Education

Statement on Passage of HB 6 by House Families & Children Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 6 by House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care programs offer working families a safe place for children to learn and grow and serve as a critical pillar of community economies. Recognizing the need to strengthen quality and access to affordable child care across Kentucky, Representative Samara Heavrin – along with numerous bipartisan co-sponsors – is championing House Bill 6 this session, and we’re [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2026-02-12T09:30:30-05:00February 12th, 2026|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, News Room|

What’s Coming Next with the State Budget and How to Take Action

What’s Coming Next with the State Budget and How to Take Action

Updated March 20, 2026 With just ten working days to go in the 2026 legislative session, the state budget process is nearing its conclusion. As we detailed in early January, the General Assembly spent a bulk of the legislative time in 2026 crafting a two-year state budget that will be complete before the final gavel on April 15th. What’s Already Happened? So far, the Governor released his proposed budget during the State of the Commonwealth [...]

By Alicia Whatley|2026-03-20T15:35:31-04:00February 3rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Bloom Kentucky Sprout-Out: Ohio County United for Youth

Bloom Kentucky Sprout-Out: Ohio County United for Youth

As part of Bloom Kentucky, “sprout outs” are our way of giving a meaningful shout out to programs fostering hope and resilience in our communities. We’re proud to spotlight the incredible work of Ohio County United for Youth. Ohio County United for Youth is an organization led by young people in partnership with adult volunteers in Ohio County, Kentucky. Their work is guided by the Developmental Assets Framework, which “identifies 40 research-based positive experiences that [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2026-07-15T16:54:14-04:00January 13th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Advocacy Corner, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2026 State Budget Address

Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2026 State Budget Address

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – There was good news in last night’s address by Governor Andy Beshear as he joined with Republican legislative leaders in prioritizing basic needs like housing stability and food security for our kids and families. Those two arenas are clearly common ground and are ripe for legislative action as this session unfolds. That is a vital opening for [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2026-01-08T07:56:51-05:00January 8th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room, Youth Justice|

OP-ED: Turkey Bombs or Political Spam for Kentucky Kids

OP-ED: Turkey Bombs or Political Spam for Kentucky Kids

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the NKY Tribune on December 20, 2025. These days after Black Friday and before December 25 mean lots of things to different folks. Mobbed malls. Hopeful and expectant kids. Family gatherings near and far. Lots of packages on that doorstep. Perhaps a beautiful church service or cantata. And for me? Really wonderful homemade Italian and more than a bit of football! But for families in remote parts of [...]

By Terry Brooks|2025-12-22T12:08:05-05:00December 22nd, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|

Time-Balls & Bloom Kentucky: 2025 in Review

Time-Balls & Bloom Kentucky: 2025 in Review

Every New Year’s Eve, millions watch as the iconic Times Square ball drops. What many don’t know is that the “ball-drop” has historic roots dating back to the 1830s where the first “time-ball” was installed atop England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich to help captains of nearby ships set their chronometers for navigation. As the ball drops for 2025 and signals our entry in 2026, I cannot help but reflect on Bloom Kentucky’s major milestones from [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2026-07-15T16:53:03-04:00December 19th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Advocacy Corner, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Understanding Overreporting in Public Schools: Analysis of Impact and Recommendations

Understanding Overreporting in Public Schools: Analysis of Impact and Recommendations

In 2024, more than 55,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect were made to Kentucky’s Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), which houses Child Protective Services (CPS). As a universal mandatory reporting state, every adult is required to make a report if they have a reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected. While every adult can play a role in keeping children safe, research and data suggest that the intended impact [...]

By Cortney Downs|2025-12-18T15:10:27-05:00December 18th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard Launches with a Snapshot on Childhood Obesity and Food Access

2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard Launches with a Snapshot on Childhood Obesity and Food Access

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard Launches with a Snapshot on Childhood Obesity and Food Access Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child health, education, economic security, and family and community Louisville, KY – The 2025 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Dashboard, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-12-11T09:12:26-05:00December 11th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|

The Child Care Landscape Heading into 2026

The Child Care Landscape Heading into 2026

With only a month until the beginning of Kentucky’s legislative session, it is essential for child advocates to be up-to-date on the topics most likely to impact children and families in 2026. The General Assembly will undoubtedly be discussing topics like food insecurity, children experiencing homelessness, and Kentucky children having access to appropriate health care – and the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children has a number of state policy and budget priorities that will impact kids [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2025-12-10T10:50:47-05:00December 10th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Budget Session and Advocating for Kids

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Budget Session and Advocating for Kids

As the interim legislative session winds down and Kentuckians begin settling in for the holidays, the 2026 General Assembly is right around the corner. Like every even year in the Commonwealth, 2026 will bring a long legislative session that includes the passing of a new two-year state budget. Legislators will return to Frankfort on Tuesday, January 6th to kick off the 60 day session that will charge Kentucky legislators with considering proposed bills and crafting [...]

By Alicia Whatley|2025-12-17T09:38:25-05:00December 1st, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Youth Justice|