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New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Foster Youth

New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Youth with Foster Care Experience Interactive report features key data on outcomes and barriers to success and offers policy recommendations Louisville, KY – Students with foster care experience bring unique strengths and perspectives to our classrooms; they also face trauma and systemic hurdles that can make the climb toward graduation and beyond more difficult. To support more informed, data-driven responses, Kentucky Youth Advocates [...]

By |2026-05-20T17:03:47-04:00May 20th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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Bipartisan Federal Bills Aim to Better Support Foster Youth on Their Path to Adulthood

By Claire Elmore, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates While Kentucky’s 2026 legislative session has officially ended, federal lawmakers are still working on important legislation that could strengthen supports for young people with foster care experience.  On April 29th, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced six bipartisan bills to modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and the Education and Training Voucher program. The six bills [...]

By |2026-05-19T20:23:18-04:00May 19th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Celebrating Child Care and Appreciating Providers

Almost 70% of children under the age of 6 go to some type of formalized child care outside of the home. As a working mom, both of my sons went to licensed child care centers so that I could work. When I was growing up, that is not what I expected. My mother stayed at home with me and my sister until we both entered kindergarten. I was blessed that she was able [...]

By |2026-05-20T11:05:13-04:00May 6th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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Where the Session Leaves Us & Where Advocates Go Next – A Recap on Bloom Kentucky’s 2026 Priorities

It is always a bittersweet moment when the gavel drops on day 60 for the Kentucky General Assembly. Both advocates and legislators alike closed the chapter on a season where debates were had, hearts were opened, and policies passed.  While the session may come to a close, the work of Bloom Kentucky continues as we work to advance policies and budgetary investments that create the conditions that shape the environments where children and [...]

By |2026-04-28T15:03:34-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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Op-Ed: The power of persistence in child abuse prevention — in wake of legislation, commitment is key

This op-ed was originally posted by the NKyTribune on April 27, 2026. By Shannon Moody and Barry Dunn "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” The Little Engine That Could taught many of us the power of persistence – not giving up when the going gets tough and maintaining a sense of hopefulness when all seems lost. That mantra, backed by the persistence of our community partners, helps the Kosair for Kids Face [...]

By |2026-04-28T10:31:23-04:00April 28th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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KYGA26: Bill Breakdown on Kids

Every year, we at Kentucky Youth Advocates anxiously watch the final days and hours of the state legislative session, hopeful our legislators will send a few more ‘good for kids’ bills to the Governor’s desk – even as we know the realities of those odds are stacked against us.  Of the 1,293 bills and resolutions filed this year, approximately 174 passed through both Chambers and were signed, vetoed and then overrode, or became [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:37:29-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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KYGA26: Budget Breakdown on Kids

Every two years, our state lawmakers convene to shape the Commonwealth’s biennial budget – taking into consideration the needs across Kentucky, the limitations or opportunities of the revenue, and, especially of late, sustaining a healthy rainy day fund. Kentucky’s last few budgets were bolstered by federal COVID dollars. This time around, our lawmakers not only had to navigate less federal support, but also the budget realities that federal HR1 has brought to our [...]

By |2026-04-23T16:48:55-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Guest Post: A Final Push to Protect Kids with Kyan’s Law

By Kiera Dunk As many people focus on the headlines coming out of the federal government, they often overlook what is happening at the state level. While the state government has a direct impact on our daily lives, people have more power than they realize to influence it. Two years ago, I started this journey with Kyan’s Law, sharing his story and hoping to bring him justice while preventing other deaths like his. Currently, that [...]

By |2026-04-02T09:18:06-04:00April 2nd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Navigating the Community of Care: Kinship at the GAP Conference

At least 6% - twice the national average - of Kentucky kids are known to be in the care of relative or fictive kin caregivers, collectively known as kinship caregivers. Kinship caregivers are diverse, and each situation is different, but most of us came into it without enough preparation or support. The Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky exists to address this issue through education and policy recommendations.  This month, as part of the Coalition’s efforts [...]

By |2026-04-01T15:00:32-04:00April 1st, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Statement on Passage of HB 6 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care advocates are cheering as House Bill 6 passed the Kentucky Senate floor this afternoon. With the leadership of Representative Samara Heavrin, this robust legislation thoughtfully strengthens Kentucky’s child care infrastructure for the bottom line of families, businesses, and the state budget.  Among its many components, HB 6 will impact accessibility, affordability, and availability of quality [...]

By |2026-03-31T17:33:47-04:00March 31st, 2026|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, News Room|
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