KYGA24: An Overview of Efforts to End Youth Vaping

As the dust settles from the 2024 General Assembly, several topics continue to grab headlines including the action surrounding youth vaping. The bills passed this session certainly brought this issue to the forefront but left more questions than answers about the impact for youth in Kentucky.   What did Kentucky Youth Advocates prioritize on youth vaping in 2024?   As we continue to see the negative impacts of nicotine products on young people and increased concern among [...]

By |2024-04-24T13:44:04-04:00April 24th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|

Bloom Kentucky: Recapping KYGA24 Efforts to Address ACEs

Bloom Kentucky is committed to addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through policy change. We know that the multi-generational impacts of childhood adversity require an upstream approach and that often is done through legislative action and budget investments. Policy Priorities For this session, Bloom Kentucky identified policy priorities focused on ensuring a strong student-teacher pipeline, supporting access to school-based mental health, promoting housing stability and  expanding prenatal and delivery care.  Here’s a recap of how our [...]

By |2024-04-18T17:02:26-04:00April 18th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Deep Dive into the 2024 State Budget & the Impact on Kentucky Kids

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 for Kentucky. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. Learn more about the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY.  Facing a budget session, the 2024 General Assembly was [...]

Recapping the 2024 Legislative Session & the Impact on Kentucky Kids

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 for Kentucky. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. Learn more about the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY. As we recover from eclipse mania in [...]

Celebrating and Empowering Social Workers

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  March is National Social Work Month, and this year the theme is Empowering Social Workers. The theme of this month highlights the need for higher compensation and support for the high-demand roles that social workers engage in. This month is used as a way to celebrate the contributions that social workers are making to individuals, families, and communities. It is a time to support the ongoing work [...]

Statement on Passage of HB 11 by the Senate Judiciary Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – What’s clear is that Kentucky’s kids are facing a vaping epidemic, orchestrated by “big vape” companies through marketing and sweet flavors. What’s also clear is that kids are getting their hands on vapes through local retailers despite state and federal tobacco-21 laws prohibiting selling to those underage. What is unclear is why the Kentucky General Assembly continues [...]

By |2024-03-28T12:51:13-04:00March 28th, 2024|Education, Health, News Room|

Statement on Passage of HCR 68

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – All kids need a place that is safe and stable to grow up in, and every parent and young person needs a place to live that is affordable given their income. However, rising housing costs, slowed construction, and natural disasters have made it increasingly difficult for families to find and afford safe places to live across the Commonwealth. [...]

Statement on Passage of HB 199 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Along with Bloom Kentucky, we are celebrating as House Bill 199 passes the Kentucky House to expand access to safe and healthy prenatal and birth options. HB 199 seeks to remove the certificate-of-need requirement for freestanding birth centers which will allow Kentucky to expand access to safe alternatives to hospital delivery for families. Although there are now [...]

By |2024-03-26T16:26:07-04:00March 26th, 2024|Bloom Kentucky, Health, News Room, Race Equity|

Kentuckians: We Need Your Input on Tools Needed to Address Opioid Use in Your Community

By Andrew Alvey, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As Bloom Kentucky has detailed, the opioid crisis has significantly impacted all of Kentucky’s communities. In 2020, Kentucky had the third-highest age-adjusted drug overdose fatality rate in the United States. This statistic shows the urgency with which we must come together to create opportunities for healing and resilience. With support from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, Kentucky Youth Advocates is leading a project to collect [...]

Blooming in your Backyard: Harnessing Opioid Settlement Funds for Local Impact

Updated April 29, 2024 Grab your toolbox (reference from prior blog) because we are READY to add more tools! Bloom Kentucky hosted a webinar on Wednesday, April 24th – Blooming in your Backyard: Harnessing Opioid Settlement Funds for Local Impact! Co-hosted with the Kentucky Association of County Counties’ (KACo) Lauren Carr, Opioid Settlement Advisor, this webinar put a spotlight on the power of local action in the battle against the opioid crisis. Gain insight [...]

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