Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement policy team, we are commending the House Families & Children Committee supporting passage of Senate Bill 229, sponsored by Senators Julie Raque Adams, David Yates, and Danny Carroll. The House committee substitute adopted today expands the measure’s efforts to close gaps in abuse reporting laws and strengthen how we support families [...]

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Increasing transparency and accountability within child welfare cases is one step closer today with passage of Senate Bill 48 by the House Families & Children Committee. Among several other components to boost efficiency within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, this measure will relocate the Ombudsman’s Office to the state Auditor’s Office – a move that is [...]

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – At 6th in the nation in the rate of child maltreatment, the Commonwealth has made progress but still has a long way to go in child maltreatment prevention efforts. Yet, we can celebrate today as Kentucky is one step closer to closing gaps in abuse reporting laws and strengthening how we support families at risk. Senate Bill [...]

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – While there has been a 33 percent reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2017 to 2021, there were nearly 15,000 victims of child maltreatment in the Commonwealth in 2021. Keeping kids safe is an adult responsibility – whether that’s prevention, recognition, or reporting, we all have a role to play in addressing Kentucky’s high rate of [...]