By Joseph Bargione For some of us, the name Fred McFeely Rogers may have no meaning. However, if you grew up before cell phones or social media, and you heard a certain theme song you might smile or sing along. Fred Rogers created the iconic children’s tv show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which aired from 1968 to 2001 on 384 Public Broadcast Stations (PBS). At the height of its popularity, it was being viewed in 1.8 [...]
By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As Kentucky counties are heading back to school, there is a buzz of anticipation and excitement for students to be back in the classrooms and with their peers. However, the start of classes also reignites concerns for student’s health, specifically their use of e-cigarettes or vapes. The use of vapes has increased dramatically, creating a new generation of youth that are dependent on nicotine. According to a [...]
Kids cannot vote, but you can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections. The leaders we elect determine policy that will impact our daily lives for what may be generations to come. But how often do we pause to consider–specifically–how our choices at the ballot box will impact us, and particularly young children who depend on us to make the right choices? We must keep [...]
We are still reminiscing on the Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour that wrapped up earlier this summer. One session in particular that we can’t stop thinking about is the Youth and Young Adult Session hosted in Jefferson County. In June, a group of nearly 40 young people from across Jefferson County came together to share their thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on helping Kentucky kids grow up healthy and hopeful. Discussions ranged from [...]
Over the course of just 6 weeks, Kentucky Youth Advocates and Bloom Kentucky covered over 2,000 miles around the state hosting 19 regional listening sessions. We heard from over 350 Kentuckians including parents, teachers, community leaders, service providers, elected officials, youth, and more. Hosting these convenings and hearing from communities all over the state would not have been possible without our partner organizations who acted as co-hosts for each event. Throughout the tour we asked [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Thousands of Kentucky grandparents have stepped up and continue to show up for their grandchildren in need of a safe home every day. Today, Governor Beshear’s announcement regarding the statewide expansion of the Kentucky Caregiver Program is one way the commonwealth can step up for these grandparent heroes. After budget cuts limited the reach of this program, [...]
By Kaitlin Lacefield, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Since 2020, the number of child deaths by a gun has surpassed car accidents and motor vehicle-related deaths. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children under 18 in Kentucky and nationally. Now, there is a challenge to prevent accidental shootings involving children by building knowledge and increasing awareness. The number of gun deaths among Americans has been on the rise since 2019. Unfortunately, children are [...]
This post appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader on July 6, 2023. By Valerie Frost and Carla Stamper June is National Reunification Month. It is an annual reminder of the true intention of foster care–a temporary measure to keep children stable and safe with the ultimate purpose of reuniting them with their family. This isn't always what happens though, and not for the reasons you may think. Nationally, less than half of children [...]
Terry Brooks discusses data trends featured in the latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, including challenges facing child and family well-being and the child care sector. Sarah Vanover, Policy and Research Director at Kentucky Youth Advocates, moderates a panel of child care advocates: State Senator Danny Carroll, Ashley Brandt with Metro United Way, and Kathy Donelan of Aunt Kathy's Child Care & Preschool, Inc. in Northern Kentucky. View [...]
By Carlie Reeves, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Homelessness, while experienced by many, disproportionately affects those with a foster care experience. It has been found that in Kentucky, 1 in 3 young adults who have foster care experience will face homelessness/housing instability at some point. So, out of the 1,132 youth aged 16-20 that were in foster care in 2021, 444 of them will eventually face housing instability. Foster care’s purpose is to reunify families or establish [...]
