<script src="https://api.bloomerang.co/v1/WebsiteVisit?ApiKey=pub_39cfb91e-34c8-11ef-886a-065cb98c8979" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script src="https://api.bloomerang.co/v1/WebsiteVisit?ApiKey=pub_39cfb91e-34c8-11ef-886a-065cb98c8979" type="text/javascript"></script>Kentucky ranks #1 in the nation for rates of child abuse and neglect. Without a significant increase in financial support, we will allow abuse and neglect to cycle its way through Kentucky’s future generations.
Please join us in making sure our legislators know this urgent need. Kentucky’s state social workers and children’s homes need significant resources to continue serving vulnerable youth. There is a historic budget surplus and unspent federal aid that can be allocated to caring for Kentucky's foster care system. It will take many of us raising our voices to our representatives to make this happen.
Become part of the KyUMH Children's Advocacy Network
If you want to raise your voice with us, sign up for action alerts via e-mail. These messages will include easy ways to get in touch with your representative and specific requests to share with them. We cannot predict how many messages we will send throughout the session, but we will only communicate when your help is urgently needed.
Our first action alert is here! You can make a difference for Kentucky youth this week. You can help this week by contacting your legislators and the Senate Appropriations and Revenue members and ask them to:
Add $6.2 million in general fund dollars to the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) budget to support a $4 hourly wage increase for residential staff at KyUMH and our sister agencies. This funding is critical to enable us to recruit and retain staff in the current highly competitive and rapidly changing job market. We must have enough quality staff in order to continue to provide effective services in a safe environment.
Phone and email contacts work great! Share your passion for Kentucky youth, and why you support KyUMH. Share the critical need for quality staff to care for Kentucky's most vulnerable youth. If you are emailing, it's as easy as writing one email and copy-pasting it to another representative! To find your personal Representative and Senator – CLICK HERE
In addition to contacting your representatives, please write another email to each of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue members asking them to support this investment in children. Please do this before January 21.
Senate Appropriations and Revenue Members:
THANK YOU for lifting your voice for KyUMH youth! If you have any questions about how to advocate, reply to this email and we will be in touch.
Thank you for being part of our Children's Advocacy Network! We are seeing positive results in Frankfort thanks to the effort of many voices rising together.
We have a new action alert for you to share with your representatives and senators.
Ask your legislators and the Senate Appropriations and Revenue members to:
•*NEW* Add $16.5 million general fund in the state budget each fiscal year to increase outpatient Medicaid Behavioral Health rates by 25%. Please share stories about how low Medicaid rates are compared to the cost of care and how many of Kentucky’s children are experiencing mental health concerns so NOW is the time to invest. These funds will help bolster Kentucky's preventative care services for children and families across the state.
•Add $6.2 million in general fund dollars to the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) budget to support a $4 hourly wage increase for residential staff at KyUMH and our sister agencies. This funding is critical to enable us to recruit and retain staff in the current highly competitive and rapidly changing job market. We must have enough quality staff in order to continue to provide effective services in a safe environment.
Phone and email contacts work great! Share your passion for Kentucky youth, and why you support KyUMH. Share the critical need for quality staff to care for Kentucky's most vulnerable youth.
You can call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 to leave a message for your representative.
If you are emailing, it's as easy as writing one email and copy-pasting it to another representative! To find your personal Representative and Senator – CLICK HERE
In addition to contacting your representatives, please write another email to each of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue members asking them to support this investment in children.
Senate Appropriations and Revenue Members:
•Chris McDaniel – Chair - chris.mcdaniel@lrc.ky.gov
•Danny Carroll - Danny.Carroll@lrc.ky.gov
•Matt Castlen - Matt.Castlen@lrc.ky.gov
•Donald Douglas – Donald.Douglas@lrc.ky.gov
•David Givens - david.givens@lrc.ky.gov
•Alice Forgy Kerr - alice.kerr@lrc.ky.gov
•Morgan McGarvey - morgan.mcgarvey@lrc.ky.gov
•Stephen Meredith - Stephen.Meredith@lrc.ky.gov
•Michael Nemes - Mike.Nemes@lrc.ky.gov
•Robin Webb - robin.webb@lrc.ky.gov
•Stephen West - Steve.West@lrc.ky.gov
When you have contacted your reps, will you let us know who you contacted? We appreciate your efforts and want to record which legislators have been contacted by Team KyUMH. THANK YOU for lifting your voice for KyUMH youth!
As our elected leaders meet in Frankfort, they hear bills for laws that can have a direct impact on KyUMH. One of those bills is Senate Bill 45: AN ACT limiting Medicaid managed care contracts to 3. It has passed the Senate, but has stalled in the House. If this bill passes both chambers, it will dramatically change the workload for our billing teams. This would be a tremendous improvement for us and for the youth and families we serve!
WHAT TO DO: Please call the Legislative Message Line – 1-800-372-7181 – and advocate that this bill be heard. This takes just aminute or two, and every call is counted.
Message for: “House Leadership” and “All Members of the House Health & Family Services Committee”
Message: State your name/address and then say “Please hear and pass Senate Bill 45. Senate Bill 45 is vital to reduce costs and stream line access to Medicaid services. Thank you.”
Thank you!
As the state budget has moved from the House to the Senate, the $16.5 million increase for Medicaid behavioral health rates and $6.2 million residential wage increase were NOT included. These funds are critical to maintaining safe, effective programs for the youth we serve!
By March 15, please ask the Senate and House Leadership to revise their budget to:
Phone and email contacts work great! Share your passion for Kentucky youth, and why you support KyUMH. Share the critical need for quality staff to care for Kentucky's most vulnerable youth.
You can call the Legislative Message Line at 1-800-372-7181 to leave a message for Senate and House Leadership.
If you are emailing, it's as easy as writing one email and copy-pasting it to another email!
Senate Majority Leaders:
House Majority Leaders:
Thank you for lifting your voice for KyUMH youth!
