Statement on KY Senate 2024 State Budget Proposal

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With passage of the biennial state budget proposal by both the Kentucky House and Senate, House Bill 6 as amended will now head into conference committee for negotiations on a final proposal to send to the Governor’s desk. As is often said about budgets – they are more than dollars and cents, they are a value proposition. [...]

Guest Post: Support Kyan’s Law to Keep Kids Safe

By Kiera Dunk  Kiera Dunk received a Champion for Children award at the 2024 Rally for Kentucky Kids during Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol Child abuse, it's not something a lot of people think about. It's not a fun flashy headline that makes the news, unless it's an atrocious case where the headline alone can incite tears or thoughts of violence. It is however my passion, my mission and inspired my advocacy [...]

By |2024-03-04T17:06:47-05:00March 4th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Guest Post: Let’s Prevent Any More Students from Having a Story Similar to Mine

By Kotomi Yokokura Content Notice: This article contains information about sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and/or violence which may be upsetting to readers. Kotomi testifying on HB 275 to the House Education Committee on January 23, 2024. I was a teenager when the trust I placed in my teacher was manipulated for the educator’s own sexual pleasure. Four years after my experience with educator sexual misconduct and there are still days I am [...]

By |2024-03-08T13:21:54-05:00February 29th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

Here’s To Another Year of Promoting a Well-Being System!

On January 5th, 2021, Kentucky submitted a letter of intent to join the national Thriving Families, Safer Children movement to equip and empower individuals and communities to support families. Our overall goal as one of the participating site teams was to establish universal health promotion for children, youth, and caregivers through proactive protective strengthening. Simply put, we want families to readily have what they need to be whole and manage life so they can stay [...]

By |2024-03-04T12:11:03-05:00February 29th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|

Deep Dive into the Horizons Act and What It Means for Early Childhood Education

As Kentucky approaches the end of the federal fiscal year in September 2024, a potential child care crisis is looming for the entire state. Child care providers have already stopped receiving the sustainability payments that were allowing centers and family child care homes to increase staff wages while still paying their fixed expenses. With the sustainability payments over, child care programs are making tough decisions on whether to reduce wages, increase tuition, or close their [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 2 by the Senate Education Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The safety of students as they grow into thriving adults has been an increased concern of the General Assembly for several sessions. It is clear that safety must be defined as far more than simply school discipline or a secured facility. We have to make a commitment to building resilience through proven support systems in behavioral and mental health [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 151 by the House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kinship families – such a growing and important piece of Kentucky's fabric – won today as the House Families and Children Committee advanced Senate Bill 151 under the leadership of Senator Julie Raque Adams. With changes adopted by the committee today, the legislation will grant kinship and fictive kin caregivers 120 days – or upon a qualifying event – to [...]

Getting a Clearer Picture: Kinship Caregiver Resource List

By Norma Hatfield, kinship caregiver and president of the Kinship Families Coalition of Kentucky As a grandmother who has navigated the child welfare system while caring for two of my grandchildren, I found that I was desperate for information; especially at the beginning when you get the kids. Oftentimes, the kids come with what they are wearing at the moment and you have nothing else. You are starting all over.   Even more so,  I [...]

By |2024-02-22T16:46:25-05:00February 22nd, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|

Empowering Communities: Leveraging Opioid Settlement Funds for Impact

*Updated March 13, 2024 What does Bloom Kentucky and a toolbox have in common? Both share a fundamental purpose of empowerment and repair, providing essential tools and strategies to build resilience and mend the fabric of affected lives and communities.  Here at Bloom Kentucky, we want to equip you and your community with the tools to leverage the historic opioid settlement funds for impact. On Wednesday, March 6th, Bloom Kentucky hosted a webinar with [...]

The Echoes of Youth Chants and Energy Goes Beyond Children’s Advocacy Day

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is when people across the Commonwealth come together to lift up a united voice for Kentucky’s children. A highlight of the day always includes the presence of youth-serving organizations and school groups. This year, nearly 300 youth took the time to speak on behalf of themselves and their peers. Kentucky Youth Advocates wanted to briefly highlight how groups had an [...]

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