Statement on Passage of SB 48 by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky continues to make strides in the ways in which we address child maltreatment reports and investigations to better serve the kids and families impacted. The Kentucky Senate once again demonstrated that commitment with passage of Senate Bill 48. SB 48, sponsored by Senator Stephen Meredith, aims to improve transparency and functioning of the Ombudsman’s Office, among several [...]

By |2023-02-23T10:08:04-05:00February 23rd, 2023|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

Kentucky’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel 2022 Report

Kentucky’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel released their 2022 Annual Child Fatality Report, which consists of a comprehensive review of every child death and near death within the 2021 fiscal year referred to the panel by the Department for Community Based Services and Department for Public Health. This panel is required by state law to meet throughout the year to review each child’s case and make recommendations to prevent future incidents. This [...]

By |2023-02-22T10:48:21-05:00February 22nd, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|

Statement on Passage of HB 21 by the House Transportation Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – An ID is necessary to drive a car, get a job, open a bank account, apply for government benefits, sign a lease, qualify for a loan, pick up a prescription, and even access homeless shelters. Yet, young people experiencing homelessness face challenges to obtaining this form of identification, such as parental consent requirements. House Bill 21, sponsored [...]

Statement on Approval of Updated KTAP Regulations by the Kentucky General Assembly

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kinship families across the Commonwealth are giving three cheers for the approval of the updated KTAP regulations, which boost supports for the first time in decades. The Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP) is a vital support that helps Kentucky families in deep poverty and kinship caregivers overcome barriers to employment, such as a lack of training or [...]

Celebrating the 2023 Champions for Children

Elected leaders and advocates step up for Kentucky kids in countless ways every day, especially in Frankfort throughout the legislative session. During Children’s Advocacy Week, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners in the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children present Champion for Children awards to honor those state leaders, advocates, and young people for their efforts. At this year’s Rally for Kentucky Kids, we honored the following community leaders and young people with Champion for Children awards for their advocacy [...]

Statement on Passage of SB 48 by the Senate Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The child welfare system, and specifically the process of substantiation of abuse and neglect, is complex, involves multiple departments, and can be subjective. When people feel the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) did not take appropriate steps or make the right decisions in child abuse cases, they may contact the Ombudsman’s office to file a complaint. [...]

By |2023-02-14T10:09:07-05:00February 14th, 2023|Child Welfare & Safety, Health, News Room|

Statement on the Latest National Child Maltreatment Report

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky’s future depends heavily on the success and safety of our kids today. Our communities, child-serving systems, and policies all play a role in that future. The just released Child Maltreatment 2021 report is a powerful affirmation of the Commonwealth's progress around child maltreatment and an equally powerful challenge to accelerate that momentum. Kentucky now ranks 6th [...]

By |2023-02-10T15:37:11-05:00February 10th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

“Your voices are the ones that matter. Your stories are the ones that need to be heard.”

Tamara Vest shared the following speech at the 2023 Children's Advocacy Week Rally for Kentucky Kids at the Capitol. It's not everyday that our citizens, representatives from the General Assembly, and our Governor are able to gather in the Capitol building to celebrate each other and call upon each other, and rely on one another to do the work that it takes to make the commonwealth a place where kids and families can be just [...]

By |2023-02-09T12:57:02-05:00February 9th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Governor Beshear and Senator Raque Adams Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Louisville, KY – Hundreds of youth advocates from across Kentucky are convening this week for Children’s Advocacy Week. They are urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified agenda for child advocates across the Commonwealth. Today, youth, state leaders, and advocates gathered in the Capitol Rotunda for the Rally for Kentucky Kids – the first in-person rally with child advocates since January 2020. “Each year, Children’s Advocacy Week is a time for youth, parents, social workers, [...]

Efforts to Improve Kentuckians’ Ability to Find Safe, Stable Housing

Kentucky kids and families need a safe, stable home in order to thrive. However, the rising cost and declining supply of housing has made it difficult for 43% of Kentucky renters to find safe, stable housing. For many of these families, a job loss or medical emergency could put them at risk for eviction or homelessness, seriously impacting their long term economic, food, and housing security. This is especially true for families of color, who [...]

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