This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader, NKY Tribune, and Courier Journal. By Terry Brooks “Say what?” Merriam Webster describes this idiom as “a way to express surprise or disbelief at what someone has said or at unexpected news.” It is also the most popular response to any question or request directed to my three teenage grandkids. I’m never sure if that teen response is genuine surprise or a very skilled stalling [...]
Unsafe access to firearms is one of the greatest threats to Kentucky kids’ safety. Injuries from improperly stored firearms are the second leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in Kentucky. Nationwide, the situation is even more grim – injuries from firearms are the leading cause of death for children, surpassing motor vehicle accidents. The Issue at Hand In 2023 alone, firearm violence was responsible for 42 homicides and 31 suicides among [...]
Media Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth released the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 priority agenda. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future [...]
Throughout Kentucky, families and communities have felt the impact of the opioid epidemic. For too many families, the impacts have hit very close to home and loved ones have been lost. While we can’t take away those losses that families have experienced, Kentucky has a tremendous opportunity in the wake of the crisis to heal with communities stronger than they were before. Managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, the opioid settlement means that [...]
Kentucky kids need healthy environments to learn, play, and grow, free from the harmful effects of nicotine products like e-cigarettes and vapes. Unfortunately, Kentucky kids continue to get their hands on addictive nicotine products – with many buying them directly from a gas station, convenience store, or other retailer. Earlier this month, Kentucky young people and a Kentucky pediatrician joined state Senator Jimmy Higdon to make the case to the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, [...]
If we want to make Kentucky the best place to be young, we need to create a Kentucky where kids have an abundance of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). In the 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book, Kentucky Youth Advocates not only shares the latest statewide and county-level data on child well-being, we also dive into the disproportionate impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Kentucky kids, progress on efforts to mitigate those impacts, and the power [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child health, education, economic security, and family and community Louisville, KY – The 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, [...]
By Valencia Dickerson and Leila Salisbury “Define your grief?” That is one of the first questions I asked young people who walk through my door looking for a safe place to land their emotions and feelings when experiencing a death. November is National Children’s Grief Awareness Month and November 21st is Children's Grief Awareness Day, a time during which grief support centers, schools, therapists, and other professionals can advocate and spread the word that [...]
By Elizabeth Senn-Alvey One in seven teens and young adults (16- to 24-year-olds) in Kentucky were neither in school nor working in 2023 according to a report by Measure of America. Many of the young people who “disconnect” left before graduating high school, often due to early or consistent exposure to violence or serious trauma, involvement in the child welfare or justice systems, recent immigration to the community, or unrecognized academic challenges. Young people experiencing [...]
In October, we had the privilege of hosting an informative retreat for the Housing Policy Ambassador Cohort in Frankfort, Kentucky. This gathering brought together five young adults passionate about housing policy and advocacy. About the Housing Policy Ambassador Cohort The Housing Policy Ambassador Cohort is designed for young leaders across Kentucky who are ready to share their experiences to make effective changes related to housing instability. Running from October 2024 to December 2025, this [...]
