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Statement on the Transition of KY’s Office of the Ombudsman

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed Senate Bill 48, a comprehensive bill that makes multiple organizational changes to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Within SB 48 a key win for kids and families was included that moved the Office of the Ombudsman from CHFS to the Auditor of [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:14:39-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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Statement on SB 151, Delays in Implementation, and the Impact on Kinship Families

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY –We at Kentucky Youth Advocates were eager to celebrate final passage of Senate Bill 151 with bipartisan support – especially once the Governor signed it into law in April. We proudly supported Senator Julie Raque Adams’ legislation as a win for kids because of the opportunity for more flexibility and access to financial assistance for Kentucky’s kinship and [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:10:36-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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Who is Thriving Families, Safer Children Kentucky?

It’s been a HOT summer, so the Thriving Families, Safer Children (TSFC) Kentucky team hasn’t been staying cool (or even, always, calm given the gravity of this work). But they have remained collected around a shared purpose—infusing the national guiding principles throughout our statewide initiatives. This mid-year update will be a tribute to the partnership and the hard work they’re doing individually and as a collaborative effort supporting one another’s efforts to keep the movement [...]

By |2024-07-30T11:30:39-04:00July 30th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|
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The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kinship Diversion Policies Survey by State: Key Takeaways

By  Kathleen Baldwin, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates The timing of the recent Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Family Ties series of reports on kinship care state policies is well aligned with the ongoing conversations around access to supports for kinship families in Kentucky. The latest report was released on July 15, 2024 and includes questions for consideration by local, state, and federal leaders in collaboration with kinship families.  In 2022, The Annie E. Casey Foundation [...]

By |2024-07-25T13:35:35-04:00July 24th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|
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The Parenting Roadmap They Never Gave You

By: Brandi W., KY SEAT Member Sunday, July 28th is National Parents’ Day. It’s a day to recognize parents are important. And who better to tell us why than…parents! Read on to hear from one KY SEAT member on what parenting means to her and her advice to others who embark on this wonderful impactful experience: Parenting is a lifelong journey of love and learning. It’s the most important job there is. Yet, for some [...]

By |2024-07-24T14:39:18-04:00July 24th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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A Look at the Latest Domestic Violence Report

In June, the second annual Statewide Domestic Violence Data Report was published, detailing a devastating reality for thousands of adults and children across the Commonwealth. Domestic violence (DV) is “a systematic pattern of power and control that’s perpetrated by one intimate partner against another”. It’s the willful use of a range of abusive behaviors that can include being:  isolated from family and friends,  threatened with weapons,  coerced into committing crimes or engaging in other activities [...]

By |2024-07-22T16:58:04-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The State of Child Labor in Kentucky

Entering the labor force young has its benefits. Having a job as a teen (ages 16-18) can predict higher quality jobs and higher wages in adulthood. Quality work experience at a young age can improve physical and mental health in the long term, as well as reduce the likelihood that a youth will interact with the criminal justice system.  However, youth only benefit from employment when they are working in safe, age-appropriate environments. In Kentucky [...]

By |2024-07-11T13:42:11-04:00July 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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Child Abuse and Neglect Registry: Understanding the Purpose and Impact

While people may have heard of the Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) registry, many may not have an idea of how it functions or the implications it can present. It has the potential to impact people in all aspects of life, sometimes in ways that are unexpected.   “The time my daughter spent in care was one of the most horrible moments of my life. When I got her back and the case was closed, [...]

By |2024-07-10T11:35:42-04:00July 10th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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KYGA24: Major Updates for Kinship Families

Co-authored by  Kathleen Baldwin, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates During the 2024 legislative session we saw some MAJOR wins for kinship families in Kentucky, which will be going into effect over the coming months. Research shows that placement with family members or a safe adult known to the child, rather than traditional foster care, can have lifelong benefits for a child and their family. Children placed in kinship settings have more placement stability, are less [...]

By |2024-07-03T15:10:37-04:00July 3rd, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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OP-ED: If we all agree Kentucky children need more help, why is ‘kinship bill’ stalled?

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader on June 27, 2024. By Norma Hatfield Norma Hatfield with her granddaughters I am shocked and saddened as I reflect upon recent events regarding Senate Bill (SB) 151 for kinship caregivers. There are many questions, beginning with, how is nothing better than something for children, when we know we can do better? The story requires some background; I begin with the term, ‘kinship care.’ It’s [...]

By |2024-07-03T11:37:11-04:00June 27th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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