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Building Relationships to Build Up Supports for Families

Parental incarceration can feel like such a heavy topic, knowing the impact it can have on a child, the struggles for parents at home to manage alone, and the stigma that often comes with having a loved one incarcerated. However, the recent convening in Frankfort – Keeping Families Connected: Jail Visits and Communication Action Planning – was a space of hope and connection around a shared vision for doing better in our state. On May [...]

By |2024-06-06T10:50:12-04:00June 6th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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KYGA24: A Look at Implications for Juvenile Justice

We’ve all heard different things about juvenile crime: that it’s on the rise (at best) or completely out of control (at worst), that teens today are more inherently prone to violence than any other generation in memory, or that the legal system is failing to hold them accountable. Combine that with around-the-clock accessibility to some of the worst images, videos, and headlines of violent incidents and it can be challenging for any of us to [...]

By |2024-05-23T12:36:40-04:00May 23rd, 2024|Blog, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Statement on the Justice Department’s Investigation into Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Call it a system failure. Call it a crisis. Call it a hot mess. Call it what you want but Kentucky’s juvenile justice system is failing kids and community safety every day. Kentucky’s leaders have abrogated their leadership responsibilities in this crucial arena so today’s announcement that the Justice Department is opening a statewide investigation into Kentucky’s [...]

By |2024-05-15T17:40:31-04:00May 15th, 2024|News Room, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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OP-ED: Kentucky General Assembly fumbles opportunities to help kids

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Kentucky Lantern on April 30, 2024. By Dr. Terry Brooks It’s Spring 2024 in the Bluegrass State. And if I am writing about sports, I should be focused on new basketball coaches and the Derby and the PGA Championship at Valhalla. But as I reflect on the 2024 General Assembly, my mind drifts to football and the 1938 Chicago Bears. That was the team which still holds the [...]

By |2024-04-30T11:47:02-04:00April 30th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Deep Dive into the 2024 State Budget & the Impact on Kentucky Kids

The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future for Kentucky. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. Learn more about the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY.  Facing a budget session, the 2024 General Assembly was [...]

By |2024-04-18T16:50:37-04:00April 18th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Celebrating and Empowering Social Workers

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  March is National Social Work Month, and this year the theme is Empowering Social Workers. The theme of this month highlights the need for higher compensation and support for the high-demand roles that social workers engage in. This month is used as a way to celebrate the contributions that social workers are making to individuals, families, and communities. It is a time to support the ongoing work [...]

By |2024-03-28T14:16:04-04:00March 28th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Understanding Chronic Absenteeism vs. Truancy and Best Practices to Address It

Understanding the nuances between chronic absenteeism and truancy is essential for educators, policymakers, and communities to enhance student engagement and success. Both of these terms often get conflated, yet they describe different patterns of absence with distinct implications for how schools may address absenteeism.  For this reason, it’s important to know these differences, understand and use accurate data when describing these terms, and recognize that addressing absenteeism is a multifaceted issue that can be addressed [...]

By |2024-03-21T12:36:00-04:00March 21st, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Youth Justice|
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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. [...]

By |2024-03-13T19:59:27-04:00March 13th, 2024|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|
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Deep Dive on Senate Bill 2 & Its School Safety Measures

Senate Bill 2 of 2024, sponsored by Senator Max Wise, is what can be considered a continuation of the work he championed with the late Representative John “Bam” Carney in 2019 with the Kentucky School Safety and Resiliency Act. The work catalyzed by the tragedy at Marshall County High School in January 2018.  The challenges of ensuring the physical and emotional security for both our students and educational staff call for innovative and comprehensive solutions.  [...]

By |2024-03-13T11:59:18-04:00March 13th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Statement on Passage of HB 11 by the House Health Services Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Mallory Jones testifying on HB 11 in Frankfort LOUISVILLE, KY – “It is an adult responsibility to protect kids from the harmful effects of nicotine and keep harmful vaping products out of the hands of me and my peers. I live in a smaller town, and I am aware of multiple different places where my peers can purchase [...]

By |2024-03-08T11:44:37-05:00March 7th, 2024|Education, Health, News Room, Youth Justice|
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