Statement on Passage of HB 7 by the Senate Health & Welfare Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – In these final days of the 2022 legislative session, we are disappointed to see advancement of legislation that has more opportunities for harm than good for the Commonwealth’s children and families, including today’s passage of House Bill 7 by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. Safety net programs play a critical role in making sure families struggling to [...]

Removing Barriers for a Parent & Their Children to Leave an Abusive Relationship

By Shontelle Davis, MSSW Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the United States, with 45.3 percent of women and 35.5 percent of men experiencing domestic violence in their lifetime. Domestic violence can take many forms, including chronic yelling, controlling behaviors, isolation, threats of suicide or murder, threats involving weapons, threats to take the children, and serious injuries.  Survivors of intimate partner violence lose a total [...]

By |2022-03-24T09:40:43-04:00March 24th, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

KYGA22 Blueprint Policy Mini Series: HB 499

Listen in as Karena Cash, Policy and Advocacy Analyst at Kentucky Youth Advocates, shares more on Blueprint for Kentucky's Children priority House Bill 499, which would establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership. This measure offers Kentucky the critical opportunity to strengthen families’ access to high-quality child care so they can participate in the workforce. ADVOCATES urge the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee to support this bill! Stay [...]

By |2022-03-24T09:49:28-04:00March 24th, 2022|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Statement on Passage of HB 83 by House Economic Development & Workforce Investment Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation. And, for the Commonwealth’s nearly 17,000 child victims of abuse or neglect, over 50 percent had family violence as a risk factor. Domestic violence can take many forms, including controlling behaviors, isolation, threats of suicide or murder, threats to take the children, and serious injuries [...]

Statement on Passage of House Bill 499 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, we’re celebrating passage of House Bill 499 by the Kentucky House to establish the framework for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership. This measure offers Kentucky the critical opportunity to strengthen families’ access to high-quality child care so they can participate in the workforce. We thank Representative Samara Heavrin and the many co-sponsors of HB 499 for their commitment to [...]

Statement on Passage of HB 7 by KY House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The Kentucky House has a track record that clearly values family stability and protecting children from maltreatment. Yet, on the same day as passing critical legislation that will positively impact children across the child welfare continuum, House members ensured passage of House Bill 7 that threatens efforts to improve child safety and well-being. As we’ve previously shared, there [...]

Statement on Passage of House Bill 499 by the House Appropriations & Revenue Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – An important step in improving child care access for families was taken today with passage of House Bill 499 by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. The measure, sponsored by Representative Samara Heavrin, seeks to establish the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, an innovative program encouraging employers to assist employees with the cost of child care. We know Kentucky [...]

March Madness for Kids’ Nutrition

For most Kentuckians, March is a sacred time of basketball and brackets. For our school nutrition professionals and students, however, March is also the home of National School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month.  Throughout the pandemic, one slam dunk for kids has been the USDA Child Nutrition Programs, which ensure kids across Kentucky have access to at least two meals a day during the school year and one a day during the summer months. [...]

By |2022-03-10T16:02:57-05:00March 10th, 2022|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Statement on the Senate State Budget Proposal

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – What's the old aphorism? "When the rubber hits the road." In Frankfort, the rubber really hits the road around our leaders’ true priorities when that state budget gets crafted. And now is that time, as the Senate and House come together for the budget Conference Committee. There are abundant reasons for optimism when it comes to supporting [...]

Statement on House Bill 7 to Implement Public Assistance Reforms

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As is the case in most omnibus pieces of legislation, House Bill 7 is a mixed bag. There are good elements for Kentucky kids, and there are also elements that are truly problematic for Kentucky 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, [...]

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