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Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) high school girls will learn about empowerment and positive choices during the 2017 Youth Services Centers Women of Worth: I Am Resilient Conference, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, in Hartford Hall at the Jefferson Community & Technical College (JCTC) Downtown Campus (649 S. 1st Street).
Approximately 300 students from a variety of JCPS high schools will enjoy sessions about goal setting, college readiness, healthy relationships and resilience. Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO and President of the Louisville Urban League, will serve as the keynote speaker.
The conference mission is to empower and motivate young women to make positive choices that will strengthen their life skills, help them overcome barriers and guide them in achieving academic success. The conference is sponsored by several JCPS Youth Services Centers, Norton Children’s Hospital and JCTC.
Eighth-grade students at the J. Graham Brown School, 546 S. First Street, will host an interactive refugee camp on Friday, November 10, from 9:05 to 11:40 a.m. and from 12:10 to 1:10 p.m. at Peace Park (located across the street from the school) to showcase what they have learned in class over the past two months.
The students have created a refugee camp that will reproduce some of the challenges and difficulties that refugees face in camps today. They will also provide an interactive learning experience and reflection opportunities for participants.
In addition, the school’s ninth graders have been studying different aspects of water scarcity in all their classes and have organized a “Walk for Water” that same day from 8:30 to 11 a.m., as they are trying to raise $8,000 to build a well for a school in Sudan. Each student (having collected pledges) will be carrying a gallon of water from the school to the Big Four Bridge and back.
Both activities are great examples of the Deeper Learning initiative that is at the forefront of the district’s strategic plan. The framework was adopted by the Jefferson County Board of Education in June 2016 as a way to encourage students to be more independent and take a more active role in their learning process.
Attorney General Andy Beshear, the Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky announced upcoming child sexual abuse prevention trainings in Bowling Green for organizations that serve children.
The Dec. 5 trainings at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge, 150 Corvette Drive, are aimed at daycares, summer camps, churches and other youth-serving organizations with program evaluation and implementation of an action plan that will strengthen protocols and policies to safeguard children from sexual abuse.
There will be two trainings Dec. 5 – one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Those interested in the trainings may pre-register.
“Across the country every year, approximately 35 million adults in youth-serving organizations come into contact with more than 70 million children and teens,” Beshear said. “Through this training in Bowling Green we are providing support to many organizations in the state that are working hard to create and maintain a safe place for children, employees and volunteers.”
Staff from the AG’s Office and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky will provide the training.
Jill Seyfred, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, said the organization will continue to partner with Beshear to protect children.
“The training will help us move the needle one tick closer to achieving our ultimate goal of ensuring our children are safe; not only in their own homes, but at school, summer camps and everyplace they go,” said Seyfred.
As a training partner, the Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers will host trainings at advocacy centers across the state.
“Youth serving organizations are poised to serve as a first line of defense in the battle against child sexual abuse, said Executive Director Caroline Ruschell. “By implementing the right strategies, these organizations can create an environment that fosters open dialogue and reduces opportunities for an act of abuse to occur.”
The Office of the Attorney General’s Child Victims’ Trust Fund (CVTF), administered by the Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board (Board), is providing the funding for the trainings. The board also approves annual grants from the CVTF to support child abuse prevention programs.
Last year, the board sponsored statewide trainings for law enforcement, prosecutors, social workers, community advocates, religious affiliates, parents and educators on how to protect children from predators.
Beshear said the new trainings are a critical next step in protecting Kentucky’s children – one that allows his office to provide youth-serving organizations information from the risk reduction handbook that Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky developed with the assistance of a CVTF grant.
Beshear said supporting the CVTF is a direct investment in our children and encouraged others to consider making a donation, which can be made in three ways:
- Through a private donation directly to the CVTF.
- Purchase of an “I Care About Kids” license plate at your county clerk’s office.
- Donations made through the state income tax refund check-off program.
Beshear reminds Kentuckians that everyone has a moral and legal duty to report any instance of child abuse to local law enforcement or to Kentucky’s Child Abuse hotline at 877-597-2331 or 877-KYSAFE1.
For additional information regarding the upcoming youth-serving organization trainings, please visit, http://ag.ky.gov/family/childabuse/Pages/trainings.aspx or http://www.pcaky.org/news/freetraining.html.
Photo: Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Racial disproportionality and disparities for youth and families of color in the area of child welfare services will be the topic of statewide meeting this week.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ (CHFS) Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), Hardin County Family Court Judge Brent Hall, and community leader and juvenile justice advocate Pastor Edward Palmer will host the annual meeting of the Race Community and Child Welfare (RCCW) Initiative on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Tourism Center, 1030 North Mulberry St., Elizabethtown, Ky.
DCBS Commissioner Adria Johnson said the forum lets child welfare partners discuss strategies to remove barriers for children and families of color.
“Racial disproportionality is prevalent in Kentucky’s child welfare program, but by focusing attention to solutions that are specific to the problem, we can preserve families and achieve good outcomes for all children,” Johnson said.
In Kentucky, racial disproportionality and disparate outcomes for children of color occur across all public systems. Nationally, children of color are overrepresented in child serving agencies such as education, child welfare and juvenile justice in comparison to their percentage of the population.
Disparate outcomes include children of color removed from their homes and entering out of home care at a rate one and a half times to that of white children. Data shows that children of color are:
- less likely to achieve permanency when exiting out of home care
- less likely to graduate from high school
- more likely to be suspended from school
- are more likely to be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice for offenses and
- more likely to be referred to criminal court as a youthful offender.
The RCCW Initiative engages public system and community partners in developing and evaluating local collaborations and strategies aimed at eliminating disparities for children of color in the child welfare system. In the last year, Hardin County collaborative efforts have eliminated the overrepresentation of African-American children entering foster care in that county. The percentage of children of African-American heritage entering foster care in Hardin County is lower than their representational percentage of all children in the county.
Johnson said the state’s RCCW program sponsors workshops for DCBS staff, childcare agency providers and other partners to reduce racial bias; provides diversity information for foster parent training and distributes a quarterly newsletter.
Pastor Palmer, of the Sign of the Dove Church in Radcliff, said that racial disparity is a community issue and will take all stakeholders working toward a solution.
“With the number of children in care growing, the state needs support to meet their psychological and biological needs,” Palmer said. “It really takes the village to assist those families in crisis, to facilitate better outcome for families and children.”
Palmer provides a visitation center at his church for parents and children removed and in foster care to visit frequently thereby increasing the chances of reunifying the family.
Judge Hall said that Family Court judges like himself play an important role in listening to families and encouraging the development of community supports to meet the needs of vulnerable families.
“Judicial leadership is critical to setting expectations for family engagement for all involved with families dealing with child maltreatment,” Hall said.
Judge Hall helps facilitate Hardin County’s Minority Advisory Council, which focuses on improving child protection and court processes, resources and family engagement. Hall recently led a training session of 25 participants, which included court personnel, Foster Care Review Board members, Family Resource Center Coordinators, CASA advocates and community members.
Judge Karen Howze, a national expert on cultural competency and Judge in Residency with the National Council for Juvenile and Family Court Judges, will also speak at the annual meeting.
For more information about DCBS programs and Kentucky child welfare, log on to http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/.
For more information about how you can become a foster or adoptive parent, or to get more general information about supporting families in the child welfare system, email: openhearts@ky.gov, visit the state adoption website adopt.ky.gov, which helps families more easily navigate the foster care and adoption process or call 1-800-232-KIDS (5437).
Mayor Greg Fischer announced today that Light Up Louisville, which kicks off the month-long celebration of Louisville’s Holiday in the City, is returning to its roots at Jefferson Square and Metro Hall.
Now in its 37th year, Light Up, the official starting point for the holiday season in Louisville, brings together people from all over the city, along with family, friends and visitors, to enjoy a day full of excitement, entertainment and community.
“For so many of us, the holidays mean ‘coming home,’ gathering with family and friends in traditional ways and comfortable spaces,” the Mayor said. “So it’s great that this year’s Light Up Louisville is also coming home, to Jefferson Square Park, where it first began.”
And the festivities continue through New Year’s Day, as Holiday in the City, a gift from MainSource Bank and powered by LG&E, provides family-friendly fun with a pop-up ice skating rink at Holiday Square at Fourth and Jefferson streets.
Light Up Louisville, always held the Friday after Thanksgiving, begins at 4 p.m. that day, as children are encouraged to visit Santa’s Workshop on the first floor of Metro Hall, and create holiday crafts. The first 250 people will receive a discount coupon to be used at the nearby Holiday in the City ice skating rink.
There will be a vendor village at Sixth and Jefferson streets, with holiday crafts, treats and gifts for sale. And the Louisville Visitor Center located near the ice skating rink will be open during Light Up Louisville, offering giveaways, treats and activities.
The main Light Up Louisville stage on the west lawn of Metro Hall will feature live entertainment beginning at 4 p.m. until the start of the Lots of Lights parade at 6:30 p.m. The parade will start at Seventh and Jefferson streets and proceed east on Jefferson to Fourth, where it will travel through Fourth Street Live! before dispersing at Muhammad Ali.
The parade, featuring floats, bands, carolers, car clubs, children’s groups and civic organizations, will end with the arrival of Santa Claus, as he and Mayor Fischer illuminate the city Christmas tree in Jefferson Square, along with much of the rest of downtown Louisville, as the sky is lit by Zambelli fireworks.
Following the Light Up moment, from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., entertainment on the main stage will resume and children are invited to go back inside Metro Hall and get a free picture with Santa Claus.
At Holiday Square, located at Fourth and Jefferson streets, visitors can enjoy the full-size ice skating rink, featuring real ice. A 60-minute skating session with skate rentals is $12 per person; it’s $9 if you bring your own skates. The rink will be open November 23 – January 1.
Holiday in the City visitors are reminded that Fourth Street Live! plans a Winter Wonderland experience, including free pictures with Santa, Friday through Sunday until December 23.
Mike Gleeson, Regional President for MainSource Bank, says, “We are honored to be part of such a great event. Our commitment to the Louisville area and all the local communities we serve is a top priority at MainSource Bank. We’re excited for a great Holiday season, with the hope that many residents and visitors enjoy this incredible event.”
“It’s great to be back again this year, helping our community sparkle throughout the holiday season, as we continue our long-standing partnership with the city,” said Victor A. Staffieri, Chairman and CEO of LG&E and KU Energy. “Bringing Light Up Louisville festivities back to Metro Hall while maintaining the ice skating venue is a great opportunity for people to get out, walk around downtown and enjoy everything it has to offer.”
Besides MainSource Bank and LG&E, the holiday festivities’ sponsors include: Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fourth Street Live!, Ford/UAW, Hines Management, MetroPCS, 106.9 Play!, Louisville Magazine, Outfront Media, and WLKY.
Mayor Fischer urges people to share their photos from Light Up Louisville and Holiday in the City on social media using the hashtag #AroundLou.
For more information, go to: www.specialeventslouisville.com
The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) is the largest all-breed, purebred livestock expo in the world, with 30,000 cattle, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas, sheep and horses competing for nearly $750,000 in premiums and awards. The show runs Oct. 31-Nov. 16 throughout the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Barrel Racing Riders race against the clock in this fast-paced competition where agility and speed are key. Youth competition begins Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. in Broadbent Arena and continues Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 9 a.m. with amateur, girls and open barrel racing. Juniors and seniors compete Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 9 a.m.
Cowboy Mounted Shooting Cowboys take aim at ten targets in this timed event, shooting for both accuracy and speed. The winning rider is determined by compiling the most hits, fewest penalties and quickest time. This event is held in Freedom Hall:
- Thursday, Nov. 9 8 a.m.
- Friday, Nov. 10 12 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 11 8 a.m.
Draft Horse Shows Draft horses, known for their beauty and strength, compete by pulling weighted carts and wagons. Teams are judged on performance, driving and conformation. The shows are held in in Freedom Hall:
- Friday, Nov. 10 8 a.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 11 8 a.m.
Entrance to competitions is included with NAILE admission: $6 for adults; and $3 for seniors (55 and older) and children (ages 2-12). Parking is $8 daily. Event passes for the entire expo are $25 for admission and $25 for parking.
Free admission and parking are available to visitors and North American Marketplace shoppers Nov. 7-8.
NAILE features the North American Marketplace, wool showcase, children’s barnyard and more. The separately ticketed North American Championship Rodeo is held Nov. 9-11 in Freedom Hall, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition.
For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org. Continue reading
Credit: KY State Parks
Seventeen Kentucky State Resort Parks will serve the Thanksgiving Day buffet on Nov. 23, 2017.
Kentucky State Parks will serve 2,000 pounds of turkey, 1,500 pounds of sweet potatoes, and 750 pounds of country ham. Additionally, 4,300 pieces of fried chicken, 1,300 pounds of roast beef, and 12,000 rolls will be served along with 600 pies, including pecan and pumpkin.
The parks have hosted the Thanksgiving Day buffet for more than 40 years and typically serve around 10,000 guests.
For starters, the buffet includes soups, cheeses, and salads. The menu features turkey, dressing, baked ham, carved roast beef, and fried chicken. Vegetables include old-fashioned candied yams, country-style green beans, and mashed potatoes with giblet gravy.
The cost for the buffet is $19.50 plus tax (drink included) for adults, $9.50 for children ages 6-12, and free for children five and under.
The buffet will be served starting at 11 a.m. and closing time will vary by park.
Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park will be offering a reduced buffet and price.
For more information on the Thanksgiving Day buffet and other state park events, visit www.parks.ky.gov