Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Children are already reaping the benefits of more Kentucky parents having health insurance due to Medicaid expansion, according to a new special report from Kentucky Youth Advocates. The report, Medicaid Expansion in Kentucky: Benefits to Kids and Families, examines the numerous family and child health benefits that have resulted from more parents having affordable health coverage. “The research is clear. Parent health impacts child health,” said Terry [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates "Is it good for kids?" That is the question we at Kentucky Youth Advocates are asking while trying to understand the proposal by the Bevin Administration to transform Kentucky's Medicaid program. From our perspective, we see some positives but also have some concerns. First, we thank Governor Bevin for protecting children and pregnant women from potential negative impacts that [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org JEFFERSONTOWN, KY – Kentucky ranks 35th in the nation in overall child well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 KIDS COUNT® Data Book co-released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates. The national KIDS COUNT Data Book provides state-level data and rankings. The 2016 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, which includes county-level data and rankings, will be released in November. In addition to ranking 35th in overall child well-being, [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Governor Matt Bevin, Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and Commissioner Adria Johnson of the Department of Community Based Services announced a new program that will serve as a pipeline for success for over 100 youth aging out of the foster care system. Fostering Success will include a ten-week workforce training and [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Tough budget times make for tough decisions. And that is certainly true for the just finalized Kentucky budget. Yet there are several aspects of the budget which merit applause and bring hope. We all win as Kentuckians when the Governor, Senate, and House come together to address endemic budget fractures like the pension system. The Commonwealth can’t move ahead [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Jeffersontown, KY – Ashley*, a high school student from a small town in rural Kentucky, was 12 years old when she discovered her mom was addicted to drugs. Soon after, her mom was in and out of jail several times over the next year and subsequent years. “We couldn't afford to do laundry with a washer and dryer, so we did our laundry in the sink and hung it up [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, HB 40 to allow record expungement for certain low-level felonies took a final step before heading to the Governor’s desk for his signature. We thank members of the House for concurring with the Senate changes and sending the bill to the Governor. This legislation impacts children as it helps many parents with a criminal history get back to work [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates We applaud the full House for passing SB 40 today to create a pilot project to open courts in child welfare cases. This bill is now just steps away from the Governor’s desk. SB 40, sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams, will open courts in a limited way in order to evaluate how this practice impacts children and the broader [...]

Contact: Andrea Bennett 502-381-1176 abennett@kyyouth.org Statement by Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, we thank the Senate for passing HB 40 to allow expungement for certain low-level felonies. We thank the many Senators who worked to find compromises to move the bill through the Senate for the first time today. We appreciate the work of Representative Darryl Owens, Senate President Robert Stivers, and Senator Whitney Westerfield for championing the bill. We know [...]