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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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Guest Post: A Final Push to Protect Kids with Kyan’s Law

By Kiera Dunk As many people focus on the headlines coming out of the federal government, they often overlook what is happening at the state level. While the state government has a direct impact on our daily lives, people have more power than they realize to influence it. Two years ago, I started this journey with Kyan’s Law, sharing his story and hoping to bring him justice while preventing other deaths like his. Currently, that [...]

By |2026-04-02T09:18:06-04:00April 2nd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Navigating the Community of Care: Kinship at the GAP Conference

At least 6% - twice the national average - of Kentucky kids are known to be in the care of relative or fictive kin caregivers, collectively known as kinship caregivers. Kinship caregivers are diverse, and each situation is different, but most of us came into it without enough preparation or support. The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky exists to address this issue through education and policy recommendations.  This month, as part of the Coalition’s efforts [...]

By |2026-04-01T15:00:32-04:00April 1st, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Child Poverty Patterns among Kentucky Counties: A Brief Glimpse of American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Over Time

Patterns emerge all the time around us, whether watching the beautiful display of a spider spin its web in a meticulous, lattice-like fashion or the furiously fast movement of a hummingbird’s wings as nectar is consumed in a moment of time. Bottom line, if we are not paying attention then we just may miss a chance to bring to light what is happening.  One pattern that caught my eye recently was a U.S. Census [...]

By |2026-03-30T13:15:12-04:00March 30th, 2026|Blog, Economic Security, Kids Count|
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Paid Family Leave – Strengthening Families and the Workforce

Time is quickly slipping away in the 2026 legislative session, but there is still time for the Kentucky General Assembly to pass important legislation to positively impact Kentucky families.   One policy that could have a huge impact on maternal health and child development for Kentucky families is paid family leave. In December 2024, Governor Beshear passed an executive order that would allow executive branch employees to have paid family medical leave for six weeks after [...]

By |2026-03-26T11:24:21-04:00March 26th, 2026|Blog, Economic Security, Health|
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