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KYGA25 Reflections: Wins, Missed Opportunities, and Head Scratchers

As we enter April and we look forward to warmer days, Kentucky Youth Advocates is reflecting on another legislative session in the Commonwealth – one that brought wins, missed opportunities, and some puzzling moments for Kentucky kids. Review the recap of the 2025 state legislative session and final status of Blueprint for Kentucky's Children priorities below and check out ways you can still take action for kids.  2025 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children State Policy Wins [...]

By |2025-04-01T16:27:12-04:00April 1st, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice|
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Children’s Advocacy Week 2025 Reflections from Youth

Imagine the halls of Kentucky’s Capitol buzzing with the energy of hundreds of young voices all united for a single purpose. On March 5th, 2025, Frankfort witnessed this powerful scene as young advocates from across the Commonwealth convened for Kentucky Youth Advocates’ annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol – their participation throughout Children’s Advocacy Week 2025. However, the excitement didn’t start there. On the eve of Children’s Advocacy Day, we hosted a retreat [...]

By |2025-03-21T11:02:53-04:00March 20th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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What’s at Stake Federally for Kentucky Kids?

By Chase Pasarella, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates, and the KYA Policy Team As we move toward the final days of the Kentucky legislative session, the federal government has also been busy negotiating a budget bill. Late last week, Congress passed a continuation budget that funds government programs and offices at mostly current levels through September 2025.  Since taking office in January, the Trump Administration and leaders in Congress have made it clear that priority [...]

By |2025-03-17T17:01:51-04:00March 17th, 2025|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health, Kids Count, Medicaid|
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Statement on Final Passage of Legislation to Pave the Way for Freestanding Birth Centers

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With final passage of the legislation to remove barriers to the establishment of freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, the General Assembly has paved the way for communities to expand access to safe, equitable perinatal and delivery care for families. House Bill 90 has passed both the Kentucky House and Senate and has been delivered to the Governor [...]

By |2025-03-14T13:46:46-04:00March 14th, 2025|Health, News Room|
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Youth Voices Leading the Charge: Insights from Substance Use Prevention Focus Groups

Last fall, Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), through the Bloom Kentucky initiative, conducted six focus groups across the Commonwealth to elevate youth perspectives in shaping the Attorney General’s youth substance use prevention campaign, “Better Without It”. With participation from 70 middle and high school students, we engaged young people from Mayfield, Springfield, Louisville, Hazard, and Covington, while a virtual focus group connected youth from Shelby, Warren, Taylor, and Boyle Counties. These conversations—held both in-person and virtually—provided [...]

By |2025-03-13T16:03:10-04:00March 13th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|
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Statement on Passage of SB 100 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Good news – Senate Bill 100 passes the full Kentucky House with bipartisan support! Kentucky kids need healthy environments to learn, play, and grow, free from the harmful effects of nicotine products like e-cigarettes and vapes. SB 100 will put measures in place to ensure compliance with Tobacco-21 law, so these products never reach the hands of [...]

By |2025-03-12T16:28:44-04:00March 12th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|
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Statement on Passage of SB 17 by the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – We’re celebrating as Senate Bill 17 passes the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee. This commonsense bill will remove barriers to establishing freestanding birth centers in Kentucky – a move that aligns with 40 other states. SB 17, sponsored by Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer, is the companion bill of Representative Jason Nemes’ House Bill 90, to [...]

By |2025-03-12T10:03:30-04:00March 12th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|
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Statement on Passage of SB 100 by the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Alongside the Kentucky youth speaking up to end the vaping crisis among their peers, we are applauding as the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee passes Senator Jimmy Higdon’s Senate Bill 100. We especially appreciate the committee members for retaining the original licensing provisions within the committee substitute adopted today. SB 100 would enforce the federal [...]

By |2025-03-12T09:53:15-04:00March 12th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|
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Statement on Passage of HB 90 by the Kentucky House

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With the leadership of Representative Jason Nemes, House Bill 90 passed the full Kentucky House this afternoon. This legislation, and its companion Senate Bill 17, are critical levers to offering more options for prenatal and delivery care for Kentucky’s pregnant moms. As an alternative to a hospital delivery, freestanding birth centers have a track record of providing [...]

By |2025-03-06T17:08:34-05:00March 6th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|
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Youth Voice: “Our voices matter today and every day.”

By Zach Crouch, member for the Health Youth Ambassadors Zach shared the following speech as the opening of the 2025 Rally for Kentucky Kids in the Rotunda at the annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Welcome to our 2025 Children’s Advocacy Day! My name is Zachary Crouch. Words can not describe how it makes me feel to see this Rotunda packed full of youth advocates and many elected officials joining today. Thank you, Governor [...]

By |2025-03-21T11:10:08-04:00March 6th, 2025|Blog, Education, Health|
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