New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Foster Youth
New Report – KYA and True Up Examine Education Outcomes of Kentucky Youth with Foster Care Experience Interactive report features key data on outcomes and barriers to success and offers policy recommendations Louisville, KY – Students with foster care experience bring unique strengths and perspectives to our classrooms; they also face trauma and systemic hurdles that can make the climb toward graduation and beyond more difficult. To support more informed, data-driven responses, Kentucky Youth Advocates and True Up are launching the Education Outcomes for Foster Youth in Kentucky Interactive Report. Released during National Foster Care Month, this new interactive report [...]
Op-Ed: The power of persistence in child abuse prevention — in wake of legislation, commitment is key
This op-ed was originally posted by the NKyTribune on April 27, 2026. By Shannon Moody and Barry Dunn "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” The Little Engine That Could taught many of us the power of persistence – not giving up when the going gets tough and maintaining a sense of hopefulness when all seems lost. That mantra, backed by the persistence of our community partners, helps the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement remain hopeful in our mission to prevent and end child abuse in Kentucky. Now with nearly 200 partners serving families and children in communities [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 6 by the Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care advocates are cheering as House Bill 6 passed the Kentucky Senate floor this afternoon. With the leadership of Representative Samara Heavrin, this robust legislation thoughtfully strengthens Kentucky’s child care infrastructure for the bottom line of families, businesses, and the state budget. Among its many components, HB 6 will impact accessibility, affordability, and availability of quality child care centers across the Commonwealth, especially among children with disabilities, families who are low income, and parents who currently work in centers. It addresses [...]
Statement on Passage of Child Safety Legislation to Address Grooming and Educator Sexual Misconduct
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – On the eve of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Kentucky General Assembly has taken critical action on two legislative priorities related to child safety and abuse prevention – House Bill 253, including provisions of House Bill 102, and House Bill 4 – both of which are now headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. First, by way of Representative James Tipton’s HB 253, the included provisions of HB 102 will reduce the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation in [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 686 by Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – On the heels of the rulings in other states this week that social media platforms are deliberately designed to be addictive, the Kentucky House overwhelmingly supported passage of House Bill 686 to promote the positive youth development and mental health of young people. The negative impacts of social media platforms is apparent to parents, educators, health professionals, lawmakers, and kids themselves, especially with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying and sextortion among Kentucky children and adolescents. HB 686 proactively establishes the Kentucky [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 338 by Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Alongside our partners in the Bloom Kentucky initiative, we’re celebrating as the House of Representatives unanimously supported Representative Susan Witten’s House Bill 338. This commonsense approach to promoting housing stability will ensure dismissed evictions are expunged and that no minor is named on an eviction filing. The potential impact of HB 338 is great as the average family facing eviction in Kentucky has at least one child in the household. Children in households facing eviction are at risk of educational disruptions, negative [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 338 by House Judiciary Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – When families have access to safe, stable housing, children can grow and thrive. Yet, families with children are two times more likely to face eviction than other households, often leading to long-term barriers to securing stable housing even if the case is dismissed. And sometimes those children are listed on eviction filings, damaging their housing record before they are even old enough to sign a lease. Through House Bill 338, Representative Susan Witten and her bipartisan cohort of co-sponsors seek to promote [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 6 by Senate Families & Children Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky’s economy counts on a strong child care workforce and availability of high quality child care for every child so parents can go to work knowing their child is safe, learning, and cared for. Yet, child care deserts and increasing waitlists are causing child care programs to operate at the highest adult-to-child ratios that the state will allow, which makes it more challenging for child care providers to protect the health and safety of the children in the classroom. Through House Bill 6, [...]
Statement on Auditor’s Report on Nontraditional Placements for Kentucky’s Foster Youth
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – State Auditor Allison Ball and Ombudsman Jonathan Grate once again exemplify how the Office of the Ombudsman can serve as a catalyst for change for some of Kentucky’s most vulnerable kids. In a report released today, decisionmakers and advocates can look deeper at the reality facing foster children in Nontraditional Placements (NTP) across the Commonwealth, such as Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) offices, state parks, and hotels. Clearly the report reminds us that Kentucky has a fractured system. In this thorough [...]
Statement on Passage of HB 686 by House Families & Children Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – It’s become increasingly obvious the toll social media has had on Kentucky adolescents with our young people facing increasing rates of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and sextortion. And that reality is apparent in the data – one in six Kentucky kids were diagnosed with depression or anxiety and nearly one in five Kentucky high school students seriously considered attempting suicide. The good news is Representative Kim Moser is taking a proactive approach to support youth mental health and expand suicide prevention efforts in [...]