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Keeping Families Together: The Case for Preventive Legal Services in Child Welfare

When families come into contact with the child welfare system, it is often because they are navigating challenges that could have been addressed earlier with the right support.  Preventive legal services, specifically pre-petition legal representation, are designed to provide that support before a court case is ever filed. These services help families resolve legal issues related to housing, custody, public benefits, and other concerns that are sometimes mistaken for neglect before a dependency petition is [...]

By |2025-04-24T19:50:15-04:00April 24th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission Awards Funds for Prevention and Recovery

KYA staff attended the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission announcement on March 27th in Louisville. At the end of March, the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission approved more than $19.8 million in new funding across the Commonwealth – investments that reflect a powerful alignment between values and action in Kentucky’s ongoing response to the opioid epidemic.  This latest cycle included two core funding opportunities: one focused on prevention efforts and the other on [...]

By |2025-04-25T10:09:03-04:00April 21st, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|
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Safe Storage Saves Lives: Investing Opioid Settlement Funds in Prevention

By Peyton Walker, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates In Kentucky, far too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to an accidental overdose. As the opioid epidemic continues to impact communities across the Commonwealth, prevention remains a critical tool in protecting children and families.  According to the 2024 Annual Report by the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, the rate of fatal pediatric ingestions/overdoses has risen steadily over the past five years, [...]

By |2025-04-17T14:23:06-04:00April 17th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|
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Creating Hope and Change: Reflections for Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky

By Theda Simpson-Mosby, member of KY SEAT Child Abuse Prevention Month is a time for reflection, advocacy, and an urgent call to action to protect our families and communities. For me, this month holds profound personal significance. As a mother, advocate, and member of the Kentucky Statewide Birth Parent Advisory Council (KY SEAT), my journey through the complexities of the Child Welfare System has shaped my commitment to fostering change and providing hope for families [...]

By |2025-04-15T17:07:46-04:00April 15th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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KYGA25 Reflections: Wins, Missed Opportunities, and Head Scratchers

As we enter April and we look forward to warmer days, Kentucky Youth Advocates is reflecting on another legislative session in the Commonwealth – one that brought wins, missed opportunities, and some puzzling moments for Kentucky kids. Review the recap of the 2025 state legislative session and final status of Blueprint for Kentucky's Children priorities below and check out ways you can still take action for kids.  2025 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children State Policy Wins [...]

By |2025-04-01T16:27:12-04:00April 1st, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice|
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The Basics: Child Welfare System Legal Representation in Kentucky

The legal system can often feel like a giant maze, filled with confusing language, unclear pathways, and intimidating rooms. Imagine being a kid introduced to the courts system for the first time at the age of three, or five or even fifteen, not really knowing what to expect.  We're breaking down what legal representation looks like within Kentucky's child welfare system and beyond for children and families, including the benefits, who provides it, what [...]

By |2025-03-26T17:40:57-04:00March 26th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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“Being Seen, Heard, and Respected” at Children’s Advocacy Day 2025

By Tyler Hunter Hey there fellow Kentuckians! As a former foster care alumni, I find it highly important to support, attend, and participate in Children’s Advocacy Day (CAD) and the events surrounding the week. For the past seven years, I have had the opportunity to attend the CAD rally in our Capitol Rotunda. The moment I step foot into the rotunda, I immediately experience being seen, heard, and respected. These people are in attendance for [...]

By |2025-03-20T16:20:21-04:00March 20th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Children’s Advocacy Week 2025 Reflections from Youth

Imagine the halls of Kentucky’s Capitol buzzing with the energy of hundreds of young voices all united for a single purpose. On March 5th, 2025, Frankfort witnessed this powerful scene as young advocates from across the Commonwealth convened for Kentucky Youth Advocates’ annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol – their participation throughout Children’s Advocacy Week 2025. However, the excitement didn’t start there. On the eve of Children’s Advocacy Day, we hosted a retreat [...]

By |2025-03-21T11:02:53-04:00March 20th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Statement on Passage of Legislation to Address Educator Sexual Misconduct by the Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Once concurred in the Kentucky House, legislation to address educator misconduct in the Commonwealth will finally be headed to the Governor’s desk for signature. By way of House Bill 298, the included provisions of House Bill 36 will reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation in schools – outlining commonsense steps to increase the safety of [...]

By |2025-03-13T16:25:32-04:00March 13th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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Statement on Passage of Legislation to Address Educator Sexual Misconduct

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With just a few days left in the 2025 state legislative session, we appreciate Representative James Tipton’s laser-like attention on achieving passage of his longstanding commitment to addressing educator sexual misconduct in the Commonwealth. We’re celebrating as House Bill 36, adopted as a committee substitute of House Bill 298, was unanimously supported by the Senate Education Committee [...]

By |2025-03-10T16:51:37-04:00March 10th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|
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