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So far Kentucky Youth Advocates has created 944 blog entries.

2026 Blueprint Legislative Priority House Bill 051

Blueprint Legislative Priority Assess the Impact of State Policy on Kids and Families House Bill 51 would require the Legislative Research Commission to prepare a family impact statement for bills or resolutions introduced by the Kentucky General Assembly. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. HB 51 is a Bloom Kentucky policy priority. Status HB 51 is sponsored by Representative Shane Baker and has been assigned [...]

By |2026-02-06T13:31:02-05:00January 12th, 2026|Bill Tracker|

2026 Blueprint Legislative Priority House Bill 102

Blueprint Legislative Priority Ensure Kids have a Safe Learning Environment, Free from Abuse House Bill 102 would reduce the risk of sexual abuse of students by prohibiting nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct involving school district staff and students. It also mandates appropriate disclosures, recurrent background checks and thorough reference checks, complete investigations, and establishes related training requirements. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. HB 102 is [...]

By |2026-04-14T12:42:35-04:00January 12th, 2026|Bill Tracker|

2026 Blueprint Legislative Priority Senate Bill 014

Blueprint Legislative Priority Support Families with Access to Paid Leave Senate Bill 14 would ensure state employees have access to six weeks of paid family leave after the birth of a child. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. Status SB 14 is sponsored by Senator Matthew Deneen and is awaiting committee assignment. Awaiting Committee Assignment

By |2026-01-09T14:35:40-05:00January 9th, 2026|Bill Tracker|

2026 Blueprint Legislative Priority Senate Bill 074

Blueprint Legislative Priority Support Youth Nicotine Prevention and Cessation Efforts Senate Bill 74 would direct funds awarded to Kentucky as part of the JUUL settlement to be allocated toward tobacco and nicotine prevention and cessation programming. House Bill 187 is the companion bill in the House. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children policy priority fact sheet. Status SB 74 is sponsored by Senator Craig Richardson. It has passed the Senate Health Services [...]

By |2026-02-25T11:55:51-05:00January 9th, 2026|Bill Tracker|

Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2026 State Budget Address

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – There was good news in last night’s address by Governor Andy Beshear as he joined with Republican legislative leaders in prioritizing basic needs like housing stability and food security for our kids and families. Those two arenas are clearly common ground and are ripe for legislative action as this session unfolds.  That is a vital opening for [...]

KYGA26 Preview on Kids

Guest host Shannon Moody is joined by Shane Noem, a Republican lobbyist from Northern Kentucky with Roebling Solutions and a Kentucky Youth Advocates board member, Jared Smith, partner at the government and public relations firm Piper Smith based in Lexington, and Alicia Whatley, KYA’s Senior Policy and Advocacy Director. They discuss what to expect in the 2026 legislative session, including priorities impacting kids, state budget considerations, and the realities facing the Kentucky General Assembly. [...]

By |2025-12-30T09:48:25-05:00December 30th, 2025|Podcast|

New Issue Brief: Strengthening Legal Representation for Kentucky Families

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org New Issue Brief: Strengthening Legal Representation for Kentucky Families An Analysis of Pre-Petition Legal Representation and Recommendations to Improve Outcomes LOUISVILLE, KY – When families have access to quality legal representation during child welfare involvement, children are more likely to remain safely with their parents, leading to improved long-term outcomes. Yet, most Kentucky families do not receive legal representation until after a child has been removed and a court petition has [...]

By |2025-12-17T13:48:25-05:00December 17th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

A Look at the Latest Child Well-Being Data and Conversation with Legislators on Child Nutrition

Terry Brooks shares reflections on the 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard, including trends of the latest child well-being data in economic security, education, health, and family and community. Additionally, Shannon Moody is joined by members of the Make America Health Again Kentucky Taskforce, Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Representative Adam Moore. They discuss the taskforce’s focus on child nutrition and food access and priority areas for the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly.Learn more about the [...]

By |2025-12-15T16:58:54-05:00December 15th, 2025|Podcast|

2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard Launches with a Snapshot on Childhood Obesity and Food Access

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard Launches with a Snapshot on Childhood Obesity and Food Access Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child health, education, economic security, and family and community Louisville, KY – The 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or [...]

Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2026 State Policy and Budget Priority Agenda

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Kentucky Youth Advocates recently released the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children 2026 priority agenda, featuring state policy changes and budget investments that will impact kids and families across the Commonwealth. The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. The coalition is comprised of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families [...]

By |2025-12-16T11:46:20-05:00December 2nd, 2025|Blog, News Room|
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