A proposed Kentucky law would require animal control officers statewide to undergo training on identifying and reporting child abuse.

Kyan's Law is named after Kyan Higgins Jr, a 10-year-old Louisville boy murdered by his mother. Animal control had visited Kyan's home 24 times in the 18 months leading up to his death.

Joye Keeley, founder of the Kentucky Link Coalition, said in 88% of homes with physical abuse, animal abuse is also occurring.

"When you see a dog outside being neglected, or an abused animal, it always helps to expand the call for service," Keeley explained. "To look for other forms of abuse, because you could be saving a life."

After Kyan's death, Keely spearheaded an effort to create a Louisville city ordinance requiring animal control officers there to receive training on the link between animal abuse and child abuse. According to Kentucky Youth Advocates, last year 41 suspected child abuse cases were reported to the police and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services by Louisville's animal control officers.

Jai Hamilton, animal control officer for Lexington-Fayette County Animal Care and Control, said her colleagues are in a unique position. They are often more trusted because they are not law enforcement officers and can help speed up the involvement of Child Protective Services.

"There are some households that may not allow the police inside, but they're more apt to allow animal control inside the home," Hamilton observed.

Kiera Dunk, a student at Oldham County High School and a youth advocate, said the legislation is one tool for combating child abuse, noting the state has more work to do.

"I feel like people need to understand that we are still one of the worst in the nation for child abuse," Dunk emphasized. "We should be doing everything we can to help."

April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. The Kosair for Kids Face It Movement is hosting a virtual workshop on the issue Wednesday.



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Vermont ranks high in overall child well-being, with fewer children living in poverty, according to a new report.

Released today, the 2025 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows 9% of children live in families below the federal poverty level, as more parents gain secure employment.

Sarah Teel, research director with Voices for Vermont's Children, credited state investments in education and health care and an expanded Child Tax Credit, which put more cash in parents' pockets.

"That approach has worked, and it has made a difference, and it is the reason why we've seen the positive outcomes we have," said Teel, "and so protecting that should be one of our top priorities."

Teel said expansion of Green Mountain Care and the Children's Health Insurance Program has helped ensure nearly all kids in Vermont have health insurance.

She said it's important that state lawmakers keep listening to families and stick with proven, research-backed policy choices.

Post-pandemic learning loss continues to plague educational outcomes in the state.

Nearly 70% of fourth graders lack proficiency in reading and more than 70% of eighth graders lack proficiency in math.

Leslie Boissiere, vice president of external affairs with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, said prioritizing intervention strategies, to ensure more kids are in school and graduating on time, will ultimately help both families and the state's economy.

"With things like internships and apprenticeships, stronger - and in some cases - alternative education," said Boissiere, "so that they have an opportunity to thrive, and to move forward from education and into the workforce."

Federal lawmakers are considering significant cuts to public safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP.

Boissiere said she hopes they'll consider the data on food security, health care, and other indicators driving child well-being before making any moves.

Some same-sex couples who are looking to adopt may feel intimidated or concerned about their prospects. But adoption experts say that doesn't need to be the case.

An estimated 2 million LGBTQ families nationwide are interested in adoption, and those couples are four times more likely to adopt than heterosexual couples.

Saara McEachnie, director of domestic adoption programs with the Barker Adoption Foundation, said she connects with gay couples that hesitate when making the decision to adopt.

McEachnie said everyone should manage their expectations during the adoption process.

She explained that birth parents or older adoptees can express their preferences, but that doesn't usually rule out same-sex parents.

"Families are usually worried or anxious, that there really is no place or space for adoption for a same-sex couple," said McEachnie. "And while it is true that the wait could be longer, it is very much possible, and we have successfully done same-sex adoptions from all of our programs."

In 2014, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe sent a notice the Virginia Department of Social Services recognizing the right for same-sex couples to legally adopt.

For those considering international adoption, four countries allow same-sex couples to adopt children. Those are Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, and South Africa.

McEachnie said same-sex couples provide affirming homes that positively impact children.

"We have found that when children can enter affirming homes, they are all the better for it - whether this is a child who is exploring their own identity or not," said McEachnie. "Being in an affirming home, period, is helpful."

She encouraged same-sex couples looking to adopt to find support groups for families in their community.

Those types of connections and support, McEachnie explained, are vital in the adoption process.

A new study from Wayne State University finds that therapy dogs may be just what the doctor ordered for kids experiencing anxiety in the emergency room.

Research shows around 15% of children need medication or physical restraint just to get through treatment in the ER, adding to an already stressful situation for them and their parents.

The study included 80 kids ages 5 to 17, who received standard child-life therapy - but half of the kids also spent about 10 minutes with a therapy dog team.

Dr. Jeffrey Kline, lead researcher and WSU School of Medicine emergency medicine professor & associate chair of research, said there was an almost 50% reduction in anxiety among the kids who interacted with the therapy dogs.

"The dogs worked as well as say, for example, a drug like valium - but with no drug," said Kline. "And also the kids that received the therapy dog, plus handler, generally required fewer behavioral controlled medications."

Researchers measured anxiety using face charts and saliva tests for cortisol, a stress hormone. They took readings before the dog visit, 45 minutes after, and again two hours later.

More than half of the kids who did not see a therapy dog needed medication to calm their anxiety. However, in the group that spent time with a dog, only about a third needed those drugs.

Dr. Kline said there's clear evidence that therapy dogs help in the ER, and he said he believes it's time to adopt the practice.

"Emergency departments that have access to therapy dogs should be incorporating them routinely," said Kline. "The one down side is dogs need to sleep - you know they don't work all day, they work for about two hours. But, if available, I think emergency departments, especially children's EDs should be using them."

Dr. Kline said there are more than 50,000 therapy dogs in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes across the country - helping comfort people of all ages, from pediatrics to geriatrics.