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Bloom KY Growing Hope: Kentucky’s First Opioid Symposium

The opioid epidemic has been a devastating crisis across the United States, and Kentucky has not been immune to its effects. However, amid the challenges and heartbreak, there is a glimmer of hope. Kentucky's First Opioid Symposium, hosted by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, stands as a shining example of the dedication and determination to combat this epidemic. This symposium, held at the Central Bank Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky, brought together a [...]

By |2023-10-18T10:47:44-04:00October 18th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice|
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Bloom KY Growing Hope: Spotlight on BRADD Regional Opioid Summit

As we embrace October as Substance Use Prevention Month, it's only fitting that we shine a spotlight on the remarkable work being done in local communities to combat the opioid epidemic. In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we turn our attention to the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) Opioid Abatement Coalition's recent Opioid Symposium. On September 18, 2023, at the iconic National [...]

By |2023-10-05T12:35:09-04:00October 5th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, Justice|
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Kentucky Youth Speak Out Against Substance Use

We know substance use, among both adults and adolescents, continues to be an issue in communities throughout the Commonwealth.  To better understand just how substance use, as well as the opioid epidemic, are impacting Kentucky’s young people, Bloom Kentucky recently connected with high school students across the state to hear their perspectives on the impact of substance use among their peers and in their communities and how we might address substance use prevention.  We [...]

By |2023-09-14T11:55:50-04:00September 14th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Adolescent Mental Health is Declining and We Need To Understand Why

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the prevalence of mental health challenges across the nation, especially among youth. While there were policies proposed to expand access to and affordability of mental health treatment and to improve social indicators of well-being, youth mental health is still declining according to a recent report from Child Trends. Improvements in social indicators of well-being have caused an increase in the thriving index for youth, however, indicators of depression, anxiety, and suicide [...]

By |2023-09-13T11:18:17-04:00September 13th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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A Conversation on Community Listening & Sowing Resilience: A Bloom KY Listening Tour

This week, Shannon Moody sits down with Barry Allen, President & Treasurer of the Gheens Foundation, and Kristin Walker Collins, the Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, to discuss the importance of community listening and best practices in implementing. Alicia Whatley then shares takeaways from Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour, including what communities shared as challenges in housing, mental health, substance use, and more. Thank [...]

By |2023-09-05T10:55:12-04:00September 6th, 2023|Bloom Kentucky, Podcast|
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Making Kids Count in the 2023 Election

Kids cannot vote, but you can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections. The leaders we elect determine policy that will impact our daily lives for what may be generations to come. But how often do we pause to consider–specifically–how our choices at the ballot box will impact us, and particularly young children who depend on us to make the right choices? We must keep [...]

By |2023-10-20T13:43:23-04:00August 16th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Youth Join Together to Sow Resilience for Kentucky Kids and Families

We are still reminiscing on the Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour that wrapped up earlier this summer. One session in particular that we can’t stop thinking about is the Youth and Young Adult Session hosted in Jefferson County. In June, a group of nearly 40 young people from across Jefferson County came together to share their thoughts, ideas, and recommendations on helping Kentucky kids grow up healthy and hopeful. Discussions ranged from [...]

By |2023-08-07T16:43:27-04:00August 7th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Reflections from Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour

Over the course of just 6 weeks, Kentucky Youth Advocates and Bloom Kentucky covered over 2,000 miles around the state hosting 19 regional listening sessions. We heard from over 350 Kentuckians including parents, teachers, community leaders, service providers, elected officials, youth, and more. Hosting these convenings and hearing from communities all over the state would not have been possible without our partner organizations who acted as co-hosts for each event.  Throughout the tour we asked [...]

By |2023-08-08T14:55:04-04:00August 7th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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A Look at the New Domestic Violence Data Report

In 2022, Senator Whitney Westerfield sponsored Senate Bill 271, a bill that would establish uniform domestic violence data collection, reporting, and utilization requirements. Prior to its passage, state agency groups relied on media stories about domestic violence fatalities as data sources, making it nearly impossible to determine the scope of the problem. On June 30th, the first statewide Domestic Violence Data Report was released, creating a baseline for which all subsequent data can be measured.  [...]

By |2023-07-20T14:20:16-04:00July 20th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, and Fuel Stops

Greetings, from the road! The Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour is about halfway complete. We are making 19 stops in total across every region in Kentucky. We have powerful partners in every region that have been integral to the success of this Listening Tour series.  Much like the motto used by the fabled Dillon Panthers in the hit TV show Friday Night Lights, our Kentucky Youth Advocates team members are focused and operating [...]

By |2023-06-16T15:18:59-04:00June 13th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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