Mara Powell, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Emergency Broadband Benefit: Let’s Get Families Connected

Emergency Broadband Benefit: Let’s Get Families Connected

Let’s get more communities and families digitally connected! May 12, 2021 marks the launch of the temporary, federal Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. This program, overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is geared toward connecting more households to the internet at a time when we rely on digital connectivity more than ever before. The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program, established by Congress last year in response to ongoing economic hardships caused by the [...]

By Mara Powell|2021-05-13T09:49:10-04:00May 13th, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Call for Photos: Let’s See Your KY Kids!

Call for Photos: Let’s See Your KY Kids!

Kentucky Youth Advocates is looking for photos of Kentucky kids to include in the 2021 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book and other Kentucky Youth Advocates publications. We know you all proudly share pictures of your kids and grandkids by hanging them on your refrigerator and posting them on social media. Here’s your chance to promote those cute kids through Kentucky Youth Advocates’ materials. We need your photos by August 1st so please start sending them [...]

By Mara Powell|2021-05-10T22:11:05-04:00May 7th, 2021|Blog, Kids Count|

5 Ways YOU Can Take Action During Child Abuse Prevention Month

5 Ways YOU Can Take Action During Child Abuse Prevention Month

Every adult has a role to play in preventing and ending the unacceptable high rate of incidents of child abuse and neglect in Kentucky. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, concerned neighbor, or someone in the helping professional, we each can take steps to ensure every child can grow up happy, healthy, and hopeful. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Kosair Charities Face It Movement wants to empower YOU to be a face that ends child abuse [...]

By Mara Powell|2021-03-25T16:15:58-04:00March 25th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

2021 Blueprint Legislative Priority House Bill 192

Blueprint Legislative Priority Enact a Continued State Budget House Bill 192 would enact a continuation state budget that, among other things, will impact child health coverage and care, education, and safety. Review the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children budget priority checklist here. Read more about the 2021 budget process and priorities that kids and families are counting on for a strong state budget. Status HB 192 is sponsored by Representative Jason [...]

By Mara Powell|2021-03-31T15:39:59-04:00January 27th, 2021|Bill Tracker|

Hey Kentuckians, Let’s See Those Cute Kids!

Hey Kentuckians, Let’s See Those Cute Kids!

Kentucky Youth Advocates is looking for photos of Kentucky kids to include in the 2020 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book and other Kentucky Youth Advocates publications. We know you all proudly share pictures of your kids and grandkids by hanging them on your refrigerator and posting them on Instagram and Facebook. Here’s your chance to promote those cute kids through Kentucky Youth Advocates’ materials. We need your photos by August 31st so please start sending them [...]

By Mara Powell|2020-06-01T13:26:20-04:00June 1st, 2020|Blog, Kids Count|

Statement on HB 47 Passing the Kentucky House

Statement on HB 47 Passing the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentuckians who are child victims of sexual abuse deserve to have their voices heard, and they are one step closer to that opportunity today with passage of House Bill 47 by the Kentucky House. HB 47, sponsored by Representative Lynn Bechler, creates an opportunity for child victims of sexual assault or abuse to seek justice through civil claims [...]

By Mara Powell|2020-03-19T17:37:55-04:00March 19th, 2020|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

Count All Kentucky Kids in the 2020 Census

Count All Kentucky Kids in the 2020 Census

The 2020 census is here! The census is a once in a decade opportunity to count every person—adults, children, and babies—living in the United States. The population data gathered during the census count is used for everything from funding allocations for critical programs that serve kids and families to drawing voting districts and planning locations for new schools, hospitals, and retail centers. Most children benefit from at least one of the hundreds of federal programs [...]

By Mara Powell|2020-07-24T17:13:38-04:00March 17th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, Youth Justice|

Kentucky Teens Speaking Up to End Youth Vaping Epidemic

Kentucky Teens Speaking Up to End Youth Vaping Epidemic

Every child deserves to grow into a healthy adult. While youth cigarette smoking has declined in Kentucky, e-cigarette usage among children and teens surged from 2016 to 2018. Kentucky can end the epidemic of e-cigarette use among youth by enacting a tax on e-cigarettes, prohibiting tobacco sales to anyone under age 21, and strengthening state investment in tobacco use prevention and cessation programming. This week, Kentucky Youth Advocates joined our many partners in the Coalition [...]

By Mara Powell|2020-01-16T18:17:05-05:00January 16th, 2020|Blog, Health|

The Countdown is On: Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is January 23rd!

The Countdown is On: Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is January 23rd!

With Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol only days away, be sure you’re registered to join hundreds of advocates and youth from across Kentucky in Frankfort on January 23rd. Kentucky kids need advocates like you to speak up on their behalf on Children’s Advocacy Day and throughout the 2020 Kentucky legislative session. As you prepare for Children’s Advocacy Day, check these to-do items off the list: Register for Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol so you don't [...]

By Mara Powell|2020-01-09T16:30:23-05:00January 8th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Youth Justice|

Launching the 2020 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Launching the 2020 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the commonwealth are launching the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children's 2020 policy and state budget priorities! The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for Kentucky kids. The Blueprint stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future for Kentucky. [...]

By Mara Powell|2019-12-03T10:36:47-05:00December 3rd, 2019|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Medicaid, Youth Justice|

ACTION ALERTS!

About Mara Powell