2008 Public Policy Agenda

The three tiers of support are as follows:                            Legislative Leadership Priorities (Tier 1)                                   UWKY will assume a leadership role on Capitol Hill, with the Governor of Kentucky and in the Kentucky General Assembly with the human service sector, proactively lobbying and bringing visibility and voice to our issues. 

Legislative Advocacy Issues (Tier II)                                        UWKY will develop positions, lobby and generate grassroots support among local United Ways on an as needed basis.

Legislative Support Issues (Tier III)                                          UWKY will monitor and respond to requests for support through such vehicles as sign-on letters. UWKY will support the work of coalition partners who are thought leaders on each issue.

Early Care and Education

Tier I Issues                                                                      Establish universal kindergarten readiness/entry assessment for all children entering kindergarten.                                             Increase affordability of high quality care by increasing the child care subsidy to 165% of the Federal Poverty Guideline.

Tier II Issues                                                                       Increase the number of children in high quality by increasing parent awareness of quality.                                                                Fully fund KIDS NOW programs and expand funding to:              Open the HANDS voluntary home visitation to all at-risk mothers (not just for the first child) and allow participation until the child is 3.  Make participation in STARS for KIDS NOW mandatory.         Increase the scholarships for early education workers.            Require booster seats to reduce child deaths.                       Promote enrollment of eligible children in K-CHIP.

Tier III Issues                                                                  Strengthen the federal Head Start program, the Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and bolstering the federal SCHIP program so more children can have access to affordable health care. Provide a tiered refundable tax credit for enrollment in high quality early care and education.

K-12 Education                                                                       

Tier II Issues                                                                         UWKY will support proposals that increase healthy behaviors at school including improved nutrition and increased physical activity. UWKY will support proposals to increase core content related to financial literacy.

Access to Services

Tier I Issues                                                                       Facilitate statewide implementation of the 2-1-1 abbreviated dialing code for access to health and human service information and referral.

Tier II Issues                                                                   Strengthen the voluntary sector, including tax incentives that encourage charitable giving, and regulations that permit full participation of non-profit organizations in the governmental process.

Financial Stability Initiatives

Tier II Issues                                                                           Access to health and dental care.                                             State EITC.                                                                            Access to banking services.                                                    Access to benefits for eligible populations.                                    Regulation of Pay Day Loans.                                                   Advocate for funding and for programs that meet the needs of children and families in need of food, shelter, and support in times of crisis.