The Latest Child Maltreatment Report Shows Improvements but Still Too Many Victims in Kentucky

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky now ranks 14th in the nation in child victims of maltreatment according to the latest Child Maltreatment report from the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While there has been a 48% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2018 to 2022, Kentucky is around 60% higher than the national rate (7.7 per 1,000) of child maltreatment at 12.3 per 1,000 children. [...]

By |2024-02-07T10:20:59-05:00February 7th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

Youth Voice: “My first encounter with vaping took place over five years ago in the 6th grade.”

The Kentucky 2024 General Assembly is well underway and legislators from around the state are considering a number of policy proposals that impact kids and families. As KYA monitors action in Frankfort, we also look to Kentucky youth to hear the issues they want to see prioritized by our state decisionmakers. A common message among young people in Kentucky – do something about the overwhelming youth access to vapes and nicotine products. Keep reading to [...]

By |2024-02-01T10:42:08-05:00February 1st, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|

Update on Kentucky’s Opioid Settlement Funds

Many individuals may start off the new year with resolutions or promises to be kept throughout the year. Here with Bloom Kentucky, our hope is that we keep our commitment to kids and families in the year of 2024 and beyond when it comes to communicating the message of how the distribution of dollars from the Opioid Settlement can be used to make an impact. Primer on Opioid Settlement Funds As a quick primer [...]

By |2024-02-02T09:36:02-05:00January 31st, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Youth Voice: “Working together brings the best results for kids like me and communities like mine.”

By Amelia Williams, member for the Health Youth Ambassadors Amelia shared the following speech as the opening of the 2024 Rally for Kentucky Kids in the Rotunda at the 20th annual Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Good morning and welcome everyone to the Kentucky State Capitol for the 20th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day. My name is Amelia Williams and I am a Junior from Graves County and a member of the Health Youth Ambassadors [...]

Governor Beshear and House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Frankfort, KY – With the 2024 Kentucky legislative session well underway in Frankfort, advocates across the Commonwealth are joining together to lift kids’ voices during Children’s Advocacy Week. They are advocating for the state budget and policy priorities addressed in the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children to elected leaders.  Today is Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, where community organizations, professionals who work with kids and families, and young people from [...]

A Look at SB 34 and Potential Impact on Kentucky Families

Pregnancy and early childhood is considered a special time in life. However, any new parent will tell you it is also an expensive time. The cost of giving birth, caring for a new child, and child care can often be more than new parents make.  To address the financial challenges that new parents face, Senator Whitney Westerfield introduced Senate Bill 34. This legislation contains a multitude of provisions that provide for the basic health and [...]

REFORM Louisville: Using My Voice at the Kentucky Capitol

By Leondrea Johnson Last year, I attended Children's Advocacy Day for the first time. I am part of the REFORM Louisville team, and we were making plans for going. All the preparation work made me feel a little nervous about talking with legislators.  Walking into the Capitol building on the morning of Children’s Advocacy Day, it was a little overwhelming. There were so many people in line to go through security. But I was excited [...]

By |2024-01-18T08:43:43-05:00January 18th, 2024|Blog, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Statement on the Kentucky House 2024 State Budget Proposal

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As is the case in every proposed budget, there is much to celebrate and also issues of deep concern when it comes to the Kentucky House 2024 State Budget proposal. This budget certainly places a priority on infrastructure issues like bridges, roads, and water supply, and who can argue with any of those commitments? However, this budget [...]

While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood

Contact: Mara Powell | mpowell@kyyouth.org | 502-895-8167 *122 While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood 2024 Race for Results Report Identifies Gaps in Child Well-Being That Persist Across Race and Ethnicity, Caused by Policy Choices That Shortchange Young People LOUISVILLE, KY — Despite improved outcomes for many key measures, Kentucky children, especially kids of color, still face too many barriers to reaching essential milestones of well-being, [...]

The Landscape of School Choice

School Choice – what once was a term that simply described a variety of different school options – is now a term that brings about a variety of different emotions. What once was a nonpartisan issue is now deeply polarizing in today’s times.  Here at Kentucky Youth Advocates, we believe in equipping families with the tools to make the best choices for their unique circumstances. We believe that whatever “choice” of education, it should [...]

By |2024-01-10T11:27:45-05:00January 9th, 2024|Blog, Education, Race Equity|
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