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Deep Dive into the 2024 State Budget & the Impact on Kentucky Kids

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 for Kentucky. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. Learn more about the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY.  Facing a budget session, the 2024 General Assembly was [...]

By |2024-04-18T16:50:37-04:00April 18th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Celebrating and Empowering Social Workers

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  March is National Social Work Month, and this year the theme is Empowering Social Workers. The theme of this month highlights the need for higher compensation and support for the high-demand roles that social workers engage in. This month is used as a way to celebrate the contributions that social workers are making to individuals, families, and communities. It is a time to support the ongoing work [...]

By |2024-03-28T14:16:04-04:00March 28th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Understanding Chronic Absenteeism vs. Truancy and Best Practices to Address It

Understanding the nuances between chronic absenteeism and truancy is essential for educators, policymakers, and communities to enhance student engagement and success. Both of these terms often get conflated, yet they describe different patterns of absence with distinct implications for how schools may address absenteeism.  For this reason, it’s important to know these differences, understand and use accurate data when describing these terms, and recognize that addressing absenteeism is a multifaceted issue that can be addressed [...]

By |2024-03-21T12:36:00-04:00March 21st, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Youth Justice|
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Statement on KY Senate 2024 State Budget Proposal

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With passage of the biennial state budget proposal by both the Kentucky House and Senate, House Bill 6 as amended will now head into conference committee for negotiations on a final proposal to send to the Governor’s desk. As is often said about budgets – they are more than dollars and cents, they are a value proposition. [...]

By |2024-03-13T19:59:27-04:00March 13th, 2024|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|
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Deep Dive on Senate Bill 2 & Its School Safety Measures

Senate Bill 2 of 2024, sponsored by Senator Max Wise, is what can be considered a continuation of the work he championed with the late Representative John “Bam” Carney in 2019 with the Kentucky School Safety and Resiliency Act. The work catalyzed by the tragedy at Marshall County High School in January 2018.  The challenges of ensuring the physical and emotional security for both our students and educational staff call for innovative and comprehensive solutions.  [...]

By |2024-03-13T11:59:18-04:00March 13th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Statement on Passage of HB 11 by the House Health Services Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Mallory Jones testifying on HB 11 in Frankfort LOUISVILLE, KY – “It is an adult responsibility to protect kids from the harmful effects of nicotine and keep harmful vaping products out of the hands of me and my peers. I live in a smaller town, and I am aware of multiple different places where my peers can purchase [...]

By |2024-03-08T11:44:37-05:00March 7th, 2024|Education, Health, News Room, Youth Justice|
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Vaping in Kentucky: Protecting Youth Health Through T-21 Enforcement

In part by Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  In recent years, the prevalence of youth vaping in Kentucky has surged, becoming a pressing issue for our youth that not only jeopardizes physical health but also poses significant risks to mental well-being. Nicotine use has been proven to amplify feelings of anxiety and depression. Students who use tobacco products (including e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco) are more likely to have lower grades. Young [...]

By |2024-03-05T13:13:29-05:00March 5th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health, Youth Justice|
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The Echoes of Youth Chants and Energy Goes Beyond Children’s Advocacy Day

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is when people across the Commonwealth come together to lift up a united voice for Kentucky’s children. A highlight of the day always includes the presence of youth-serving organizations and school groups. This year, nearly 300 youth took the time to speak on behalf of themselves and their peers. Kentucky Youth Advocates wanted to briefly highlight how groups had an [...]

By |2024-02-14T16:20:12-05:00February 14th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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CAW 2024 Retreat: Empowering Kentucky’s Youth to Light the Way

Two weeks ago, Frankfort became a buzzing hub of youthful energy and advocacy as over thirty dynamic young individuals from every corner of the Commonwealth convened for Kentucky Youth Advocates' annual youth retreat. This gathering, held on the eve of Children’s Advocacy Day, was not just any retreat – it was a vibrant confluence of minds eager to shape the future. Groups including KYA’s Health Youth Ambassadors, REFORM Louisville, True Up, and YouthBuild Louisville [...]

By |2024-02-08T15:22:20-05:00February 8th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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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 [...]

By |2024-01-24T13:14:02-05:00January 24th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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