Governor Beshear, Lt. Governor Coleman, President Stivers, Speaker Osborne, and Other Elected Leaders Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for the 16th Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 502-895-8167 *122 FRANKFORT, KY – Hundreds of Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth, including dozens of children and youth, are convening in Frankfort today for the 16th annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They are urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified agenda for child advocates across the state. “Today, youth, social workers, faith leaders, teachers, pediatricians, child care providers, community leaders, and many others unite to ask our state [...]

Crafting A State Budget for Kids in 2020

Currently, our state lawmakers are working hard to craft and pass a two-year state budget that would fund the state Cabinets that provide child protection, child care, education, health services, and more. Governor Andy Beshear will present his proposed Executive Branch Budget for the Commonwealth of Kentucky during the Budget Address on Tuesday, January 28th. In the weeks following, the Kentucky House and Senate will work on their version of the budget and resolve differences [...]

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; [...]

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|

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 [...]

Another Statistics in Schools Sweepstakes: Your School Can Win $500

Kentucky Youth Advocates is excited to announce our second Statistics in Schools Sweepstakes, a free and easy way for Kentucky teachers to help their school win $500 by using the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) materials during the Bureau’s SIS Week (March 2-6, 2020). Four $500 checks will be given to winning schools – one for a Preschool/Kindergarten program, one for grades 1-5, one for grades 6-8, and one for grades 9-12. [...]

By |2020-02-24T10:30:19-05:00January 10th, 2020|Blog, Education, Kids Count|

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 [...]

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|

Last chance to give in 2019…and 5 Reasons to do so!

As we count down the hours towards 2020, we're reflecting on what your support of Kentucky Youth Advocates meant to Kentucky kids in 2019—and how much they are counting on you again in the new year. Here are five reasons we're asking for your gift today, before the ball drops at midnight: 1. The Kentucky General Assembly begins on January 7th, and your gift allows us to hit the ground running before then. Every kid is counting on [...]

By |2019-12-20T10:09:53-05:00December 20th, 2019|Blog|

Kentucky Panel has Dozens of Recommendations to Keep Kids Safe & Strengthen Families

Parenting is tough. Caring for a child is one of the most important jobs an adult can have, and this includes keeping children safe from harm. While parents and caregivers do their best for their child, it is important that our communities have systems in place to prevent maltreatment, help keep Kentucky children safe, and strengthen families. Kentucky’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel released their 2019 Annual Report earlier this month, which [...]

By |2019-12-19T16:43:14-05:00December 19th, 2019|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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