Last weekend, young leaders from across the state came together to celebrate their first year as the First Lady’s Youth Leadership Council (FLYLC). First Lady Glenna Bevin initiated the Council last spring with a focus on empowering youth in the improvement of policies and practices related to the child welfare system and helping more kids have a safe and loving home.
The FLYLC met with Glenda Wright, the president of Voices of the Commonwealth. Glenda shared her story of being in foster care and inspired the young leaders to continue to advocate for themselves while in care, as they age out, and beyond.
Representative Melinda Gibbons Prunty joined the Council for a luncheon to celebrate youth accomplishments—middle and high school graduation and becoming FLYLC alum—and 2017 policy wins. Representative Prunty co-sponsored House Bill 180 and House Bill 192 in the 2017 session, which both passed and were legislative items that the FLYLC youth supported.
We are honored to work with First Lady Glenna Bevin and the youth comprising her council. We thank Representative Prunty for listening to the youth’s stories and for her commitment to improving the child welfare system’s policies and practices that impact the FLYLC youth and so many other Kentucky children. We look forward to working with Mrs. Bevin and the FLYLC in the fall as they continue to be a voice for strengthening the child welfare system and making sure the best interest of the youth in the system is met.
Watch this video for a overview of the First Lady’s Youth Leadership Council’s first year.
I have loved, and worried about children since I was very young. My husband and I are biological parents, special needs adoptive parents, and raised a grandchild. Years ago we were foster parents. It troubles me so many children do not have a “Forever Family,” and so many of Kentucky’s precious children are in foster care. I hope someday soon Kinship Care Subsidies will be reinstated so relatives whom want to take in relative children, but do not have the financial resources, can do so.I can’t imagine the pain of watching a child you love having to go into foster care because you cannot financially meet their needs. No matter how good the foster parent, they do not know the child or what their life was like with family. My children tell me how frightening it was to go to a foster home and what would happen to them. Gee, how unreal my thinking was when they came into my home. I thought they would know were really good and loving people and they would be safe and taken care of very well. My foster and adoptive children taught me many things. They called themselves “Throw Away Kids!” I pray somehow things get better for our children and not many have to grow up in foster care, and if they can’t stay with parents at least they get adopted or go to relative care!! If I can help in any way please let me know!
Hello Phyllis, thank you for stepping up to be a caregiver for foster children and for your grandchildren. And thank you for being an advocate for these complex issues. The First Lady’s Youth Leadership Council includes children who are in foster care, living with a relative, or in a home where they have taken in a relative. Stories like yours are important for these young folks to gather and share so they can be better advocates for the many children in similar situations.
Stay tuned for advocacy opportunities as the 2018 budget session begins.