As the days of the 2018 legislative session wind down, the one thing remaining at the top of mind in this budget session is the budget itself. The House of Representatives and the Senate have each passed a version of the budget, and now it sits with a conference committee as they work to iron out their differences, with the final version of the budget expected to be voted on in the coming days. A [...]
By Jennifer Hancock, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Mid-States When Emilee’s nine-month old son is restless or crying, he hears a familiar song. “Who built the ark? Noah did.” Noah likes to hear his name, so he usually smiles and calms down. That an adorable baby boy enjoys hearing a song with his name in it might not be so unusual. What makes this familiar song special is that it is often sung [...]
As House Bill 1 moves through the Kentucky legislature, we wanted to take a deeper look into the specifics of the bill and its components. HB 1, which is co-sponsored by Representatives David Meade and Joni Jenkins, seeks to keep kids safe and improve how Kentucky responds to and supports families. The bill is a big step toward getting us to a place where all the parts of the child welfare system and related policies [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates When adults are held accountable in the court system, we keep kids safer now from abuse and prevent future abuse from occurring. We applaud the House Judiciary Committee for passing Senate Bill 137, which addresses abuse and protects future victims by giving judges the option to allow testimony from a trustworthy adult to whom a child has disclosed [...]
As a practicing social worker and a supervisor to social work students, I take a lot of pride in the profession. Social workers play the role of researchers, advocates, mediators, therapists, brokers, and many, many more identities that involve empowering individuals and groups. As we consider the role social workers play in Kentucky, consider where you see social workers in action: schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, universities, and in the halls of our state [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates We applaud the Senate Health and Welfare Committee for unanimously passing HB 527, which prioritizes the educational stability of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. A child’s removal from his or her home can be traumatic and we commend Representative Steve Riley, Chair Julie Raque Adams and members of the committee, and the Cabinet for Health and Family [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Tough fiscal times demand more than tough decisions. Today, the Kentucky Senate made those tough decisions while passing the amended executive branch budget. Most notably, the Senate affirmed their commitment to Kentucky’s most vulnerable children. We applaud the Senate for maintaining investments in kinship families, as well as supports for children who've been impacted by abuse or neglect. [...]
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee took action to reform Kentucky’s adoption and foster care system, protecting kids and ensuring families are safe and supported, with passage of HB 1. We applaud co-sponsors Representative David Meade and Representative Joni Jenkins for their diligent work on this measure during the interim to gather input from stakeholders, including youth [...]
By Cortney Downs, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern What happens when children are exposed to potentially traumatizing events in their homes, schools, and communities? A growing body of research shows that exposure during the formative years can impact the trajectory of a child’s physical and emotional health well into adulthood. In a continued effort to raise awareness and encourage action, Child Trends recently released a report on the findings of the latest National Survey of Children’s Health specific [...]
By Carli Mosby, Kentucky Youth Advocates intern At the moment, our lawmakers are working hard to craft and pass a two-year state budget that would fund the state Cabinets that provide child protection, education, and health services. Governor Matt Bevin released his proposed budget during the State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address, and the Kentucky House passed their version of the executive branch budget earlier this month. The Kentucky Senate is now working on [...]
