A New Website!
Stay tuned for the launch of a new WFPL website, including a new State of Affairs homepage & blog!
Tell us what you would like to see on the new blog - email SoA assistant Laura Ellis at lellis@wfpl.org.
February 29, 2008
Blueprint for Kentucky's Children
 | In 2006, 20 percent of Kentucky’s children were living in poverty. More than 90,000 had no health insurance, and there were 15,000 cases of substantiated child abuse. These numbers and many other barometers of child welfare in the commonwealth are compiled by the Kentucky Youth Advocates. Together with Metro United way, they have created a blueprint for Kentucky’s children – an agenda for improving the well-being of the bluegrass state’s youngest citizens. Join us this Friday to see what challenges kids face, and what the blueprint recommends for improving their lives and futures. |
Listen to the ShowGuests:
Terry Brooks, Executive Director, Kentucky Youth Advocates
April Duvall, Executive Director; Kentucky Council for Mental Retardation
Pam Helm, President, The Family Place
The History of African American Religions
| Chained in the slave ships of the Middle Passage were Christians, Animists, Muslims and Magicians. At auction, families said goodbyes in Mende, Wolof and Bantu. In the fields, priests, peasants and princes labored together under the whip. Princeton Professor Dr. Albert J. Raboteau is a leader in the field of African American Studies. He joins us this Thursday when we discuss the complex history of African American religion, from praise houses and hush arbors to the Nation of Islam and the March on Selma as well as his personal story. |  (photo courtesy of Princeton University) |
Guest:
Dr. Albert J. Raboteau
February 27, 2008
Foreclosures Update
 | Call it what you want, the foreclosure crisis or the mortgage crisis. Either way, homebuyers over the past few years borrowed above their means, or got into risky loan products and are now defaulting on their mortgages. As the debate about fault rages on, the federal government and cities such as Louisville are coming up with their own plans to curb foreclosures. Join us on Thursday as we learn more about where we are now in dealing with the mortgage crisis. |
Guests:
Kimberly Bunton, Director, Department of Housing and Family Services
Cathy Hinko, Director, Metropolitan Housing Coalition
Adam Hall, President, Louisville Mortgage Bankers Association
February 26, 2008
Bipolar Disorder
| Sadness, impulsiveness, lethargy, racing thoughts, fatigue, grandiose thinking, self criticism, exhilaration, fatigue. These apparent opposites are actually all symptoms of the same mental health problem: Bipolar Disorder. The affliction, once called manic depression, affects 5.7 million American adults and recent studies suggest a similar prevalence among youth. Join us this Tuesday to learn more about the causes and treatment of Bipolar Disorder, and where to turn if it affects you or a loved one. |  |
Guests:
Dr. Rif El-Mallakh
Dr. Rana J. Roberts
February 25, 2008
Social Realities of Teen Drinking
An estimated 65% of underage drinkers are getting their alcohol from friends or family and some underage drinking parties are actually sponsored by parents who would rather have kids drink at home than out on the street. This issue brings up many questions. Should parents allow teen drinking in the home? What are the social host ordinances in Kentucky? What about the social ramifications for the teens? What are the effects of alcohol on the young adult brain? What methods prove effective to deter underage alcohol consumption? Tune in on Monday for our conversation on the social realities of teen drinking. Because today is an archive edition, we won't be taking calls this hour.
February 22, 2008
Social Worker Pilot Project
 | Jails and prisons in Kentucky (as in other states) are overcrowded. One reason for the overcrowding is the high recidivism rate of offenders. In 2006 the Kentucky General Assembly funded the Social Worker Pilot Project to study the causes of this overcrowding and whether or not utilizing social workers in public defenders offices could help this situation. The social workers were placed in four offices throughout the state to evaluate offenders for issues such as substance abuse and mental health needs, both of which might lead to reincarceration. Initial conclusions indicate the project was a success, both saving money for the counties involved and reducing the recidivism rates among offenders. Join us on Friday when we talk about the project and its implications for the state as a whole. |
Guests:
Rod Barber, UofL, Kent School of Social Work
Ernie Lewis, Director, Department of Public Advocacy
Rachel Pate, MSW