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So far Kentucky Youth Advocates has created 944 blog entries.

When Families are Torn Apart: Why Kentucky Parents Deserve Strong Legal Help

By: Brandi Woods, a member of KY SEAT "If it wouldn't have been for the attorney I had at the time… I may not have gotten custody of my daughter back." Every day in Kentucky, loving parents lose custody of their children—not because they’re abusive or dangerous, but because they couldn’t navigate the legal system alone. These are parents battling addiction, trauma, poverty, and judgment. And some of them are fighting without a lawyer who [...]

By |2025-06-10T12:39:56-04:00June 10th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Kentucky Ranks 36th in 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book Urging Focus on Supporting Thriving Kids and Families

Contact: Patricia Tennen | ptennen@kyyouth.org | 502-895-8167 x 122 Kentucky Ranks 36th in 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book as Kentucky Youth Advocates Urges Focus on Supporting Thriving Kids and Families Data shows that too many Kentucky kids are falling behind on key indicators of child well-being, the Annie E. Casey Foundation finds LOUISVILLE, KY —Kentucky has made progress in half of 16 indicators of child well-being, according to the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of [...]

By |2025-06-06T11:27:28-04:00June 9th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count, News Room|
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Reunification Is Possible: The Power of Someone Walking With You

By Kayla Harmon, a member of KY SEAT Reunification—the process of bringing a family back together after separation—can feel like an uphill battle. It’s overwhelming, emotional, and filled with obstacles that sometimes seem too heavy to bear. But here’s the truth: you can succeed. And one of the greatest factors in that success is having someone walk beside you—someone who believes in you even when you’re struggling to believe in yourself. You Weren’t Meant to [...]

By |2025-06-25T12:51:07-04:00June 2nd, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The Key to Success in Foster Care: Inclusion and Communication

By Kayla Harmon, a member of KY SEAT Having a child in foster care is one of the most heart-wrenching and complex experiences a biological parent can go through. It’s not just a separation from your child; it’s a journey full of emotional ups and downs, personal growth, and—most importantly—learning to trust in a system that will hopefully bring your family back together.  But one thing is certain: the key to success in this process [...]

By |2025-05-22T14:56:58-04:00May 21st, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Racial Disparities in Foster Care: A Continuing Crisis

This blog was originally published on True Up. By: Tatum Abel, Peer Engagement Coordinator The foster care system is designed to protect children in vulnerable situations, offering them a haven when their biological families cannot safely provide care. However, data compiled by Kentucky Youth Advocates persistently shows that Black children are being removed from their homes more than their white peers once involved with the child welfare system.  In 2021, more than 390,000 youth across the country [...]

By |2025-05-15T15:30:55-04:00May 15th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|
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Regional Prevention Collaboratives Taking Action on Educational Neglect

By Andrew Alvey and Shontelle Davis Many states, including Kentucky, have turned their attention to preventative efforts to ensure that children are safe and families are thriving. The goal of these prevention efforts is to intervene before a crisis occurs and keep families from engaging with the child welfare system or if CPS involvement is necessary to keep families together, when safe. The concept of meeting families where they are starts with acknowledging that [...]

By |2025-05-08T16:46:08-04:00May 8th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Experts, Policymakers, and Advocates Join Bloom Kentucky’s Together We Bloom Summit on ACEs Prevention

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org SHELBYVILLE, KY – Today, the Together We Bloom Summit, hosted by Bloom Kentucky, is bringing together hundreds of advocates, policymakers, and community leaders from across the Commonwealth focused on mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and cultivating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) through policy and systems change. The sold out, one-day conference offers attendees the opportunity to hear from experts on ACEs and resilience, attend workshops on messaging and advocating for policy [...]

By |2025-05-08T08:19:11-04:00May 7th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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A Conversation on Child Abuse Prevention Efforts and the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement

Terry Brooks is joined by Larry Craig, Executive Committee member of the Kosair for Kids Board of Directors and owner of Craig & Landreth Cars; Dr. Jerry Rabalais, member of the Kosair for Kids Advisory Council and Emeritus Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Louisville; and Dr. Shannon Moody, Chief Policy & Strategy Officer at Kentucky Youth Advocates and lead of the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement. They discuss [...]

By |2025-05-01T14:56:23-04:00April 30th, 2025|Podcast|
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OP-ED: Child abuse prevention builds on small moments of support and connection

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern on April 28, 2025. By Barry Dunn and Shannon Moody Photo Credit: Kentucky Lantern, Getty Images In a moment, so much can change in a family’s life. A last-minute work schedule change that leads to relying on an unsafe babysitter. An unsupportive reaction from a bystander that could have been a connection point for support and kindness rather than further shame and frustration. A [...]

By |2025-04-29T10:05:39-04:00April 29th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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A Conversation with Young People on Advocacy & KYGA25

Guest host Alicia Whatley is joined by three Kentucky young people: Phoenix Berry, a member of KYA’s 2025 Housing Policy Ambassadors cohort from Lexington; Kiera Dunk, 10th grade student and child abuse prevention advocate from Oldham County; and, Griffin Nemeth, the Youth Advisory Board Coordinator for the #iCANendthetrend program at the University of Kentucky. They discuss their advocacy journeys and share their tips for other young people wanting to make an impact in their [...]

By |2025-04-22T13:27:05-04:00April 22nd, 2025|Podcast|
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