Staying informed is one of the most powerful things you can do for your family. Each of the stories below represents real change happening right now in Kentucky — changes that could directly impact your loved one’s release and your family’s future together. We’ve summarized each one and highlighted what it might mean for you.
1. Kentucky Signs the Family Preservation and Accountability Act Into Law
On April 10, 2026, in a landmark win for families across the Commonwealth, Governor Beshear signed Senate Bill 122 — the Family Preservation and Accountability Act — into law. This bipartisan legislation passed with strong support from both parties and represents one of the most significant smart-justice reforms Kentucky has seen in years.
The law prioritizes community-based alternatives to incarceration for parents convicted of low-level drug and property offenses. Rather than automatically sending a parent to prison and fracturing a family, the system will now be directed to consider options like therapy, recovery services, and job training that allow parents to remain present in their children’s lives while still being held accountable.
The research behind this is compelling: parental incarceration is one of the most significant adverse childhood experiences a child can face, linked to long-term effects on mental health, education, and future involvement in the justice system. Keeping families together — where it is safe to do so — is better for children, better for communities, and ultimately better for public safety.
What this means for your family: If you have a family member facing charges or sentencing for a low-level drug or property offense — particularly a parent of minor children — this law may open doors that didn’t exist before. Talk to your loved one’s attorney about whether community-based alternatives apply to their situation. Connecting with a reentry advocate or social worker who is aware of SB 122 could be an important step in building a case for an alternative sentence.
2. Kentucky Expands Medicaid Coverage for Adults and Juveniles Leaving Incarceration
On April 13, 2026, Governor Andy Beshear announced that eligible adults and juveniles leaving Kentucky state custody will receive up to one full year of continued Medicaid coverage following their release. This coverage includes physical health care, mental health services, and addiction treatment — three of the most critical needs for individuals in the reentry period.
The program operates through a federal Medicaid Reentry Section 1115 Demonstration, which was approved in July 2024. Under this initiative, individuals will be screened for healthcare needs before release and will leave with a 30-day supply of any prescribed medications already in hand. State officials are clear about the goal: when people have access to healthcare, they are more stable, healthier, and less likely to return to incarceration.
This matters enormously. The weeks immediately following release are among the most vulnerable in a person’s life. Without medication, mental health support, or access to a doctor, even the most motivated individuals can quickly find themselves in crisis.
What this means for your family: If your loved one is housed in a Kentucky state facility, ask whether they have been connected with pre-release Medicaid enrollment. Make sure any current prescriptions are documented and on file. Upon release, help them locate a primary care provider or community health clinic that accepts Medicaid right away — don’t let that coverage go unused.
3. Kentucky Celebrates Second Chance Month — And a Major Healthcare Milestone
April is Second Chance Month, a time to recognize that recovery and rebuilding a life after incarceration rarely happen all at once. It takes multiple chances, a strong support system, and access to real resources. Kentucky Voices for Health and the Healthy Reentry Coalition are marking this month by raising awareness about one of the most significant recent policy wins for returning citizens: the Medicaid 1115 Waiver.
This waiver is a game-changer. It allows incarcerated individuals to begin receiving Medicaid coverage before they are released, so they aren’t walking out the door without healthcare. For people managing chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, or substance use disorders, that gap in coverage has historically been one of the biggest contributors to crisis — and to returning to incarceration.
The Healthy Reentry Coalition is also working to expand these protections to county jails and to ensure the voices of those directly impacted — including those who’ve been through the juvenile justice system — are heard in the policy process.
What this means for your family: If your loved one is preparing for release, now is a great time to ask case managers or facility staff whether they have been assessed for Medicaid eligibility under this waiver. The goal is to have coverage activated before they leave — not weeks later. Don’t wait until the day of release to start asking questions.
Kentucky Strong Families exists to walk alongside families navigating the challenges of incarceration and reentry. You are not alone in this journey. For more resources or to connect with our ministry, reach out to us directly.
Lives on Mission Ministries | Kentucky Strong Families