Kentucky Youth Advocates, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Statement on Passage of Legislation to Address Educator Sexual Misconduct

Statement on Passage of Legislation to Address Educator Sexual Misconduct

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With just a few days left in the 2025 state legislative session, we appreciate Representative James Tipton’s laser-like attention on achieving passage of his longstanding commitment to addressing educator sexual misconduct in the Commonwealth. We’re celebrating as House Bill 36, adopted as a committee substitute of House Bill 298, was unanimously supported by the Senate Education Committee [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-10T16:51:37-04:00March 10th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

A Conversation on the Family Preservation and Accountability Act

A Conversation on the Family Preservation and Accountability Act

Guest host Cortney Downs is joined by state Representative Nick Wilson, Amanda Hall of Dream.org, and Sarah Durand of KYFREE for a discussion on House Bill 291, known as the Family Preservation and Accountability Act. They dive into the impact of parental incarceration on children, communities, and the state economy. HB 291 is a Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priority bill that would require the courts to consider alternative sentencing options -- such as vocational [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-06T14:17:07-05:00March 7th, 2025|Podcast|

Statement on Passage of HB 90 by the Kentucky House

Statement on Passage of HB 90 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With the leadership of Representative Jason Nemes, House Bill 90 passed the full Kentucky House this afternoon. This legislation, and its companion Senate Bill 17, are critical levers to offering more options for prenatal and delivery care for Kentucky’s pregnant moms. As an alternative to a hospital delivery, freestanding birth centers have a track record of providing [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-06T17:08:34-05:00March 6th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|

Youth Voice: “Our voices matter today and every day.”

Youth Voice: “Our voices matter today and every day.”

By Zach Crouch, member for the Health Youth Ambassadors Zach shared the following speech as the opening of the 2025 Rally for Kentucky Kids in the Rotunda at the annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Welcome to our 2025 Children’s Advocacy Day! My name is Zachary Crouch. Words can not describe how it makes me feel to see this Rotunda packed full of youth advocates and many elected officials joining today. Thank you, Governor [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-21T11:10:08-04:00March 6th, 2025|Blog, Education, Health|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by House Judiciary Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by House Judiciary Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kids’ safety was prioritized by the Kentucky House Judiciary Committee with their overwhelming bipartisan support of Senate Bill 73 today. Through the leadership of Senator Julie Raque Adams, SB 73 will empower victims of sexual extortion by holding perpetrators accountable and will prioritize prevention education among Kentucky’s most vulnerable to online risks. Senate Bill 73, sponsored by [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-05T10:32:43-05:00March 5th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

Governor Beshear, House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol 2025

Governor Beshear, House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol 2025

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org FRANKFORT, KY – Hundreds of child advocates are convening this week for Children’s Advocacy Week, urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified policy agenda focused on creating brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and families. Today is Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, where community organizations, professionals who work with kids and families, and young people from across the Commonwealth gather in Frankfort to meet with their legislators, attend committee [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-04T20:33:42-05:00March 5th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Youth Justice|

Statement on Passage of HB 90 by the House Licensing & Occupations Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 90 by the House Licensing & Occupations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Expanded access to perinatal care options for low-risk pregnant women is a win for families, communities, and the state’s bottom line. House Bill 90, championed by Representative Jason Nemes and passed today by the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee, removes barriers to establishing freestanding birth centers – a priority of health advocates and leaders for [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-05T10:11:52-05:00March 5th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|

A Conversation on Enforcing Tobacco-21 Law with SB 100

A Conversation on Enforcing Tobacco-21 Law with SB 100

Terry Brooks and Alicia Whatley are joined by state Senator Jimmy Higdon and Delanie Crump, a high school freshman from Boyd County, for a discussion on the state of youth vaping in Kentucky. They also discuss the impact Senate Bill 100 could have on holding retailers accountable for selling nicotine and tobacco products to youth under age 21 and ultimately curbing youth vaping in the Commonwealth. SB 100 is a Blueprint for Kentucky's Children [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-04T14:55:49-05:00March 4th, 2025|Podcast|

Phoenix’s Story: The Impacts of Eviction in Childhood

Phoenix’s Story: The Impacts of Eviction in Childhood

By Phoenix Berry, member of the 2025 Housing Policy Ambassadors cohort The feeling of loss is something we all experience, whether that's losing an item, ourselves, or another. I first remember losing my housing when I was in elementary school. My family was evicted from our home due to a public nuisance violation after the police were called because my mother was attempting to flee her abusive partner. We lost everything from baby photos to [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-27T15:01:43-05:00February 27th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity|

A Mid-Session Update on 2025 Blueprint Priorities

A Mid-Session Update on 2025 Blueprint Priorities

Terry Brooks is joined by members of Kentucky Youth Advocates' policy team - Shannon Moody, Alicia Whatley, and Cortney Downs - to share updates on Blueprint for Kentucky's Children 2025 policy priorities and insights on the Frankfort landscape and the impact on kids' issues. Find details on each of the bills discussed at kyyouth.org/bill-tracker/. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-26T17:13:17-05:00February 27th, 2025|Podcast|

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