The 11th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day is only one week away. Will you be there next Thursday, February 5th? Hundreds of youth and adults from across the Commonwealth will attend Children’s Advocacy Day to encourage their legislators to step up for kids in 2015. By going to Frankfort on February 5th, you will be one of those advocates for Kentucky’s children. Whether you are a young person or an adult, your voice matters. Whether you [...]
Happy New Year from Kentucky Youth Advocates! The 2015 Kentucky General Assembly kicked off this week. We hope you will join us in advocating for Kentucky children during this legislative session. There are many ways you can be involved: Attend Children's Advocacy Day on February 5 in Frankfort Contact your legislators Take Action Stay informed by signing up to receive news and action alerts from Kentucky Youth Advocates, visiting the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children website, liking [...]
A year and a half ago, the Annie E. Casey Foundation – the creator of the national KIDS COUNT project – unveiled a new and improved online Data Center to house the thousands of indicators of child and family well-being they, and their KIDS COUNT groups across the states (like Kentucky Youth Advocates), collect and make available for policymakers, service providers, researchers, and child advocates like you. Figuring out how to use the new Data Center is well worth [...]
February may sound far away as we wrap up 2014, but the legislative session and Children's Advocacy Day are coming up soon. More than 600 youth and adults attended Children's Advocacy Day in 2014, and we need you to help pack the rotunda in 2015! The day will include a rally, Blueprint for Kentucky's Children information sessions, meetings with legislators, and a KIDS COUNT ceremony. Learn more about the event and setting up meetings with legislators on [...]
Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to pause during the frantic holiday shopping season and make a gift to your community. We at Kentucky Youth Advocates set a big goal in anticipation of a big year--$2015 for Kentucky kids in 2015. Your support of Kentucky Youth Advocates helps Kentucky's most valuable, vulnerable, and joyful gifts--our children--thrive throughout the year. Because of your contributions, we met our Giving Tuesday goal of $2015! Giving Tuesday proved what we already knew: [...]
Dear Friends, As you begin your holiday shopping, please remember the greatest gift we have in Kentucky: our children. No gift under the tree will be more valuable, vulnerable, or joyful. Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to invest in children across Kentucky and ensure that they are safe, healthy, and secure far beyond the holiday season. Your contributions make it possible for Kentucky Youth Advocates to assist families when they don't know where else to turn, [...]
The 2015 legislative session is almost here. Do you feel prepared to advocate for Kentucky's children beginning on January 6th? If you want to equip yourself with the knowledge and tools you need to help children have a voice in Frankfort, attend a Step Up for Kids regional conference! Child advocates and policymakers are gathering across Kentucky to learn about the 2015 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children Agenda and prepare for the Annual Children’s Advocacy Day at [...]
November mornings in Kentucky are as divisive as a UK/UL basketball game. On one day, as dawn breaks and the sun glistens effortlessly across the dew soaked bluegrass, you are reminded of the subtle beauty of life’s simple pleasures. Meanwhile, on the very next day, as the crisp air whirls dead leaves amidst a dense dreary haze, you instantly regret leaving the comforts of a warm bed. Regardless of what type of morning it is [...]
A critical component of Kentucky’s recent juvenile justice reforms – the implementation of Family Accountability, Intervention and Response (FAIR) teams – got underway this month when Christian County’s FAIR team met on October 16th and began hearing cases. The FAIR teams were created in SB 200 with the intent to frontload services to youth in need and their families to help them get back on track in school and not end up in the court [...]
Why do people love fall so much? The changing leaves. Pumpkin flavored everything. Chilly air. And for me, time to pull out those scarves and boots. I’ve often wondered what the appeal of fall is and my best conclusion is that it brings a sense of change and hope. For us at Kentucky Youth Advocates, fall is a season where we start to prepare for the Kentucky legislative session that begins in January. We release [...]
