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About Kentucky Youth Advocates

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So far Kentucky Youth Advocates has created 944 blog entries.

A Look at the Connection Between ACEs and Physical Health

By Ellen Ward, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including trauma such as abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction, are widely recognized for their lasting effects on mental health. Not as obvious, however, is the physical toll ACEs take on the body, which is equally significant and long-lasting. Chronic stress stemming from childhood trauma can lead to a range of serious health issues. Traumatic experiences in childhood trigger a cascade of stress responses in [...]

By |2024-09-11T15:49:37-04:00September 11th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Challenging the Funk: Experiencing and Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

This blog was originally posted by True Up in recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month. By Tatum Heath Growing up, my childhood was marked by experiences that left deep scars—neglect, instability, and abuse. These early adversities shaped my worldview and, at times, left me feeling like I was hopeless and stranded. But as I reflect on my journey, I’ve learned that there are ways to find light, even in the darkest places. If you’re [...]

By |2024-09-11T13:39:23-04:00September 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|
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Kentucky Homeschool Strengths, Concerns, and Opportunities

By Casey Lane, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As homeschooling in Kentucky appears to be on the rise, let’s further explore some of the components of homeschooling, including strengths, concerns, and opportunities to improve homeschool practices in Kentucky.  Flexibility and Family Preference Before and since the COVID-19 pandemic, parents have praised homeschooling’s flexibility, allowing families to travel and have a schedule that accommodates appointments, field trips, and other needs and preferences of the family. Homeschooling [...]

By |2024-08-29T16:24:51-04:00August 29th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|
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Guest Post: Trading the “Look of Disapproval” for “I Got Your Back” is a Big Win for Parents

This guest post was originally published by the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement during Bystander Awareness Month.  by Dr. Nancy L. Weaver You see a parent yelling at their child in public.  What should you do? Let’s say you stop by the grocery store after a long day at work in a hurry to get something quick for dinner. As you’re rushing through the store, you hear a mom berating at her son. You [...]

By |2024-08-29T13:24:40-04:00August 29th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The State of Youth Vaping

Alicia Whatley, KYA's Senior Policy & Advocacy Director, is joined by Dr. Brit Anderson, pediatrician and vice president of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy for Pediatrics, Bruce Crouch, who has served as a school resource officer in Taylor County and helps lead the Taylor County Youth Coalition, and Ashlea Christiansen, Kentucky government relations director for the American Heart Association. They look at the state of youth vaping, prevention and intervention practices, and [...]

By |2024-08-28T12:58:12-04:00August 28th, 2024|Podcast|
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New Report – Fostering Connections: The Housing Landscape for Foster Care Alumni and Recommendations

LOUISVILLE, KY – Everyone needs a safe, stable place to call home. However, a short supply of housing has made this increasingly difficult for Kentucky’s young people. The Fostering Connections: The Housing Landscape for Foster Care Alumni and Recommendations report, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, sheds light on the critical housing needs of young adults ages 18-28 in Louisville, Kentucky, particularly young adults who have spent time in foster care as children.  Foster care [...]

By |2024-08-08T09:16:27-04:00August 8th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, News Room, Race Equity|
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Kentucky Homeschool Trends and Reflection

By Casey Lane, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates What is homeschooling? Homeschooling, loosely defined as when a student has been withdrawn from public school and is educated through a private or home setting, has seen an unprecedented increase in Kentucky. Roughly 38,222 Kentucky children were homeschooled during the 2022-2023 school year, a 56% increase from 2017-2018. In some districts spanning from rural Pulaski County to metro Fayette County, homeschooling grew as much as 75%.  Kentucky's [...]

By |2024-07-31T15:41:56-04:00July 31st, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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2024 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Conversation with Education Advocates

Terry Brooks is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Dinkins, dean of the School of Education at Bellarmine University, and Dr. Jim Flynn, Executive Director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, to continue Kentucky Youth Advocates' look at the 2024 national KIDS COUNT® Data Book and Kentucky students' educational outcomes. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their [...]

By |2024-07-25T14:07:27-04:00July 31st, 2024|Podcast|
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Statement on the Transition of KY’s Office of the Ombudsman

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed Senate Bill 48, a comprehensive bill that makes multiple organizational changes to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Within SB 48 a key win for kids and families was included that moved the Office of the Ombudsman from CHFS to the Auditor of [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:14:39-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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Statement on SB 151, Delays in Implementation, and the Impact on Kinship Families

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY –We at Kentucky Youth Advocates were eager to celebrate final passage of Senate Bill 151 with bipartisan support – especially once the Governor signed it into law in April. We proudly supported Senator Julie Raque Adams’ legislation as a win for kids because of the opportunity for more flexibility and access to financial assistance for Kentucky’s kinship and [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:10:36-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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