Economic Security

Child Care Assistance Program FAQ for Kentucky Families

Child Care Assistance Program FAQ for Kentucky Families

Child care is essential for Kentucky families to thrive. With annual costs reaching up to $11,000, however, families across Kentucky are struggling to pay for child care. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps eligible families pay for child care, providing vital support to families with young children. Despite how vital the program is, very few eligible families are participating in the program and applying for and participating in the program can be confusing. With [...]

By Karena Cash|2022-09-21T18:36:53-04:00April 27th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

OP-ED: Lots of Questions for the 2022 KY General Assembly

OP-ED: Lots of Questions for the 2022 KY General Assembly

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on April 21, 2022. By Dr. Terry Brooks In a press conference before the historic launch of Apollo 11 to the moon, Neil Armstrong was asked about the answers he hoped to discover with his moonwalk. He responded by asserting that he will likely have more questions to ask than answers. That is how I feel as we leave the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly – I have a whole bunch of [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2024-04-25T12:29:08-04:00April 21st, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Wins & Missed Opportunities for Kids in the 2022 General Assembly

Wins & Missed Opportunities for Kids in the 2022 General Assembly

The final gavel has fallen for the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly! This year, the Governor and the Kentucky General Assembly were tasked with crafting a two-year state budget, tackle redistricting, advance policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic, tax reform, and other policy priorities that would be good for the communities they represent and the Commonwealth. If we take a second to reflect, that’s a heavy lift in a long 60-day session. There was good news [...]

By Mahak Kalra|2022-04-20T16:29:28-04:00April 20th, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Deep Dive into House Bill 7 + What It Means for Kids and Families

Deep Dive into House Bill 7 + What It Means for Kids and Families

Safety net programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP), play a critical role in making sure families struggling to make ends meet can have food to eat, cover basic family needs, and access critical supports and services needed to be healthy and thrive. This is especially important as new evidence emerges [...]

By Karena Cash|2022-04-19T16:58:54-04:00April 19th, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|

Update on Priorities for Kids in the Final Days of KYGA22

Update on Priorities for Kids in the Final Days of KYGA22

The 2022 Kentucky General Assembly has wrapped up Day 58 of the 60-day legislative session and there are many key Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children wins to already celebrate. These priority bills have passed the Kentucky House and Senate and have been delivered to the Governor: Senate Bill 8 to strengthen points of the child welfare system, from child maltreatment prevention to investigation to healing and out-of-home care – signed by the Governor! Senate Bill 97 [...]

By Mara Powell|2022-04-06T09:42:03-04:00March 31st, 2022|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Statement on Passage of HB 83 by the Kentucky House

Statement on Passage of HB 83 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Financial independence can mean the difference between a parent having to remain in an abusive relationship and leaving for their children’s and their own safety. Thankfully, with today’s passage of House Bill 83 by the Kentucky House via consent orders, the Commonwealth is one step closer to removing barriers to permanently leaving an abusive relationship. HB 83, sponsored [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2022-03-30T17:00:59-04:00March 30th, 2022|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, News Room|

Statement on Passage of HB 7 by the Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of HB 7 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With today’s passage by the Kentucky Senate, House Bill 7 now heads to concurrence by the Kentucky House and then to the Governor’s desk for consideration. We’ve continued to share our appreciation to the bill sponsors, House Speaker David Osborne and Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, for their openness to feedback and efforts to reduce unintended consequences of these [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2022-03-30T19:21:24-04:00March 30th, 2022|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, News Room|

Statement on Passage of Final State Budget by the General Assembly

Statement on Passage of Final State Budget by the General Assembly

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Earlier this month as leaders of the Kentucky House and Senate went into Conference Committee, we wrote on the important moment: “When the rubber hits the road.” It’s a moment when the true priorities of the General Assembly come to light as the final state budget for the next two years gets crafted – full of compromise, tough [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2022-03-30T16:45:26-04:00March 30th, 2022|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|

Statement on Final Passage of HB 499 by the Kentucky Senate

Statement on Final Passage of HB 499 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, the Senate passed House Bill 499 – a win for the child care sector, businesses, parents, and our youngest Kentuckians. Once concurred by the House and signed by the Governor, the measure will establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, which is an innovative program that will match employer child care benefits with state dollars. Families [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2022-03-30T16:03:55-04:00March 30th, 2022|Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Education, News Room|

Statement on Passage of HB 499 by the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 499 by the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, we’re celebrating the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee’s passage of House Bill 499. The measure, championed by Representative Samara Heavrin, will establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership – which is a win-win-win for kids and families, businesses, and our economy. A lack of access to child care is a primary contributor to [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2022-03-29T11:17:28-04:00March 29th, 2022|Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Education, News Room|