Terry Brooks, Author at Kentucky Youth Advocates

Gifts for Kentucky Kids? Pragmatism and Guts

Gifts for Kentucky Kids? Pragmatism and Guts

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 22, 2017. In Tom Loftus’ recent piece, “… Matt Bevin Reaches His Defining Moment as Governor,” we saw a Christmas miracle. Governor Bevin and Representative Jim Wayne, certainly no political doppelgangers, agreed about the imperative of revenue enhancements. The governor wisely — and bravely — proclaimed, “You can’t cut your way into everything. You can’t.” It’s not as if Kentucky has not tried the [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-12-28T17:03:20-04:00December 28th, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

Moving Forward for Kids: Investments in Our Future

Moving Forward for Kids: Investments in Our Future

In the 2017 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, we are introducing a more holistic approach to measuring how children are faring in each Kentucky county. The County Data Book offers the latest data on 17 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children have improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. It also calculates how many children would be impacted if Kentucky was able to make just a 10 percent [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-11-14T09:56:48-04:00November 14th, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count, Youth Justice|

It’s Time to Change the Trajectory of Child Poverty

It’s Time to Change the Trajectory of Child Poverty

Every year, the KIDS COUNT® Data Book offers us a clear choice. Do we accept mediocrity for the Commonwealth’s children? Are we content with being a bottom half state? Or do citizens and elected leaders look at the data, craft solutions, and invent a better future for our children and youth? This year is no different. Kentucky ranks 34th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the 2017 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-06-13T07:13:09-04:00June 13th, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count|

Kentucky Needs a Revolution to End Abuse

Kentucky Needs a Revolution to End Abuse

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on April 26, 2017. Henry Grunwald, TIME magazine’s former editor-in-chief, asserts that journalism must speak immediately, “while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.” The Courier-Journal has met that standard in facing the plague of child abuse during April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Each Sunday this month, the Courier-Journal has highlighted a [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-04-26T16:12:05-04:00April 26th, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Where Kids Live and Learn Impacts Their Health

Where Kids Live and Learn Impacts Their Health

Children’s health is touched deeply and pervasively by where they live, learn, and play – long before they get to the doctor’s office or dentist’s chair. This week, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released their annual County Health Rankings. This easy-to-use snapshot compares counties within states to show that where you live influences how well and how long you live. The local level data makes it clear that [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-03-30T14:08:43-04:00March 30th, 2017|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

When It Comes to Education, a “C” Won’t Cut It

When It Comes to Education, a “C” Won’t Cut It

Education Week recently released the 21st annual Quality Counts report, which looks at state-by-state education performance on a number of measures, including chance for success, finance, and achievement. Kentucky's overall grade was a "C" and overall state ranking was 28th in the nation. Given many of the challenges facing Kentucky's kids, like poverty, this report is a testament to the hard work and professionalism being applied every day, in every schoolhouse by Kentucky's teachers and principals. And [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-01-11T09:13:46-04:00January 11th, 2017|Blog, Education|

New Year’s Resolutions, Kentucky Kids, and the General Assembly

New Year’s Resolutions, Kentucky Kids, and the General Assembly

Have you already broken your New Year’s resolutions? Blame it on the ancient Romans. Their new year commitments began with pledges to the god Janus to behave better in the next twelve months, and when the Romans failed to meet those goals, they simply suggested that, “It was the will of Janus.” Of course, making those resolutions has become a cottage industry. Some opine in a lighthearted way, such as Ami Angelowicz who calls for [...]

By Terry Brooks|2017-01-04T10:15:24-04:00January 4th, 2017|Blog|

Even With More Access to Care, Children Still Face Pressing Oral Health Needs

Even With More Access to Care, Children Still Face Pressing Oral Health Needs

Kentucky Youth Advocates is excited to co-release a new study today in partnership with Delta Dental of Kentucky. The report Making Smiles Happen: 2016 Oral Health Study of Kentucky’s Youth presents findings of the first oral health surveillance study of Kentucky children in 15 years. The report was released today at the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare in Frankfort, Kentucky. We extend gratitude and appreciation to Delta Dental of Kentucky for being the [...]

By Terry Brooks|2016-10-19T11:33:15-04:00October 19th, 2016|Blog, Health|

Congress, Stand Up for Kids and Put Families First

Congress, Stand Up for Kids and Put Families First

Kids win when elected leaders stand up for them and their families. That’s just what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Rand Paul have been doing for Kentucky kids in Washington, DC. Thanks to Majority Leader McConnell’s leadership and Senator Paul’s support for the Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015, our nation will be better able to care for infants born exposed to substances. We also appreciate Senator McConnell’s work in partnership with First [...]

By Terry Brooks|2016-09-27T09:47:36-04:00September 27th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Restraints at Schools Present Risks to Students and Staff

Restraints at Schools Present Risks to Students and Staff

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier-Journal on September 20, 2016. Read it online here. Children in Kentucky’s public schools spend a minimum of 170 days a year in the classroom. For some students, one or more of their days could find them in a situation where behaviors, classified as beyond control, lead to a staff member in their school employing a physical restraint or utilizing a seclusion room. This reality is especially true for [...]

By Terry Brooks|2016-09-20T16:02:25-04:00September 20th, 2016|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

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About Terry Brooks