This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 9, 2016. I live in Lexington, but like most all native Eastern Kentuckians, the answer to the question, “Where are you from?” is that I was born and raised in a place called Stinking Creek in Knox County. That used to be embarrassing, but now I am proud of it. A few years ago, my father was told that his death was imminent [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on December 5, 2016. I’ve lived in Kentucky my entire life. I grew up like many other kids in the more rural areas of the Commonwealth. I grew up climbing trees in my backyard and playing in the creek near my house. Although many of the wonderful experiences I had as a child were fairly normal, my childhood overall was far from conventional. I am [...]
This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier-Journal on December 5, 2016. It is one of my favorite movie scenes of all time: Kentucky’s own Tom Cruise plays attorney Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, and Jack Nicholson is Colonel Nathan Jessup in the 1992 film, A Few Good Men. You surely remember. Kaffee is pushing the Colonel and pushing him hard. The irascible Nicholson shouts, “You want answers?” And the usually cool Cruise explodes back, [...]
Through a partnership with Kentucky Youth Advocates, Kosair Charities®, and Casey Family Programs, First Lady Glenna Bevin invited youth and young adults from across the state with diverse backgrounds to come together as the First Lady’s Youth Leadership Council (FLYLC) to forge a common ground around three big issues that affect children in Kentucky: child welfare, child abuse and neglect, and family preservation. My name is Cynthia Schepers and I was in foster care since the [...]
We are honored to work with First Lady Glenna Bevin on the new First Lady's Youth Leadership Council. Young leaders from across the state are working with Mrs. Bevin to change policies and practices related to the child welfare system and help more kids have a safe and loving home. As one member, Tessa, says, "The youth settling in one place and feeling comfortable and safe is what we're working for here." The council recently met to [...]
Stacy with her husband, mother, and father November is National Adoption Month. Stacy shares her story about finding a forever family and calls on all of us to open our hearts and minds to care for young people who have been adopted. Stacy's mom, Phyllis, also wrote about her experience as an adoptive mother here. By Stacy Hildreth Ortiz My name is Stacy Hildreth Ortiz. I was adopted at the age of two [...]
November is National Adoption Month. When adoptive parents open their home, they create loving forever families across Kentucky. In this guest blog, Phyllis shares her story of adopting children from the Special Needs Adoption program. Though they faced challenges, her family is strong and has built connections to strengthen other adoptive families. Hear from Phyllis's daughter, Stacy, here. By Phyllis Hildreth When I was young and saw pictures of orphans, I thought I would have [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates is a proud member of the Kosair Charities® Face It® Movement, a coalition of nearly 30 partner organizations committed to ending child abuse and neglect in Kentucky. Face It’s efforts to end child abuse can be seen from classrooms to the Capitol building, and the Movement’s recent 2016 progress report recaps the policy wins that will keep more children safe from abuse and neglect: 2013 Win Advocated for a panel to [...]
In Kentucky, there are nearly 1,800 children with a goal of adoption as part of the plans created for them by adults making very tough decisions. Being without a family should not be part of any child’s plan. It is, however, the unfortunate reality for many children in the Commonwealth and across the United States. As we start off the month of November, a month where many make plans for family gatherings to celebrate Thanksgiving, [...]
Most kids will tell you the exciting part of Halloween is all of the candy! But with all of that extra candy comes an increased risk of cavities. That’s why on November 1st, we celebrate National Brush Day to discuss the importance of oral hygiene. The holiday aims to reinforce the importance of children’s oral health and promote good tooth-brushing habits. Unfortunately, tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in the United [...]
