Bloom Kentucky

A Look at the New Domestic Violence Data Report

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 Cortney Downs|2023-07-20T14:20:16-04:00July 20th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|

Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, and Fuel Stops

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

Sowing Resilience with Bloom Kentucky

Sowing Resilience with Bloom Kentucky

What does Bloom Kentucky and Mickey Mouse have in common this summer? They are both ALL EARS. As soon as the gavel fell for the 2023 state legislative session, Bloom Kentucky already had a plan to get advocates excited about 2024. Kentucky Youth Advocates and Bloom Kentucky want to hear from you! During May and June 2023, we’re hosting regionally-based listening sessions across the Commonwealth to bring local advocates and leaders together to identify strategies [...]

By Shannon Moody|2023-06-29T14:05:05-04:00May 10th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Bloom Kentucky: Recapping KYGA23 Efforts to Address ACEs

Bloom Kentucky: Recapping KYGA23 Efforts to Address ACEs

While the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly saw many confounding moments, we also saw continued positive momentum when it came to addressing childhood adversity. Kentucky’s policymakers, once again, found common ground when it came to the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Kentucky’s kids and families. This year, Bloom Kentucky identified four policy areas to focus on throughout the 2023 legislative session which included 1) supporting the health and well-being of new moms and their [...]

By Melissa Collins|2023-04-17T17:27:37-04:00April 17th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Health|

The Opioid Settlement and Impact for Kentucky Kids

The Opioid Settlement and Impact for Kentucky Kids

“Hope blooms when the time is ready.” – Debasish Mridha After seeing waves of the opioid epidemic pass through Kentucky since the late 1990s, Kentucky is ready and well-equipped to turn the tide. Due to actions taken by all three branches of Kentucky’s government, and major efforts by the Attorney General’s office specifically, we are set to see hundreds of millions of dollars come directly to Kentucky from the opioid settlement. With investments and persistence, [...]

By Shannon Moody|2024-12-04T17:38:39-05:00April 6th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|

KYGA23: Impacts for Kids and Families

KYGA23: Impacts for Kids and Families

The actions of the General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session confounded us at times. While we certainly don’t agree with any legislator 100% of the time, there are still ways we can find common ground and at the very least agree on a process. In the juvenile justice realm – we’ll go into bill details below – members of the House and Senate demonstrated thoughtful and careful consideration. The much debated House Bill 3 [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-04-26T15:38:36-04:00April 5th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Celebrating Much Needed KTAP Updates

Celebrating Much Needed KTAP Updates

Every parent knows that raising kids is expensive, and access to cash is essential to ensuring families can afford everyday expenses and weather emergencies. This is especially true for families in poverty, whose already tight budgets have been disproportionately impacted by rising inflation. The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) provides this direct cash support to Kentucky families living in deep poverty and kinship caregivers while also connecting families to workforce education and training programs and [...]

By Karena Cash|2023-03-29T16:32:17-04:00March 29th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Statement on Final Passage of SB 135

Statement on Final Passage of SB 135

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With passage by the Kentucky House today, Senate Bill 135 has received its final passage before it heads to the Governor’s desk for signature – good news for new parents and their babies. In Kentucky, over 90% of maternal deaths are considered preventable and more than 25% have mental health conditions as a contributing factor. State data [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-03-15T15:14:13-04:00March 15th, 2023|Bloom Kentucky, Health, News Room, Race Equity|

Statement on Passage of SB 135 by the House Families & Children Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 135 by the House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, we’re celebrating as the House Families & Children Committee passes Senate Bill 135 to strengthen mental health supports postpartum. Maternal health and well-being play a key role in the healthy development of a child at every stage. As SB 135 advances to the House floor for final consideration, the Commonwealth is one step closer to ensuring new [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-03-09T08:07:49-05:00March 9th, 2023|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, News Room, Race Equity|

Statement on Passage of SB 135 by the Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 135 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Parents need to be healthy, have access to the care and services they need, and have the necessary resources to meet basic needs throughout their pregnancy, birth, and after welcoming a new child. And the reality is, at least 1 in 8 women experience postpartum depression, which impacts the growth and development of their baby, too. Effectively [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-02-24T11:00:58-05:00February 24th, 2023|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, News Room, Race Equity|