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Kentucky Ranks 36th in 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book as Kentucky Youth Advocates Urges Deepened Focus on How Kids and Families Fare

Contact: Mara Powell | mpowell@kyyouth.org | 502-895-8167 X122 Kentucky Ranks 36th in 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book as Kentucky Youth Advocates Urges Deepened Focus on How Kids and Families Fare Annual National Report on Child Well-Being Shows Progress and Gaps for Kentucky LOUISVILLE, KY — Kentucky ranks 36th in child well-being, according to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of recent data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how kids [...]

By |2026-06-04T16:10:10-04:00June 8th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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Tracking Impact in Efforts to Address the Opioid Epidemic in Kentucky

On track for impact? A new tool for measuring progress and the impact of opioid abatement funds for kids and families. Kentucky Youth Advocates has launched a new component to the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families, the Kentucky Opioid Data: Change Over Time Progress Report.  On more than 20 key measures, community leaders can now see how their county and Area Development District’s data is changing over [...]

By |2026-06-04T17:31:27-04:00June 4th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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5 Questions to Get to Know Dr. Shannon Moody

What are you most proud of in your nearly 15-year tenure at KYA? Starting at KYA as an intern, I don’t think I could have imagined all of the ways I’ve gotten to engage with Kentuckians across the Commonwealth over the last several years. Getting to know and learn all the ways leaders across Kentucky support and care for kids has been an incredible experience - from hosting regional Family [...]

By |2026-06-04T12:32:16-04:00June 4th, 2026|Blog|
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Kentucky Youth Advocates Announces Executive Director Transition; Dr. Shannon Moody to Succeed Dr. Terry Brooks After 21 Years of Leadership

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 502-895-8167 X122 Kentucky Youth Advocates Announces Executive Director Transition; Dr. Shannon Moody to Succeed Dr. Terry Brooks After 21 Years of Leadership Dr. Moody named as incoming leader, bringing nearly 15 years of experience at KYA LOUISVILLE, KY — May 27, 2026 – As Kentucky Youth Advocates approaches its 50th anniversary, the Board of Directors announced today that Dr. Shannon Moody, currently KYA’s Chief Policy & Strategy Officer, will succeed Dr. [...]

By |2026-05-27T09:54:57-04:00May 27th, 2026|Blog, News Room|
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New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Foster Youth

New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Youth with Foster Care Experience Interactive report features key data on outcomes and barriers to success and offers policy recommendations Louisville, KY – Students with foster care experience bring unique strengths and perspectives to our classrooms; they also face trauma and systemic hurdles that can make the climb toward graduation and beyond more difficult. To support more informed, data-driven responses, Kentucky Youth Advocates [...]

By |2026-05-20T17:03:47-04:00May 20th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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Bipartisan Federal Bills Aim to Better Support Foster Youth on Their Path to Adulthood

By Claire Elmore, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates While Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session has officially ended, federal lawmakers are still working on important legislation that could strengthen supports for young people with foster care experience.  On April 29th, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced six bipartisan bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Education and Training Voucher program. The six bills [...]

By |2026-05-19T20:23:18-04:00May 19th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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One Kentucky Teen’s Mission: Disconnect to Connect

By Hannah Edelen & Guest Writer, Aleah Stigall Aleah Stigall is a 17-year-old senior at Boyle County High School and has a passion for connection. She strives to teach the importance of real relationships with real people, as she shared at the 2026 Town Hall on Kids at Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Through her personal initiative, “Disconnect To Connect - Let’s Get Real,” Aleah educates her peers [...]

By |2026-05-13T13:26:08-04:00May 13th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Celebrating Child Care and Appreciating Providers

Almost 70% of children under the age of 6 go to some type of formalized child care outside of the home. As a working mom, both of my sons went to licensed child care centers so that I could work. When I was growing up, that is not what I expected. My mother stayed at home with me and my sister until we both entered kindergarten. I was blessed that she was able [...]

By |2026-05-20T11:05:13-04:00May 6th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Where the Session Leaves Us & Where Advocates Go Next – A Recap on Bloom Kentucky’s 2026 Priorities

It is always a bittersweet moment when the gavel drops on day 60 for the Kentucky General Assembly. Both advocates and legislators alike closed the chapter on a season where debates were had, hearts were opened, and policies passed.  While the session may come to a close, the work of Bloom Kentucky continues as we work to advance policies and budgetary investments that create the conditions that shape the environments where children and [...]

By |2026-04-28T15:03:34-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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Op-Ed: The power of persistence in child abuse prevention — in wake of legislation, commitment is key

This op-ed was originally posted by the NKyTribune on April 27, 2026. By Shannon Moody and Barry Dunn "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” The Little Engine That Could taught many of us the power of persistence – not giving up when the going gets tough and maintaining a sense of hopefulness when all seems lost. That mantra, backed by the persistence of our community partners, helps the Kosair for Kids Face [...]

By |2026-04-28T10:31:23-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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