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New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Foster Youth

New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Youth with Foster Care Experience Interactive report features key data on outcomes and barriers to success and offers policy recommendations Louisville, KY – Students with foster care experience bring unique strengths and perspectives to our classrooms; they also face trauma and systemic hurdles that can make the climb toward graduation and beyond more difficult. To support more informed, data-driven responses, Kentucky Youth Advocates [...]

By |2026-05-20T09:40:43-04:00May 20th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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Bipartisan Federal Bills Aim to Better Support Foster Youth on Their Path to Adulthood

By Claire Elmore, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates While Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session has officially ended, federal lawmakers are still working on important legislation that could strengthen supports for young people with foster care experience.  On April 29th, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced six bipartisan bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Education and Training Voucher program. The six bills [...]

By |2026-05-19T20:23:18-04:00May 19th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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One Kentucky Teen’s Mission: Disconnect to Connect

By Hannah Edelen & Guest Writer, Aleah Stigall Aleah Stigall is a 17-year-old senior at Boyle County High School and has a passion for connection. She strives to teach the importance of real relationships with real people, as she shared at the 2026 Town Hall on Kids at Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Through her personal initiative, “Disconnect To Connect - Let’s Get Real,” Aleah educates her peers [...]

By |2026-05-13T13:26:08-04:00May 13th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Celebrating Child Care and Appreciating Providers

Almost 70% of children under the age of 6 go to some type of formalized child care outside of the home. As a working mom, both of my sons went to licensed child care centers so that I could work. When I was growing up, that is not what I expected. My mother stayed at home with me and my sister until we both entered kindergarten. I was blessed that she was able [...]

By |2026-05-20T11:05:13-04:00May 6th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Where the Session Leaves Us & Where Advocates Go Next – A Recap on Bloom Kentucky’s 2026 Priorities

It is always a bittersweet moment when the gavel drops on day 60 for the Kentucky General Assembly. Both advocates and legislators alike closed the chapter on a season where debates were had, hearts were opened, and policies passed.  While the session may come to a close, the work of Bloom Kentucky continues as we work to advance policies and budgetary investments that create the conditions that shape the environments where children and [...]

By |2026-04-28T15:03:34-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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Op-Ed: The power of persistence in child abuse prevention — in wake of legislation, commitment is key

This op-ed was originally posted by the NKyTribune on April 27, 2026. By Shannon Moody and Barry Dunn "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” The Little Engine That Could taught many of us the power of persistence – not giving up when the going gets tough and maintaining a sense of hopefulness when all seems lost. That mantra, backed by the persistence of our community partners, helps the Kosair for Kids Face [...]

By |2026-04-28T10:31:23-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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KYGA26: Bill Breakdown on Kids

Every year, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates anxiously watch the final days and hours of the state legislative session, hopeful our legislators will send a few more ‘good for kids’ bills to the Governor’s desk – even as we know the realities of those odds are stacked against us.  Of the 1,293 bills and resolutions filed this year, approximately 174 passed through both Chambers and were signed, vetoed and then overrode, or became [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:37:29-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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KYGA26: Budget Breakdown on Kids

Every two years, our state lawmakers convene to shape the Commonwealth’s biennial budget – taking into consideration the needs across Kentucky, the limitations or opportunities of the revenue, and, especially of late, sustaining a healthy rainy day fund. Kentucky’s last few budgets were bolstered by federal COVID dollars. This time around, our lawmakers not only had to navigate less federal support, but also the budget realities that federal HR1 has brought to our [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:48:55-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Assessing Community Resilience with the Census Bureau

When we talk about “resilience,” we often talk about how individuals respond after a crisis. Someone standing strong despite the challenges faced. But resilience often starts long before a crisis, and our ability to adapt, recover, and thrive is heavily shaped by the communities we live in.  If we want Kentuckians to be resilient, we need to ensure the communities they live in are also resilient.  To help communities assess their levels of [...]

By |2026-04-16T15:56:25-04:00April 16th, 2026|Blog, Economic Security|
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Voter Guide on Kids and the Kentucky Primary

As the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up in Frankfort, the election cycle in the Bluegrass state is well underway. May brings Primary Election Day in the Commonwealth – the first opportunity for Kentucky voters to weigh in on who will represent them across local, state, and federal elected positions. What to Know About Primary Elections in Kentucky Unlike the General Election that takes place in [...]

By |2026-04-16T15:37:13-04:00April 16th, 2026|Blog, Kids Count|
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