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New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Foster Youth

New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Youth with Foster Care Experience Interactive report features key data on outcomes and barriers to success and offers policy recommendations Louisville, KY – Students with foster care experience bring unique strengths and perspectives to our classrooms; they also face trauma and systemic hurdles that can make the climb toward graduation and beyond more difficult. To support more informed, data-driven responses, Kentucky Youth Advocates [...]

By |2026-05-20T17:03:47-04:00May 20th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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Bipartisan Federal Bills Aim to Better Support Foster Youth on Their Path to Adulthood

By Claire Elmore, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates While Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session has officially ended, federal lawmakers are still working on important legislation that could strengthen supports for young people with foster care experience.  On April 29th, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced six bipartisan bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Education and Training Voucher program. The six bills [...]

By |2026-05-19T20:23:18-04:00May 19th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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One Kentucky Teen’s Mission: Disconnect to Connect

By Hannah Edelen & Guest Writer, Aleah Stigall Aleah Stigall is a 17-year-old senior at Boyle County High School and has a passion for connection. She strives to teach the importance of real relationships with real people, as she shared at the 2026 Town Hall on Kids at Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Through her personal initiative, “Disconnect To Connect - Let’s Get Real,” Aleah educates her peers [...]

By |2026-05-13T13:26:08-04:00May 13th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Celebrating Child Care and Appreciating Providers

Almost 70% of children under the age of 6 go to some type of formalized child care outside of the home. As a working mom, both of my sons went to licensed child care centers so that I could work. When I was growing up, that is not what I expected. My mother stayed at home with me and my sister until we both entered kindergarten. I was blessed that she was able [...]

By |2026-05-20T11:05:13-04:00May 6th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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KYGA26: Bill Breakdown on Kids

Every year, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates anxiously watch the final days and hours of the state legislative session, hopeful our legislators will send a few more ‘good for kids’ bills to the Governor’s desk – even as we know the realities of those odds are stacked against us.  Of the 1,293 bills and resolutions filed this year, approximately 174 passed through both Chambers and were signed, vetoed and then overrode, or became [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:37:29-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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KYGA26: Budget Breakdown on Kids

Every two years, our state lawmakers convene to shape the Commonwealth’s biennial budget – taking into consideration the needs across Kentucky, the limitations or opportunities of the revenue, and, especially of late, sustaining a healthy rainy day fund. Kentucky’s last few budgets were bolstered by federal COVID dollars. This time around, our lawmakers not only had to navigate less federal support, but also the budget realities that federal HR1 has brought to our [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:48:55-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Statement on Passage of HB 6 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care advocates are cheering as House Bill 6 passed the Kentucky Senate floor this afternoon. With the leadership of Representative Samara Heavrin, this robust legislation thoughtfully strengthens Kentucky’s child care infrastructure for the bottom line of families, businesses, and the state budget.  Among its many components, HB 6 will impact accessibility, affordability, and availability of quality [...]

By |2026-03-31T17:33:47-04:00March 31st, 2026|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, News Room|
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Getting to the Root Cause to Prevent Truancy

All children deserve to learn and grow in an encouraging and supportive environment that reduces the risk of system involvement. Yet, recent legislative changes have led to more children and parents entering the court system for truancy. Truancy is defined as missing three or more days of school or being tardy on three or more days without a valid excuse. Any child who is reported as truant two or more times in a one year [...]

By |2026-03-26T09:42:09-04:00March 26th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Justice|
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The Census and You – Breaking Down Kentucky’s Data from the American Community Survey

If you’ve read the previous blogs, you’ll know that the census isn’t just once a decade. It’s an ongoing process. Each year the Census Bureau releases data at different points during the year that cover different subject matter.  Understanding the ACS In January, the American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates were released. These topics are the same as the one-year estimates released in September, but the five-year estimates are considered more accurate. For the one-year [...]

By |2026-02-25T16:10:51-05:00February 25th, 2026|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count|
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Statement on Passage of HB 6 by Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Representative Samara Heavrin said it best, “House Bill 6 lays the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable child care network.” We’re celebrating this afternoon as this much-needed legislation clears the House with bi-partisan support.  Among its many components, House Bill 6 strengthens access and options to safe, affordable child care for working parents. It removes barriers to [...]

By |2026-02-17T19:09:07-05:00February 17th, 2026|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, News Room|
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