the minutes that they don't play play our brothers our this season.

He's already got some playing time appearing in one game so far, though he missed his first 2 simple points.

He's confident he'll score his first who is very soon.

>> I'm making it to this day is done.

>> What a great kid.

We hope you'll join us again Monday night for Kentucky Edition.

Thank you for joining us.

And we hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving.

♪