By Serenity Moore Serenity Moore is a youth advocate from Boys and Girls Club, Glasgow/Barren County. She is a junior at Glasgow Independent High School and a member of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Tobacco-Free Policy Youth Ambassadors. Being a teen today is a lot different than it was when many of you were my age. The majority of teens today are filled with worry and not just about their grades or graduation. I [...]
All children, no matter where they live or receive child care, deserve healthy food and time for active play. Teaching kids healthy habits at a young age nurtures optimal growth and development and sets them up for a lifetime of healthy choices. A Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children bill that is moving this 2020 legislative session aims to reinforce these ideas and provide nurturing environments for children in child care centers across the state. Senate Bill [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates E-cigarette usage among Kentucky youth has surged in recent years, putting thousands of our young people at risk of nicotine addiction, serious lung injury or disease, and other harmful health outcomes. Since advocates raised the alarm of the e-cigarette epidemic, the Kentucky legislature has demonstrated their commitment to facing it head on. The House Appropriations and Revenue emphasized [...]
This post originally appeared as an op- ed in the Northern Kentucky Tribune on February 2, 2020. By Ben Chandler, Terry Brooks, Ed.D., Ashli Watts and Brent Wright, M.D. Manufacturers and retailers who sell Juul and other brands of e-cigarettes, or “vapes,” wonder why health advocates won’t just leave them alone. We have at least three reasons: Kids, kids and kids. 1. Kentucky teens are using e-cigarettes at three times the rate of adults and many [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates With many Kentucky children spending a majority of their day in early childhood programs, parents and providers alike agree on the importance of a nurturing and healthy child care environment. Today, the Kentucky Senate honored that idea by supporting Senate Bill 45, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, which seeks to strengthen licensed child care center standards on healthy [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates All kids, no matter where they grow up or receive child care, deserve healthy food and time for active play. Today, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee honored that need by supporting Senate Bill 45, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll. With many Kentucky children spending a majority of their day in early childhood programs, SB 45 seeks to [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates “A better today for our families and a better tomorrow for our children.” That is how Governor Andy Beshear opened his budget address. The critical question tonight is clear – do the finite fiscal details match that lofty vision? An immediate reaction to any budget address – including this one – should be tempered with the need for [...]
Last week’s Children’s Advocacy Day has already made an impact in Frankfort. State leaders, from legislators to the Governor, are abuzz with what they heard from advocates. If you joined us on January 23rd, be sure to fill out this short survey so we can make next year's Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol even better! The day was too big to summarize in this blog post, so here are the 5 moments we thought were [...]
By Ana Pohlgeers, high school senior from Campbell County Four homes. Count them. FOUR! From the age of two, when my birth mother dropped me off at Child Protective Services begging for someone to take me off of her hands to give me a better life, until the age of six, when I was finally adopted by my forever family, I lived in FOUR. Different. Homes. Young, terrified and determined not to ever love again, [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates With the vaping epidemic impacting so many Kentucky kids, we applaud Senator Ralph Alvarado for championing Senate Bill 56 and ensuring the Commonwealth complies with the new federal Tobacco-21 law, and we thank the Kentucky Senate for demonstrating their supporting today. This measure seeks to codify in state law a minimum legal sale age of 21 for tobacco products, [...]
