School Choice – what once was a term that simply described a variety of different school options – is now a term that brings about a variety of different emotions. What once was a nonpartisan issue is now deeply polarizing in today’s times. Here at Kentucky Youth Advocates, we believe in equipping families with the tools to make the best choices for their unique circumstances. We believe that whatever “choice” of education, it should [...]
The General Assembly gaveled in for the 2024 Regular Session this week. Given Kentucky’s unprecedented budget reserve trust fund surplus and the state’s current landscape, there is a real opportunity to invest and empower kids and families across the Commonwealth. Bloom Kentucky is a collaborative initiative of grantmaking organizations from across the Commonwealth focused on statewide policy changes and budget investments that aim to prevent and mitigate the multi-generational impacts of childhood adversity so that [...]
During the first week of December, Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kentucky Humanities Council hosted Cara Fitzpatrick, author of "The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America," for a two-day venture starting with an author forum on Monday night followed by a series of conversations with local Louisville leaders on Tuesday. A Forum on School Choice – In spirit of "Deliberative Democracy" On Monday night, a Forum on School [...]
In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we are shedding light on the great work happening with the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention (ASAP). Their comprehensive action plan serves as the north star that guides their work – from the exchange program, the distribution or narcan boxes, their recovery backpacks, youth engagement with the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council, and [...]
As we find ourselves in the midst of National Family Week, it’s a time to celebrate and reflect upon the importance of family (whether blood-related or chosen) and the role that family plays in our lives. Families come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all share is the potential to shape our futures. In Chapter 6 of The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity – "Lick Your [...]
Kandice Williams and students You may have once heard the quote, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.” As we look toward celebrating the Future Teachers of America Day, which is celebrated annually on November 20th– it’s important that we pause and reflect on how we are empowering Kentucky’s future teacher workforce. During a recent Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee, the Office of Education Accountability (OEA) presented on Kentucky [...]
October is dedicated to National Dropout Prevention Month and in this blog, we will dive into attendance and the role this indicator plays in academic achievement, drop out rates, as well as, funding in Kentucky schools. Research shows that school absences take a toll on grades and performance on standardized tests. Beyond test scores, irregular attendance can be a predictor of high school drop-out, which has been linked to poor labor market prospects, diminished health, [...]
The opioid epidemic has been a devastating crisis across the United States, and Kentucky has not been immune to its effects. However, amid the challenges and heartbreak, there is a glimmer of hope. Kentucky's First Opioid Symposium, hosted by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, stands as a shining example of the dedication and determination to combat this epidemic. This symposium, held at the Central Bank Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky, brought together a [...]
As we embrace October as Substance Use Prevention Month, it's only fitting that we shine a spotlight on the remarkable work being done in local communities to combat the opioid epidemic. In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we turn our attention to the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) Opioid Abatement Coalition's recent Opioid Symposium. On September 18, 2023, at the iconic National [...]
