Advocates Needed!

Raise your voice for Kentucky youth

It's important to remind our state legislators whenever we can about the needs of Kentucky youth. The decisions they make on state laws and budgets have a real impact for families!

As our legislators meet for the 2026 legislative session, their attention is split in many directions. That's why it's so important for lots of us to reach out! 

We may not see the results we want in one session, but our efforts each year lay the ground work for future progress.

Ways you can help

Here are a few ideas of ways you can raise your voice with us:

• Schedule a visit in person with your state representative and senator.
• Call, email, or write a letter to your legislators.
• Host a letter-writing party: Get your friends together to write letters to your legislators together!
• Sign up to receive "action alerts": KyUMH will send urgent emails with a message to send your legislators within 12 hours.  

Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data

For 35 years, the KIDS COUNT initiative has been collecting and reporting on child well-being data. The goal is to inform lawmakers and advocates what needs to happen to make Kentucky a safe place to thrive for children and families.

According to the 2025 KIDS COUNT data, Kentucky has seen a decline in childhood poverty. This is great news! However, we are still encountering food insecurity and high obesity rates within families across the state. That needs to change.

As we head into the 2026 legislative session, we are working to advocate for policies and decisions that would limit adversity in the lives of Kentucky's children, youth, and families. 2025 KIDS COUNT is a great place for us to start as we look ahead into 2026.