Category: lexington

Call to Action: Domestic Violence and Dating, Child Fatality
asouthernmother
February 20, 2013

Warning: This article touches on very sensitive topics so if you’re triggered by the topic of domestic violence then I advise you to stop reading. If you’ve been affected by domestic violence then it’s important you seek legal help to protect yourself. Similarly, if you’ve been wrongly accused of domestic violence then it’s important you talk to a Criminal Defense Lawyer Fort Worth Tx to help fight the charges.

Unfortunately, most people do not realize how easy it is to let your government leadership know how you feel. Generally a quick call to their offices will do. There are two proposed bills that need our support. House Bill 9 and House Bill 290 both deal with issues related to domestic violence.
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Kentucky House Bill 9 This bill would allow dating couples to get get domestic violence protection orders.

It is unfortunate that Kentucky and South Carolina are the only two States in the Nation that do not allow a dating couple to file for a civil protection order. In Kentucky you can only file for civil protection to couples residing in the same home, have a child together, or have been married. House Bill 9 would allow dating couples to receive the same protection. Civil order are often considered more serious. They are often the most quickly executed, and can be vital to saving someone’s life. Civil orders often have extended time frames.
Here is a link to the actual bill House Bill 9

Kentucky House Bill 290 An act relating to the external child fatality and near fatality review panel. Create a new section of KRS 620 to establish an external child fatality and near fatality review panel; establish its membership, duties, and responsibilities; and amend KRS 620.050 to allow records to be provided to the panel. The provision would allow records to be released to the panel to review fatality and near fatality cases in children who were suspected victims of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect. If you would like to read over HB 290, I have included a link directly to the Bill. Kentucky HB 290

One in four women will experience an episode of domestic violence in her lifetime. My brother and a dear cousin both lost their lives to domestic violence. No child should ever die at the hands of a parent or caregiver. A parent shouldn’t have to grieve over the loss of a child, and it is equally devastating for a sibling. I will never get over losing my brother Brandon, and no family should ever suffer the way we did. My dear cousin Angie lost her mother Cathy at the hands of her father. It is never easy to lose a loved one, but it certainly isn’t easy to lose them at the hands of someone you trusted.

It is very easy to call. The number is 1-502-564-8100. Please remember that legislators are elected by voting districts. If you live in the Lexington-Fayette area here are some contacts. You can let the operator know you support one or both of the proposed bills.
The names you will want to give them are
Julian Caroll x 651
Kathy Stein x608
Tommy Buford x610
Alice Forgy Kerr x625
Stan Lee
Ruth Ann Palumbo

Click here for the link to legislators by county in Kentucky

Please make your voice heard. Whether you believe it or not, every voice counts.
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Speak up for those that have already lost their lives to domestic violence. Far too many people struggle in silence, and so much more needs to be done to help survivors of domestic violence feel able to get in touch with a denver domestic violence lawyer or a domestic violence law specialist in their area. You really could help save lives with your action.
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 Please and Thank You
Happy Thankful Thursday
XOXO
~Jess

And please feel free to share the link to this blog. We need to spread the word and make our voices heard!

Dear Senator… Belle goes to the “Hill”
asouthernmother
February 15, 2013

Capitol Hill once seemed like a place for just tourists and politicians.  Earlier this week, I walked onto Capitol Hill advocating for change.  It was quite surreal for a girl that grew up in southeastern Kentucky.  It was one of the most exciting and exhilarating days of my life.  I was getting to speak up for someone who was unable to do so.  
While we were there, our group visited the offices of Senator (R) Rand Paul, Senator (R) Mitch McConnell, Representative (D) John Yarmuth from 3rd congressional district, Representative (R) Andy Barr from 6th congressional district , and Representative (R) Thomas Massie from the 4th congressional district. 
Walking into Senator (R) Rand Paul’s office was a lesson in humility.  We walked into a “gun fight that we knew we were gonna lose” but we walked in there anyhow.  Senator Paul is a very vocal advocate against any United States Foreign Aid.  The United States only spends about 1% of the fiscal budget each year on foreign aid and diplomacy.  It is touted by many journalists that Senator Paul uses his opposition and out spoken nature to gain media attention.  After all, negative attention is still attention.   I guess he hopes that the U.S. is never directly attacked, that we won’t need allies, and we have never received any foreign assistance from other countries.  
Senator Paul should realize global health also impacts U.S. health.  I would hope as a physician he would see those implications.  Germs do not carry passports, outbreaks of infectious diseases in other countries still means the possibility of outbreaks in the U.S.  In 2000, measles were declared to be eliminated from the United States but due to vaccination propaganda and resulting lowered vaccination rates, in 2011 there were 222 cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S.   Just across the “lake”, in England measles cases are at an 18 year high.  There have already been cases of the measles reported in the U.S. this year.  Complications from measles can be deadly especially in young children and those with compromised immune systems.  An outbreak of measles in the U.S. doesn’t just involve the health of an individual and their family.  A reported case of the measles requires CDC notification, exposure and tracking measures, and the alert of CDC personnel.  It places a significant burden on the healthcare system which is entirely unnecessary.  It also affects public transportation and education systems, it is an infectious disease which has easy modes of transmission.  
U.S. Today reported that a measles outbreak in Utah in 2011 cost $300,000, that was one outbreak!  It only costs $5 to immunize one child from measles and polio for life, $20 covers measles, polio, pneumonia and rotavirus.  These are diseases which are easily prevented if the we intervened.  
These children are real.  This photo is from a Shot@Life observation trip to Uganda. 
In reality the most important impact should be humanitarian.  The prevention of needless deaths.  We are a global society.  All American citizens were once immigrants from somewhere.  I can trace my roots to Ireland and Scotland, along with my Native American heritage.  My son has lineage in Ecuador and Spain.  Everyone deserves access to life saving vaccinations, regardless of place of birth.  A child and their family shouldn’t be punished because they were born in Africa, Pakistan, Guatemala, or any other country.  It is the most cost effective form of humanitarian aid.  It easily pays off dollar for dollar. 
 It is unfortunate that Senator Paul, wants to “throw the baby out with the bath water” as we say around here.  He might not approve of all forms of foreign aid but global vaccination funding is vital the U.S. and the rest of the World.  In reality it isn’t his job to approve of anything.  He was elected to vote as the voice of his constituents.  He should listen to what the people of the state want and vote for us.  In September he proposed that the U.S. cut all foreign aid to Libya, Pakistan, and Egypt because of government disagreements.  Why should we punish the children and families of those countries because of government disfunction?  Those children are no different than the children living in our own neighborhoods, except our children have access to local health departments and clinics to get vaccinations.  
I would like to a take a second to also point out that Senator Rand Paul was one of only 8 senators that voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.  Last year there were 18,733 unduplicated new referrals to the Kentucky Domestic Violence Association and a total of 39,919 continuing individuals served.  To put those numbers in perspective, there is only 31,888 residents in Knox County Kentucky, where I grew up.  My brother and a dear cousin were both lost due to domestic violence.  Senator Paul must know that his vote was unacceptable.  
In this technologically advanced age it is easy to let our Congressmen and Senators know how we feel. You might not have money to donate to the campaign, but if your reading this you have internet access.  You can call, email, or write a letter to your Congressmen and Senators to let them know you support U.S. allocated funding for global vaccines.  You can also contact them via twitter.  
I don’t care if you are a teacher in Barbourville, a coal miner from Harlan, a farmer from Mayfield, an attorney from Lexington, or if you fall anywhere in between.  If you are 18 years old, you have a voice and you should let it be heard.  Your vote counts, you elect the officials.  I am going to make it simple.  
Here are the websites for officials for the State of Kentucky, if you live outside of Kentucky you can use google and find yours.  

I hope you will contact them and let your Senators and Congressmen know how you feel, whether it be about global vaccines, domestic violence, or any issue you feel is relative to you.  
Happy Fabulous Friday, 
XOXO
Jess 

It’s never too late…
asouthernmother
January 21, 2013

I think I have spent most of my life focusing on how things were suppose to go instead of letting them progress as they should.  I have actually spent the last few years of my life focusing on what I “should” have done instead of realizing how far I have came.  Every decision I have ever made has led me to where I am now and I have been given some incredible opportunities recently.  I am wholeheartedly excited to be joining the United Nations Foundation Shot@Life team and working on vaccination advocacy.  My journey has just begun with them, and I have already met some incredible and inspirational women.  I am counting the days til I get to join in them in Washington, D.C.  I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for my friends from Bluegrass Junior Woman’s Club who encouraged me to apply and the women at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in D.C. for choosing me.  There are days that I look at some of the bio’s of other women, and I am so grateful for being chosen.  I think this journey could open some new doors for me and I hope I can inspire others to follow their dreams.  We may not see it in the moment, but the timing is always perfect.

One important thing we all should remember is dream big!  We should surround ourselves with other individuals who dream big, people that drive and inspire us.  A few years ago I walked into a the Beaumont Centre Clubhouse to my first meeting with the Bluegrass Junior Woman’s Club and it changed my life.  I had always loved community service and helping others, but these women inspired me.  I am so grateful for the women I meet through the organization and I am so proud to be part of such a wonderful group.  My sponsor was Beth Cramer, and even after she moved away I still keep in touch.  I gained a best friend who I adore more like a sister, Brittney Wells and her lovely momma too! I wouldn’t have made it through the months following my brothers death if it wasn’t for Brittney, Lauren, and Renae.  I could never truly express the gratitude and love I have for the women of the club.  If you read my blog and live in the Lexington, Kentucky area, come join us for a meeting!  Santa’s Shoppers, Habitat for Humanity, the Ronald McDonald House of Lexington, the Children’s Advocacy Center, and Bluegrass Domestic Violence are just a few of the many organizations that have benefited from the hard work of those involved in the club.  If you don’t live in Lexington, check out the General Federation of Women’s Clubs website and find a club in your area!  Change begins with you!

Hope everyone had a blessed and peaceful Sunday!

XOXO

~Jess