I met Nicole* in the emergency room at a children’s hospital when she was 17-years-old. She had been assaulted by her 18-year-old boyfriend and would possibly need surgery to repair the broken bones in her arm. This was not the first time he had assaulted her, but it was the most severe. Some of Nicole’s friends and family knew that they argued a lot or thought they spent too much time together, but no one [...]
For the past 15 years, Children’s Advocacy Day has grown from a small group of committed advocates with a big idea, to a huge group of advocates—and state leaders—with even bigger commitments to Kentucky kids. This week nearly 900 advocates, including more than 200 youth, came to Frankfort to ask their legislators to make kids the commonwealth’s top priority. Some of those advocates made long drives or brought newborn babies or courageously met with [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Governor Bevin and Other Elected Leaders Join Nearly 800 Youth and Advocates for 15th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol Hundreds of Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth, including over 250 children and youth, are convening in Frankfort today for the 15th annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They are urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified agenda for child advocates across the state. “Today, [...]
By Aaron Clark, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern It’s February, and as advocates for oral health we know that means Children’s Dental Health Month is here again. Starting as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, Children’s Dental Health Month is a celebration aimed to help establish positive attitudes and good dental habits at an early age as a key component to maintaining good oral and overall physical health of people young and growing. We hope that [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates The issue of school safety is compelling, complicated, and complex. And rather than giving in to simplistic solutions, Senate Bill 1 will ensure that every Kentucky student is guaranteed a safe and supportive school environments in which to learn and grow. The critical nature of school safety has elevated discussions around the need for a multi-faceted approach that not [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates The issue of school safety is compelling, complicated, and complex. And rather than giving in to simplistic solutions, Senate Bill 1 will ensure that every Kentucky student is guaranteed a safe and supportive school environment in which to learn and grow. The critical nature of school safety has elevated discussions around the need for a multi-faceted approach that not [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky is one step closer to ensuring a new generation of children and teens aren’t at risk of the harms of nicotine with today’s passage of House Bill 11, championed by Representative Kim Moser, Chair of the House Health and Family Services Committee. Though the commonwealth has seen the rate in teens smoking declining, we now need to [...]
Many of us remember Schoolhouse Rock!’s, “Bill” – the personified bill – “on Capitol Hill.” Poor Bill is a lonely bill with a lot of hope as he admits he has a long journey ahead of him to become a law. Bill realizes he’s one of the few lucky bills that actually gets heard in committee, which is the first positive step towards full passage. There’s a bill right now in Kentucky that, just by [...]
With Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol only days away, be sure you’re registered to join hundreds of advocates and youth from across Kentucky in Frankfort on February 13th. Kentucky kids need advocates like you to speak up on their behalf on Children's Advocacy Day and throughout the 2019 Kentucky legislative session. As you prepare for Children's Advocacy Day, check these to-do items off the list: Watch the prep webinar to learn how to be confident in attending Children's Advocacy Day and advocating on [...]
By Meagan Petty, high school freshman, and Noble Steenbergen, high school senior We are members of the Monroe County CARES Youth Prevention Ambassadors. We are drug prevention advocates from south central Kentucky. Our group works to reduce use of tobacco, alcohol, prescription drugs, and marijuana among our peers. One area that our group has had a lot of success in is tobacco prevention. Each year we participate in the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Kick Butts Day [...]
