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If Kentucky lawmakers are champions for children, the 2020 budget should show it

This op-ed was originally posted in the Courier Journal on January 17, 2020. By Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates In 1978, “The Farmer’s Almanac” first published a list of “folk wisdom” from Dick Goddard about signs of an approaching bad winter. More than four decades later, it is still one of the most popular features of that publication. You’ve seen that list or a similar one — thicker than normal corn husks; [...]

By |2020-01-17T11:32:06-05:00January 17th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Medicaid, Youth Justice|
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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 |2020-01-16T18:17:05-05:00January 16th, 2020|Blog, Health|
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Statement on Mayor Fischer Lawsuit Against E-cigarette Maker Juul

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Louisville, KY – Kids in Louisville have always been able to count on Mayor Greg Fischer as a leader with a heart and a backbone. He and Jefferson County Attorney Mike O’Connell showed their commitment to kids again today by joining a landmark lawsuit against Juul, the United States’ largest manufacturer of e-cigarettes. The powerfully negative impact that [...]

By |2020-01-15T14:58:40-05:00January 15th, 2020|Health, News Room|
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Statement on SB 56 Passing Senate Health & Welfare Committee

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates In the midst of the youth vaping epidemic in Kentucky and on the heels of recent federal changes to combat it nationally, we applaud Senator Ralph Alvarado for championing Senate Bill 56, which seeks to codify in state law the minimum legal sale age of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. We also commend Senator Alvarado [...]

By |2020-01-15T11:07:31-05:00January 15th, 2020|Health, News Room|
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Statement on Governor Andy Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth Address

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates We agree with Governor Andy Beshear that every vulnerable child is a critical priority for all of us. In fact, every child is a critical priority because in every child lies a promise and a potential. Much of what the Governor said this evening in his first state of the Commonwealth address echoes the core foundations of the [...]

By |2020-01-15T15:36:21-05:00January 14th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|
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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 |2020-01-09T16:30:23-05:00January 8th, 2020|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Youth Justice|
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Kentucky Must Comply with Federal Tobacco 21 Legislation to End the Epidemic of Teen E-Cig Use

In the final week of the U.S. Congressional session, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced inclusion of the bipartisan legislation, Tobacco-Free Youth Act, in the year-end funding bill. The Tobacco-Free Youth Act raises the minimum legal sale age of tobacco products across the country, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is providing more details to ensure retailers comply. Passage of this federal spending bill will have [...]

By |2020-01-02T16:58:23-05:00January 2nd, 2020|Blog, Health|
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Huge Win! 97% of Kentucky School Districts Go Tobacco-Free

By the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky Of Kentucky's 172 school districts, 164 now have adopted policies to prohibit the use of any tobacco products by all persons at all times on campus and in school vehicles. That's 95 percent, and two more school districts are planning to adopt the pro-health policy this month, which means 97 percent of Kentucky schools will be tobacco-free by the end of 2019. Prior to passage of the tobacco-free [...]

By |2019-12-19T13:53:02-05:00December 19th, 2019|Blog, Health|
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Statement on Leader McConnell Securing Tobacco-Free Youth Act in Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Agreement

Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates We applaud U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for securing the Tobacco-Free Youth Act in the federal Fiscal Year 2020 Agreement to raise the minimum legal sale age of tobacco products across the country, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21. This bipartisan legislation, known as Tobacco 21 and sponsored by Leader McConnell and Senator Tim Kaine, would have a [...]

By |2019-12-17T10:27:43-05:00December 17th, 2019|Health, News Room|
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Statement on Governor Beshear’s Announcement to Rescind Kentucky’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 Louisville, KY – Today Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order to rescind the 1115 Medicaid Waiver, known as Kentucky HEALTH. This rescission further protects families from the potential negative impacts of premiums, work requirements, lockout periods, and classified dental and vision benefits as earned benefits. Parents’ health – and access to health insurance – affects the health and [...]

By |2019-12-16T16:44:19-05:00December 16th, 2019|Health, News Room|
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