Education

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky kids have told us – as well as teachers, parents, coaches, and health care providers – vaping is happening among our high school and middle school students. And the reality is that, despite the Tobacco-21 law prohibiting sales of vapes and e-cigarettes to those under 21, two out of five youth nationally report getting these products [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-18T10:47:43-05:00February 18th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Every parent wants a stable child care option to keep their kids safe and help them learn and grow. Taliyah's Story My world was turned upside down this summer when the daycare that my children attended told me that they could no longer serve my two-year-old son. The director explained that my son needed more one-on-one support and that the center was too short staffed to be able to provide the care he needed. I [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-13T14:14:43-05:00February 13th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kids’ safety was once again prioritized by the Kentucky Senate with their overwhelming bipartisan support of Senate Bill 73 today. Through the leadership of Senator Julie Raque Adams, SB 73 will empower victims of sexual extortion by holding perpetrators accountable and will prioritize prevention education among Kentucky’s most vulnerable to online risks. Online sexual extortion – or [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-12T15:25:59-05:00February 12th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Senate Judiciary Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Senate Judiciary Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As Kentucky kids learn and socialize increasingly in online spaces, it’s as important as ever to put safeguards in place to prevent and address exploitation and promote child safety. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cases of online sexual extortion, or “sextortion” – where perpetrators use social media platforms, gaming sites, and messaging [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-06T09:59:09-05:00February 6th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

Educator Sexual Misconduct: The Role of Technology and Prevention Efforts

Educator Sexual Misconduct: The Role of Technology and Prevention Efforts

A recently published study in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse examines how technology has been used to facilitate educator sexual misconduct in Kentucky’s schools. The study’s author, Kotomi Yokokura, discusses the findings below. Between 2016 and 2021, 74 Kentucky educators had their licenses suspended, voluntarily surrendered, or permanently revoked by the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board for educator sexual misconduct. Within these cases, over 120 students were affected. These students were as young as [...]

By Andrew Alvey|2025-02-04T12:00:43-05:00February 4th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

OP-ED: “Say What?” Legislative Proposals for Kids

OP-ED: “Say What?” Legislative Proposals for Kids

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader, NKY Tribune, and Courier Journal. By Terry Brooks “Say what?” Merriam Webster describes this idiom as “a way to express surprise or disbelief at what someone has said or at unexpected news.” It is also the most popular response to any question or request directed to my three teenage grandkids. I’m never sure if that teen response is genuine surprise or a very skilled stalling [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-01-31T16:17:58-05:00January 30th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|

High Ratings + (Sometimes) High Frustrations: Special Education in Kentucky

High Ratings + (Sometimes) High Frustrations: Special Education in Kentucky

In 2024, the Kentucky Department of Education received the highest possible rating for its special education system. This rating is based on the Commonwealth’s ability to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the federal law that governs special education laws and funding. Kentucky has all the necessary policies and procedures in place that IDEA requires, and the state systems are designed to align with federal government laws. Although [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2025-01-16T12:57:03-05:00January 16th, 2025|Blog, Education|

Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 State Policy Priorities Agenda

Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 State Policy Priorities Agenda

Media Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth released the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 priority agenda. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2024-12-10T12:54:44-05:00December 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|

Launching the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families

Launching the Opioid Data Dashboard on Children and Families

Throughout Kentucky, families and communities have felt the impact of the opioid epidemic. For too many families, the impacts have hit very close to home and loved ones have been lost. While we can’t take away those losses that families have experienced, Kentucky has a tremendous opportunity in the wake of the crisis to heal with communities stronger than they were before. Managed by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, the opioid settlement means that [...]

By Tara Grieshop-Goodwin|2024-12-09T09:16:25-05:00December 5th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count, Race Equity|

The State of Child Care from the Perspective of Kentucky Providers and Parents

The State of Child Care from the Perspective of Kentucky Providers and Parents

Kentucky kids need safe spaces to learn and socialize while their parents work. And before they begin kindergarten, many families rely on child care – whether in homes or centers – to provide this care. Despite the clear indication that child care is needed for Kentucky families, there continue to be challenges to finding and staying connected to care, especially for children with disabilities. During the month of September, KYA surveyed child care center directors/owners [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2024-12-05T15:53:16-05:00December 5th, 2024|Blog, Economic Security, Education|