Kentucky Youth Advocates, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the Kentucky House

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – A justice system that promotes accountability, considers primary caregiver status, and reserves incarceration for those who pose a risk to public safety can be a win-win-win for family well-being, community safety, and the state’s bottom line. Representative Nick Wilson’s House Bill 291 seeks to do just that by requiring courts to consider alternative sentencing options when an [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-26T18:06:31-05:00February 26th, 2025|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice, News Room|

Statement on Passage of SB 100 by the Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 100 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kids flat out won today as Senator Jimmy Higdon's Senate Bill 100 passed the Senate floor – emphasizing the Member's commitment to youth health and holding those accountable who may jeopardize a kid's chance at a healthy, addiction-free future. In an effort to enforce the Tobacco-21 law, SB 100 seeks to hold retailers accountable for underage tobacco, [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-26T16:57:40-05:00February 26th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the House Families & Children Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky has the third highest rate of parental incarceration in the nation, with over 100,000 children having experienced the disruption and trauma of being separated from a parent. The Family Preservation and Accountability Act, co-championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and Representative Nick Wilson, seeks to hold parents accountable for their actions while minimizing the negative impact [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-20T10:13:33-05:00February 20th, 2025|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice, News Room|

Youth Voice on Enforcing T-21: “Every loophole in legislation lets addiction thrive.”

Youth Voice on Enforcing T-21: “Every loophole in legislation lets addiction thrive.”

The following testimony was shared on February 18, 2025 at the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee on Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Higdon. Testimony by Delanie, a freshman at Boyd County High School in Ashland and a Youth Advisory Board Member at #iCANendthetrend: My name is Delanie, and I’m here not just as a youth advocate, but as a representative of a generation that is being targeted and exploited by an industry that profits [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-19T10:47:00-05:00February 19th, 2025|Blog, Education, Health|

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky kids have told us – as well as teachers, parents, coaches, and health care providers – vaping is happening among our high school and middle school students. And the reality is that, despite the Tobacco-21 law prohibiting sales of vapes and e-cigarettes to those under 21, two out of five youth nationally report getting these products [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-18T10:47:43-05:00February 18th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Every parent wants a stable child care option to keep their kids safe and help them learn and grow. Taliyah's Story My world was turned upside down this summer when the daycare that my children attended told me that they could no longer serve my two-year-old son. The director explained that my son needed more one-on-one support and that the center was too short staffed to be able to provide the care he needed. I [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-13T14:14:43-05:00February 13th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Guest Post: Equipping Animal Control Officers to Help Keep Kids Safe

Guest Post: Equipping Animal Control Officers to Help Keep Kids Safe

By Kiera Dunk Content warning: This blog, or pages it links to, contains information about sensitive subjects including abuse and violence. The most recent data released shows that rates of child abuse are down since 2019, but still not enough. This is not acceptable, and I think you all will agree, the Commonwealth of Kentucky is CAPABLE of doing much better. In 2023, I discovered a national organization called The National Link Coalition. This group has [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-14T16:04:48-05:00February 13th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kids’ safety was once again prioritized by the Kentucky Senate 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. Online sexual extortion – or [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-12T15:25:59-05:00February 12th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

A Conversation with Attorney General Russell Coleman

A Conversation with Attorney General Russell Coleman

Terry Brooks is joined by Kentucky's Attorney General Russell Coleman to discuss his office's role in convening diverse stakeholders on issues impacting kids and families, as well as ongoing efforts around the Opioid Settlement Fund, protecting kids online, and a substance use prevention campaign targeting youth. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-11T13:13:41-05:00February 11th, 2025|Podcast|

My Family’s Story and “What Could Have Been” with Alternative Response

My Family’s Story and “What Could Have Been” with Alternative Response

By Theda Simpson-Mosby Is there such a thing as a “normal” family? What beliefs do we hold about how “normal” families should function daily? Is it the family with a spotless home, a mom and dad who both work in their chosen professions, parents who head the PTA and coach the little league teams, and children who arrive at school with immaculate clothing and not a hair out of place? While this may be the [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-06T15:15:09-05:00February 6th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

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