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Bloom Kentucky Engages Youth in ‘Disconnect to Connect in Real Life’ Challenge

August 12 is International Youth Day and what better way to celebrate than by announcing a Youth Listening Tour and the Disconnect to Connect in Real Life Challenge, a campaign led by youth for youth.  Bloom Kentucky is heading across the state to gather youth feedback so potential social media settlement dollars are directed toward the real-life programs, spaces, and supports that young people actually value and need.  Across the country, thousands [...]

By |2026-08-12T20:17:37-04:00August 12th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Celebrating 5 Years of Bloom Kentucky

Bloom Kentucky is celebrating five years of working to cultivate a Commonwealth where all families can flourish.  Uniquely powered by grantmaking partners across the state, Bloom Kentucky is united by a shared commitment to end Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and promote resilience through systemic change. By focusing on forward-thinking policy solutions and strategic investments, Bloom works to address the root causes of adversity and build a brighter future for all Kentuckians. [...]

By |2026-08-07T14:10:37-04:00August 7th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|
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The Great Tech Debate – Will Kentucky choose to nourish kids?

There’s been a lot of talk as of late (and over the past couple of years) in the news and in Frankfort about screen time, AI, cell phones, social media, and more. Advocates, researchers, educators, and key leaders are making noise because of the significant implications on children and teens. Some argue that technology and extensions thereof is the latest moral panic.  Y’all remember when people got bent out of shape over rock [...]

By |2026-08-04T09:27:02-04:00August 4th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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More Green Time, Less Screen Time

By Ashley Hoffman and Hannah Edelen With summer in full swing, it's a great time to consider how we want our children to spend their time.   Today’s young people are spending more time in front of screens than any previous generation.  Some research suggests children now spend more than a quarter of their waking hours engaged with digital media and less than 1% of their time outdoors.  That is a dramatic [...]

By |2026-07-22T11:37:42-04:00July 15th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|
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Raising a Generation Beyond the Screen – The High Cost of Screen Time

“When I was a kid…we played outside, we would roam the neighborhood, … we were never on screens.” As society evolves and technology becomes more advanced and we learn more about the implications of inventions, we find ourselves grappling with new challenges that require new solutions.  U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Screen Time  The U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory at the end of May warning against the harms of screen time. This [...]

By |2026-06-15T14:34:11-04:00June 15th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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One Kentucky Teen’s Mission: Disconnect to Connect

By Hannah Edelen & Guest Writer, Aleah Stigall Aleah Stigall is a 17-year-old senior at Boyle County High School and has a passion for connection. She strives to teach the importance of real relationships with real people, as she shared at the 2026 Town Hall on Kids at Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Through her personal initiative, “Disconnect To Connect - Let’s Get Real,” Aleah educates her peers [...]

By |2026-05-13T13:26:08-04:00May 13th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Where the Session Leaves Us & Where Advocates Go Next – A Recap on Bloom Kentucky’s 2026 Priorities

It is always a bittersweet moment when the gavel drops on day 60 for the Kentucky General Assembly. Both advocates and legislators alike closed the chapter on a season where debates were had, hearts were opened, and policies passed.  While the session may come to a close, the work of Bloom Kentucky continues as we work to advance policies and budgetary investments that create the conditions that shape the environments where children and [...]

By |2026-04-28T15:03:34-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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KYGA26: Bill Breakdown on Kids

Every year, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates anxiously watch the final days and hours of the state legislative session, hopeful our legislators will send a few more ‘good for kids’ bills to the Governor’s desk – even as we know the realities of those odds are stacked against us.  Of the 1,293 bills and resolutions filed this year, approximately 174 passed through both Chambers and were signed, vetoed and then overrode, or became [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:37:29-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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Statement on Passage of HB 686 by Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – On the heels of the rulings in other states this week that social media platforms are deliberately designed to be addictive, the Kentucky House overwhelmingly supported passage of House Bill 686 to promote the positive youth development and mental health of young people.  The negative impacts of social media platforms is apparent to parents, educators, health professionals, [...]

By |2026-03-27T12:43:36-04:00March 27th, 2026|Bloom Kentucky, Health, News Room|
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Common Ground for Kids: Addressing Addictive Platforms

Whether “right” or “left”, state legislators are acknowledging the role and impact of social media on youth. House Bill 227, sponsored by Representative Lockett with cosponsors growing each day, creates some guardrails for social media companies. This legislation specifically requires age verification procedures, prohibits specific “addictive features,” and sets privacy setting requirements and parental rights around account management. It also authorizes the Attorney General to bring forth action on behalf of Kentuckians where appropriate.  As [...]

By |2026-03-26T10:06:26-04:00March 26th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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