Deep Dive into the Horizons Act and What It Means for Early Childhood Education

As Kentucky approaches the end of the federal fiscal year in September 2024, a potential child care crisis is looming for the entire state. Child care providers have already stopped receiving the sustainability payments that were allowing centers and family child care homes to increase staff wages while still paying their fixed expenses. With the sustainability payments over, child care programs are making tough decisions on whether to reduce wages, increase tuition, or close their [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 151 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 – Kinship families – such a growing and important piece of Kentucky's fabric – won today as the House Families and Children Committee advanced Senate Bill 151 under the leadership of Senator Julie Raque Adams. With changes adopted by the committee today, the legislation will grant kinship and fictive kin caregivers 120 days – or upon a qualifying event – to [...]

Statement on Passage of HB 561 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – A strong child care infrastructure will support a strong local workforce and economy. Representative Samara Heavrin’s House Bill 561, passed today by the Kentucky House, supports that notion by permanently establishing the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP) and creating the Certified Child Care Community Designation Program. As supported by the business community and child advocates alike, [...]

By |2024-02-27T15:13:18-05:00February 27th, 2024|Economic Security, Education, News Room|

Statement on Passage of SB 203 by the Senate Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – It’s rare that a piece of legislation has the potential to benefit kids, parents, small businesses, and Kentucky’s workforce and economy – yet Senator Danny Carroll’s Horizons Act would do just that. Today, we are celebrating as the Senate Families and Children Committee ensured that the Horizons Act passed its first step to becoming law. Senate Bill [...]

By |2024-02-27T09:55:12-05:00February 27th, 2024|Economic Security, Education, News Room|

Empowering Communities: Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Impact

*Updated March 13, 2024 What does Bloom Kentucky and a toolbox have in common? Both share a fundamental purpose of empowerment and repair, providing essential tools and strategies to build resilience and mend the fabric of affected lives and communities.  Here at Bloom Kentucky, we want to equip you and your community with the tools to leverage the historic opioid settlement funds for impact. On Wednesday, March 6th, Bloom Kentucky hosted a webinar with [...]

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 [...]

Statement on Senator Danny Carroll’s Horizons Act

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – In today’s bold move by Senator Danny Carroll, he is guaranteeing a quality future for kids, meeting the core needs of working families, and lifting local economies by bolstering Kentucky’s workforce. The Horizons Act puts into motion the state budget investments and policy changes necessary to stabilize Kentucky’s struggling child care sector and ensure parents can go [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 151 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – There’s no doubt that Kentucky’s kinship and fictive caregivers are the often-unsung heroes for thousands of kids across the Commonwealth – stepping up in a moment’s notice to provide a safe space for their young loved ones to grow and heal. While Kentucky provides financial assistance to relative or fictive kin caregivers who choose to become certified [...]

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 [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 151 by Senate Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Prioritizing kinship families is prioritizing some of our most vulnerable Kentucky kids. When a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, being placed with a relative or close friend helps reduce trauma and maintain connections to culture, traditions, and siblings. Today, the Senate Families and Children Committee prioritized kinship families with passage of [...]

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