Mara Powell, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Passage of the Federal Budget Deal

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Passage of the Federal Budget Deal

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates We applaud Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for championing the bipartisan budget deal that makes critical investments in children’s health and well-being. This deal is a win for children and families in Kentucky and across the nation as it makes vital investments in child care assistance so parents with limited income can work, along with extending Children’s Health [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-02-09T13:41:23-05:00February 9th, 2018|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, News Room|

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 69 Passing Senate Education Committee

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky students deserve to learn and grow in a safe environment with effective educators committed to each student’s success. Today, the Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 69, which would ensure Kentucky students have educators who work effectively and safely with children by implementing a balanced process for reviewing cases when an educator is dismissed. The tribunal process, [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-02-07T16:23:14-05:00February 1st, 2018|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

An Increased Tobacco Tax of at least $1 Would Prevent Teen Smoking

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org FRANKFORT, KY – Across the commonwealth, tobacco takes a toll on the health of children, teens, and pregnant women and their babies. Seventeen percent of Kentucky high school students currently smoke—the 2nd highest rate in the nation—and 2,900 Kentucky kids become new daily smokers each year. However, viable solutions do exist to end tobacco use. Increasing Kentucky’s tobacco tax by at least $1 is a proven method to prevent [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-02-07T16:23:57-05:00January 31st, 2018|Health, News Room|

Prevent Teen Smoking with an Increased Tobacco Tax

Prevent Teen Smoking with an Increased Tobacco Tax

A healthy future for Kentucky requires action to promote healthy decisions among teens. Across the commonwealth, tobacco takes a toll on the health of children, teens, pregnant women and their babies. Seventeen percent of Kentucky high school students currently smoke—the 2nd highest rate in the nation—and it is estimated that 2,900 Kentucky youth will become new daily smokers each year. Unless our youth smoking rates declines, 119,000 of the kids currently living in Kentucky will [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-31T16:36:39-05:00January 25th, 2018|Blog, Health|

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Congress’ Passage of CHIP Funding Extension

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Congress’ Passage of CHIP Funding Extension

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Tonight, many families across Kentucky can rest assured that their children’s health insurance is no longer in jeopardy. With the measure passed today by Congress, the bipartisan Children’s Health Insurance Program received a funding extension of six years. The extension of CHIP funding means that 93,000 Kentucky kids can stay up-to-date on their immunizations and wellness visits and [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-22T21:56:52-05:00January 22nd, 2018|Blog, Health, News Room|

Advocates Gather in Frankfort for Children’s Advocacy Day

Advocates Gather in Frankfort for Children’s Advocacy Day

Hundreds of Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth, including over 150 children and youth, convened in Frankfort today for the 14th annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They urged elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified agenda for child advocates across the state. “Today, youth, faith leaders, teachers, social works, pediatricians, elected leaders, and many others unite to ask our leaders to make Kentucky children a priority during the 2018 legislative session and [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-19T09:44:49-05:00January 18th, 2018|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Youth Justice|

Nearly 1,000 Youth and Advocates Join Governor Bevin, President Stivers and Other Elected Leaders for 14th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Nearly 1,000 Youth and Advocates Join Governor Bevin, President Stivers and Other Elected Leaders for 14th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org (o) 502-895-8167 *122 (c) 859-496-5524 JEFFERSONTOWN, KY – Hundreds of Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth, including over 150 children and youth, are convening in Frankfort today for the 14th annual Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They are urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children, a unified agenda for child advocates across the state. "Today, youth, faith leaders, teachers, social works, pediatricians, elected leaders, and many others unite to ask our [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-18T10:54:17-05:00January 18th, 2018|News Room|

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Governor Bevin’s State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Governor Bevin’s State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates The real takeaway from tonight’s address from Governor Matt Bevin is a question: What kind of commonwealth do we want to be? Is it one in which needed protections for kids are absent and a rising tide of poverty is pervasive? A place where families struggle to stay together and early investments for kids fall to the wayside? Or will [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-16T20:47:07-05:00January 16th, 2018|Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Youth Justice|

Elected Leaders, Youth, and Advocates to Gather for Children’s Advocacy Day on Thurs, Jan 18

Elected Leaders, Youth, and Advocates to Gather for Children’s Advocacy Day on Thurs, Jan 18

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Elected Leaders Join Youth and Advocates for Rally on Behalf of Kentucky Children Thursday, January 18 at 10 am Jeffersontown, KY – Hundreds of youth advocates from across Kentucky will gather in Frankfort on Thursday, January 18, 2018 for Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They will urge legislators and other elected officials to make Kentucky children a priority during the 2018 legislative session and while crafting the state budget by supporting the Blueprint for Kentucky's [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-01-15T22:20:50-05:00January 15th, 2018|News Room|

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on CMS Approval of the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on CMS Approval of the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Bevin Administration’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver to modify Kentucky’s Medicaid Program. The key to this significant policy change’s success or failure lies in its implementation. Kentucky HEALTH’s initial roll-out and on-going administration must be family-centric. When it comes to this – or any policy – our question [...]

By Mara Powell|2018-11-12T16:53:01-05:00January 12th, 2018|Health, Medicaid, News Room|

About Mara Powell