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So far Kentucky Youth Advocates has created 959 blog entries.

5 Years of Bloom Kentucky: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Headed

Dr. Shannon Moody is joined by three grantmaking partners in the Bloom Kentucky initiative: Allison Adams, President and CEO of the Foundation for Healthy Kentucky; Kristin Walker Collins, CEO of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky; and Sonya Carrico, Director of Policy at Interact for Health. They discuss Bloom Kentucky’s five years of impact in policy change, community engagement, and youth empowerment. Learn more at kyyouth.org/bloom. [...]

By |2026-08-11T18:25:57-04:00August 12th, 2026|Podcast|
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A Home for Every Child: The Administration on Children and Families Initiative

By Claire Elmore, KYA Intern What is A Home for Every Child?  Earlier this month, the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced that 50 states had joined “A Home for Every Child,” an initiative primarily focused on achieving a 1:1 ratio between available foster homes and children in foster care. The initiative launched in November 2025, with Kentucky among the first cohort of states to join. Beyond improving the ratio, the initiative [...]

By |2026-07-30T14:39:30-04:00July 30th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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A Conversation on the State of Kentucky Kids

Dr. Shannon Moody is joined by KYA’s Senior Policy & Advocacy Director, Alicia Whatley, and Data & Research Director, Karena Cash, to discuss their recent presentation to the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children in Frankfort. They dig into Kentucky’s child well-being trends in the latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book and highlight the big opportunity for communities and the state to get ready for the 2030 Census. Learn more at kyyouth.org/data/. [...]

By |2026-07-29T15:31:00-04:00July 29th, 2026|Podcast|
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Kinship Connections Shelbyville – Helping Families Navigate Resources Throughout Kentucky

This year, the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky in partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), through the support of Casey Family Programs, is hosting a series of free Kinship Connections events to increase awareness and support for kinship caregivers - grandparents, relatives, or close family friends raising children. The event in Shelby County on July 14th was one in a series: the first event took place on May 27th in Laurel County, and [...]

By |2026-07-23T15:47:40-04:00July 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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KYA’s Next Chapter: A Conversation with New Executive Director

Guest host Mara Powell talks with Dr. Shannon Moody, KYA’s new executive director. They discuss what led Shannon to KYA, her reflections on the challenges and opportunities in child advocacy, and her hopes and vision for the podcast and the organization, especially as KYA embarks on its 50th year in 2027. Check out ways to support Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/sponsor/. Thank you to [...]

By |2026-07-15T08:59:40-04:00July 15th, 2026|Podcast|
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Guest Blog: Kinship Connections Events – Helping Families Navigate Resources Throughout Kentucky

By Tori Henderson, KYA intern This year, the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky in partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates, through the support of Casey Family Programs, is hosting a series of free Kinship Connections events to increase awareness and support for kinship caregivers - grandparents, relatives, or close family friends raising children. The first event took place on May 27th in Laurel County, Kentucky. We will be hosting two more this [...]

By |2026-06-24T10:53:06-04:00June 24th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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5 Farewell Questions with Dr. Terry Brooks

What are you most proud of in your 20-year tenure at KYA? When I came to KYA in 2005, I was struck and actually angered that the aspiration of the broader child advocacy community was simply to make a lot of noise.  What’s that Texas phrase?”  “All hat.  No cattle.”  Have a rally.  Hold a press conference.  Wave some signs. And … literally, no one ever talked about winning.  Instead, [...]

By |2026-06-18T10:59:32-04:00June 12th, 2026|Blog|
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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 |2026-06-10T09:52:38-04:00June 8th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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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 |2026-08-07T16:09:30-04:00June 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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