Statement on Passage of HB 275 by the House Education Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky students deserve safe environments in which to learn that are free from abuse, with appropriate adults, and that promote their well-being. Today, the House Education Committee reaffirmed their commitment to that imperative with passage of House Bill 275, championed by Chairman James Tipton. HB 275 mandates that public schools, charter schools, and certified nonpublic schools cannot enter into nondisclosure agreements regarding misconduct involving minors or students. It also introduces the definition of abusive conduct and requires rigorous background and reference checks [...]
Statement on the Kentucky House 2024 State Budget Proposal
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As is the case in every proposed budget, there is much to celebrate and also issues of deep concern when it comes to the Kentucky House 2024 State Budget proposal. This budget certainly places a priority on infrastructure issues like bridges, roads, and water supply, and who can argue with any of those commitments? However, this budget proposal ignores the most important infrastructure in the Commonwealth – child care. While the Child Care Assistance Program reimbursement rate for centers is maintained in [...]
While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood
Contact: Mara Powell | mpowell@kyyouth.org | 502-895-8167 *122 While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood 2024 Race for Results Report Identifies Gaps in Child Well-Being That Persist Across Race and Ethnicity, Caused by Policy Choices That Shortchange Young People LOUISVILLE, KY — Despite improved outcomes for many key measures, Kentucky children, especially kids of color, still face too many barriers to reaching essential milestones of well-being, according to Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2024 Race for Results report. However, those results are in the context of a nationwide failure to equip all [...]
Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2024 State Budget Address
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – It’s become almost a cliché and yet it is very true. A budget is really not about dollars and cents but rather a profound statement of values and priorities. So, what can we learn about Governor Beshear’s vision for Kentucky’s kids in his second term from tonight’s state budget address? First, tonight’s budget proposal underscores what we already knew – this Administration places a high and principled value on bettering the lives of children in the Commonwealth. And that value is shown [...]
Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2024 State Policy and Budget Priorities Agenda
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth released the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2024 priority agenda. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. 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. This year, the Blueprint’s policy priorities focus on various gaps and challenges in the lives of the Commonwealth’s [...]
2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Investing in the “Kid Workforce”
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Investing in the “Kid Workforce” Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child well-being Louisville, KY – The 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. Detailed data are available for every Kentucky county at www.kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/. “As Governor Beshear enters his second term and the General [...]
New Report – Fostering Connections: Actions Needed to Prevent Homelessness Among Foster Care Alumni
New Report – Fostering Connections: Actions Needed to Prevent Homelessness Among Foster Care Alumni Featuring Findings from Interviews and Surveys with Young Adults with Lived Experience and Recommendations LOUISVILLE, KY – Whether they exit care through adoption, family reunification, or aging out, foster care alumni are at higher risk of experiencing homelessness as a young adult. According to recent data, approximately one in three young adults who leave foster care in Kentucky will experience housing insecurity as a young adult. The Fostering Connections: Actions Needed to Prevent Homelessness Among Foster Care Alumni report, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, examines [...]
Statement on Re-establishment of Statewide Kentucky Caregiver Program
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Thousands of Kentucky grandparents have stepped up and continue to show up for their grandchildren in need of a safe home every day. Today, Governor Beshear’s announcement regarding the statewide expansion of the Kentucky Caregiver Program is one way the commonwealth can step up for these grandparent heroes. After budget cuts limited the reach of this program, Kentucky Youth Advocates is glad to hear the prioritization of federal funds to support the re-establishment of the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program in every region [...]
Kentucky Ranks 40th in Child Well-Being While Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Deeply Impacts Families and Economy
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 502-895-8167 X122 Kentucky Ranks 40th in Child Well-Being While Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Deeply Impacts Families and Economy Data Show Child Care Challenges Caused Over 1 in 9 Kentucky Parents to Miss, Quit, or Scale Back Work, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Finds LOUISVILLE, KY — Kentucky ranks 40th in child well-being, according to the 2023 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring. The report also explores how the lack of affordable and accessible child care short-changes children [...]
Too Many Kentucky Young People Exit Foster Care Without Permanent Families and Unprepared to Thrive on Their Own
Too Many Kentucky Young People Exit Foster Care Without Permanent Families and Unprepared to Thrive on Their Own Fostering Youth Transitions 2023 Urges Improvements to Extended Foster Care Transition LOUISVILLE, KY – Permanent families and supportive adult connections, stable housing, and postsecondary education remain beyond the reach of too many young people with foster care experience, according to Fostering Youth Transitions 2023: State and National Data to Drive Foster Care Advocacy, a data brief released this week by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. While the share of Kentucky youth aged 14 years and older in foster care has decreased since 2006, [...]