Other Legislative Item House Bill 528 Establish Leadership of the Kentucky School for the Deaf Summary HB 528 would set timelines for the appointment of a search committee for the superintendent of the Kentucky School for the Deaf and for the appointment of the superintendent. Status HB 528 is sponsored by Representative Daniel Elliot and has been assigned to the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee. Awaiting Committee Hearing [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care programs offer working families a safe place for children to learn and grow and serve as a critical pillar of community economies. Recognizing the need to strengthen quality and access to affordable child care across Kentucky, Representative Samara Heavrin – along with numerous bipartisan co-sponsors – is championing House Bill 6 this session, and we’re [...]
Guest host Shannon Moody is joined by the Chairs of the Families and Children Committees, Senator Danny Carroll and Representative Samara Heavrin, to discuss the foci of their respective committees this session, including child care, child welfare, and child safety. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2026 priorities at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – The latest national Child Maltreatment report, released last month by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shows a total of 14,505 child victims of maltreatment in Kentucky during the reporting period (FFY 2024). While there has been a 13% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2020 to 2024, Kentucky continues to see nearly double the national rate (7.2 per 1,000) of [...]
Blueprint Legislative Priority Strengthen Quality and Access to Child Care House Bill 6 would help ensure quality child care to children with disabilities by increasing training to providers and allowing on-site therapy (when available) with parent permission, strengthen the Children Care Assistance Program and the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership program, and more. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. Check out this deep dive into HB 6. [...]
Other Legislative Item House Joint Resolution 50 Study Child Care in the Commonwealth Summary HJR 50 would direct the Auditor of Public Accounts to commission a study of applicable statutes, administrative regulations, and agency policies that impact the opening and operating of licensed and certified child care services and report its findings and recommendations. Status HJR 50 is co-sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin and Representative Robert Duvall. It has passed the Kentucky [...]
Other Legislative Item House Bill 418 Improve Child Safety in Cases of Domestic Violence Summary HB 418 would ensure domestic violence allegations are meaningfully considered and children appropriately represented during custody proceedings. It also prohibits custody removals or reduced parenting time for nonoffending parents and requires 16 hours of related training for paid visitation supervisors and Guardian Ad Litems, among other items. Status HB 418 is sponsored by Representative Jason [...]
Other Legislative Item Senate Joint Resolution 54 Promote Youth Literacy Summary SJR 54 would direct the Department for Libraries and Archives and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to collaborate in order to maximize utilization and expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Program. Status SJR 54 is sponsored by Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong. It has passed the Kentucky Senate and the House Families and Children Committee. Passed House Committee [...]
Other Legislative Item Senate Bill 122 Hold Parents Accountable in ways that Minimize the Impact of Incarceration on Children Summary SB 122 would require the courts to consider alternative sentencing options when the individual has committed a non-violent offense and is the primary caregiver to a dependent child. It would also promote rehabilitative options that support the parent-child relationship and improve family stability. House Bill 464 is the companion bill in the House. [...]
Guest host Shannon Moody is joined by Representative Stephanie Dietz and Family Court Judge Marcus Vanover to discuss child welfare courts, quality legal representation, and the 2026 state legislative session. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2026 priorities and check out the Strengthening Legal Representation for Kentucky Families issue brief. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. [...]
