By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates With the new year officially here, it is time for an update on Children’s Advocacy Week 2024. Children’s Advocacy Week will take place January 22-26th and we wanted to provide the schedule and reminders for the week to assist you in lifting your voice for Kentucky’s children. Again, this year, we will host both in-person and virtual events. You can find a schedule of the events with [...]
By Tamara Vest and Shannon Moody When children cannot stay safely with their parents, research tells us the best option for their success lies in being cared for by grandparents, relatives, or close family friends. Kentuckians value family and we see these caregiving arrangements in many homes across the Commonwealth. It is estimated that 55,000 children live with and receive care and support from a relative that is not their biological parent in the state [...]
The General Assembly gaveled in for the 2024 Regular Session this week. Given Kentucky’s unprecedented budget reserve trust fund surplus and the state’s current landscape, there is a real opportunity to invest and empower kids and families across the Commonwealth. Bloom Kentucky is a collaborative initiative of grantmaking organizations from across the Commonwealth focused on statewide policy changes and budget investments that aim to prevent and mitigate the multi-generational impacts of childhood adversity so that [...]
Updated March 1, 2024 Life as anyone knows it can change with one knock or phone call. “I’m from Child Protective Services. There’s an allegation of child abuse or neglect in your household I need to discuss with you. May I enter?” “This is the local child services agency. We have your niece at our office. Can you be here in the next hour; otherwise, we will need to put her in foster care.” [...]
By Keisha Lyon, member of Journey to Success Kentucky Earlier this month, the Journey to Success Kentucky team traveled to Washington DC hoping to elevate youth voices to our federal legislators. Among them were two lived experience experts who joined nationwide JTS advocates at Capitol Hill. Our main goals were asking Congress to: Increase Chafee program funding by at least $100 million per year. Improve communications to ensure that all eligible youth are aware of [...]
By Dequantay Smith, member of REFORM Louisville Holidays are really the hardest times for kids whose parents are locked up. Those are the days that are supposed to be family days. You think, “I’m supposed to be with my family today.” I had that experience when Memorial Day came around. I was staying with my aunt and great-grandmother during that time. We had a family gathering at a park for the holiday. Everybody was happy, [...]
During the first week of December, Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kentucky Humanities Council hosted Cara Fitzpatrick, author of "The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America," for a two-day venture starting with an author forum on Monday night followed by a series of conversations with local Louisville leaders on Tuesday. A Forum on School Choice – In spirit of "Deliberative Democracy" On Monday night, a Forum on School [...]
In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we are shedding light on the great work happening with the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention (ASAP). Their comprehensive action plan serves as the north star that guides their work – from the exchange program, the distribution or narcan boxes, their recovery backpacks, youth engagement with the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council, and [...]
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – It’s become almost a cliché and yet it is very true. A budget is really not about dollars and cents but rather a profound statement of values and priorities. So, what can we learn about Governor Beshear’s vision for Kentucky’s kids in his second term from tonight’s state budget address? First, tonight’s budget proposal underscores what we [...]
The federal stabilization payments for child care – dedicated to wages and fixed expenses – funded through the American Rescue Plan have all been dispersed. This month, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Beshear Administration will issue one final stabilization payment to child care providers. Beginning in 2024, all the additional American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds will focus on projects like the Child Care Assistance Program, start-up grants for family child care [...]
