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INPUT NEEDED: Paid Parental Leave for State Employees Comment Collector

  • Kelly Taulbee
  • Call-to-Action, Children's Health, Need to Know

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS HERE

As of October 2024, 36 states and also Washington D.C. have adopted paid parental leave policies for state employees. Nearly all have adopted their state employee leave policies ranging from six (6) to twelve (12) weeks per event (birth, adoption, foster placement). Kentucky is not one of these states.

On December 12, 2024, Governor Beshear announced a state employee leave policy allowing up to six (6) weeks that can be used once every ten (10) years that could support parental leave and also other medical necessities or emergencies (e.g. when an individual suffers a stroke/heart attack, is in a bad accident, faces urgent caregiving demands of a family member, etc.). Currently, neither paid leave option being proposed is available to Kentucky’s public servants.
 
Regarding the paid parental leave option in particular, as these regulations have been filed, Kentucky would be the only state in the nation with a restrictive once-per-10-years limitation.
 
These regulations establishing a paid parental leave and medical necessity leave benefit for Kentucky state employees will be up for review soon and the state is accepting comments to decide if any changes are needed before they go into effect. In order for this leave to be flexible enough to accommodate both emergency or medical necessities AND realistic parental leave needs, simple adjustments to the regulation must be addressed quickly. Your input on this matter is important, and makes a difference in how the regulations will be received by the legislature when it time they be reviewed for approval. 

You can read the non-emergency regulations here:

Public comment period timeline:
    • Public hearing facilitated by the Personnel Cabinet: March 21, 2025 (*written requests to participate are required 5 days prior to the hearing)
    • Written comments due: March 31, 2025
    • It is early in the process so at this time, the regulations are not yet assigned to a specific upcoming meeting of the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (ARRS) — but — watch for updates soon!
    • Please note: By completing this survey, your comments will ultimately be shared with state policymakers from both the executive branch and legislative branch. 
The bottom-line: every Kentuckian, including state employees and their babies, deserve to have their basic, health-related social needs met!
 

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS HERE

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KVH is hiring a Policy Specialist!

Position: Policy SpecialistReports to: Director of Policy & Strategic PartnershipsDirect Reports: NoneLocation: Hybrid with travel. KY residence preferred. Kentucky Voices for Health (KVH) has been a respected voice of consumer advocates and a catalyst in health policy decision-making since 2007. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan coalition, we bring together individuals, advocates, community organizations, state agencies, and policymakers to address the underlying causes of poor health by connecting Kentuckians with opportunities to make change through policy advocacy.   Position Overview KVH seeks to hire a Policy Specialist to work collaboratively with boots-on-the-ground partners, safety-net providers, MCOs, state agencies, and policymakers to monitor changes in the healthcare system and assist Kentuckians in accessing health insurance, healthcare services, and other types of public assistance to meet their basic needs.  Successful applicants will share KVH’s mission to amplify the voices of consumers and health advocates in the decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of Kentuckians. The duties of the position are outlined below. 

July 31, 2026

Celebrating Second Chance Month

The work of building a better reentry system in Kentucky is not something any one organization can do alone. Kentucky Voices for Health leads the Healthy Reentry Coalition, a growing network of directly impacted advocates, services providers, and community members committed to creating a healthier, more just path home for all incarcerated Kentuckians. Our goal as a coalition is to provide support through education and awareness of policies and share resources and events among members. This work has traditionally focused on adult reentry, but we are working to bring in more voices from across the Commonwealth, particularly those either directly or indirectly impacted by the juvenile justice system. The coalition meets every third Thursday of the month. Our next meeting is April 16th, and we would love to have you there. If you are interested in joining or learning more, reach out directly to Brittany Elam at brittany@kyvoicesforhealth.org. THE SEASON OF SECOND CHANCES After a harsh winter, April is a month

April 15, 2026

ThriveKY 2026 Virtual & In-Person Events

Join the ThriveKY Coalition in 2026 for: Important updates on the economy, Medicaid, KCHIP, SNAP, housing, transportation, child care, public health, and behavioral health. New tools available to assist community members with meeting basic needs. Tips on being a more effective advocate in your community.   2026 Events – Registrations linked below Virtual Programs (times in EST) In-Person Regional Roadshows – Now with 30 additional minutes for community discussion! Who should attend? **CEUs approved for CCHWs by the Kentucky Office of Community Health Workers. CEUs approved for all social workers licensed with the Kentucky Board of Social Work by the Kentucky Society of Clinical Social Work. CEU certificates are available for professionals who can self-report hours. Interested in Sponsoring ThriveKY in 2026? Sponsors help us provide programming and free CEUs to hundreds of community professionals in Kentucky. Check out our 2026 sponsorship flyer and reach out to Kelly Taulbee (kelly@kyvoicesforhealth.org) with any questions.

March 31, 2026

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