True Up is Joining Kentucky Youth Advocates to Maximize Impact on Older Youth in Foster Care
CONTACT: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky Youth Advocates and True Up are pleased to announce a formal partnership between the two organizations. As of April 1, 2021, True Up is officially an affiliated initiative of Kentucky Youth Advocates. True Up Executive Director Nikki Thornton has joined Kentucky Youth Advocates’ team with the intent to expand on True Up’s successful track record of engaging, empowering, and connecting young people ages 16 and older who are currently in or have transitioned out of foster care. "Since our founding in 2011, True Up's mission has been to focus and connect people to ensure [...]
Statement on Facebook’s Plan to Create an Instagram for Kids
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Mental health, cyber bullying, and safety online are among the top concerns for families, schools, law enforcement, and child advocates prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and especially now as our kids must navigate the virtual world more regularly. With the announcement from Facebook to launch an Instagram for kids, those concerns will amplify for many. When used properly, social media can provide children and families with positive social networks and opportunities for learning. Yet, it can also bring risks such as sleep issues, [...]
Statement on Final Budget Passage by the Kentucky General Assembly
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – From the start, the 2021 state budget process was filled with perplexing complexities. One, because the Governor and Kentucky General Assembly were tasked with crafting a continuation budget due to timing constraints brought on by the pandemic during the 2020 legislative session. Two, leaders were faced with tough decisions as Kentucky embraces the ongoing ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as how to appropriately utilize federal relief funds coming to the commonwealth. And three, understanding that as a commonwealth we [...]
Study Reveals Gaps in Behavioral Health Services for Louisville’s Vulnerable Youth
Study Reveals Gaps in Behavioral Health Services for Louisville’s Vulnerable Youth Kentucky Youth Advocates and Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Lead Collaborative Effort to Identify Solutions and Address Barriers CONTACT: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky Youth Advocates, in partnership with the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence, conducted 10 virtual focus groups and disseminated an online survey to learn more about behavioral health supports and services available to youth in Louisville, along with gaps in services and proposed solutions to close those gaps. "The Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence is dedicated to improving the health of our adolescent [...]
Statement on the Governor Signing Senate Bill 84 Into Law
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – With passage of Senate Bill 133 of 2018, the Kentucky General Assembly became the first state in the country to pass the “Dignity Bill,” a piece of legislation specifically tailored toward improving conditions for women who are incarcerated. This year, the legislature re-emphasized their commitment to the issue by unanimously supporting passage of Senate Bill 84, known as the “Dignity Bill 2.0,” sponsored by Senator Julie Raque Adams. And today we join Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children partners in celebrating as Governor Andy Beshear signs the measure into law. SB 84 supports the health and [...]
Statement on Passage of Senate Bill 148 by the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – With final passage by the Kentucky House of Representatives, Senate Bill 148 advances closer to becoming law today – good news for families, communities, and the economy. SB 148, sponsored by Senator Danny Carroll, is an important step to strengthen options for families seeking regulated home-based family child care in their community, especially as families across the commonwealth face child care deserts. Even prior to the pandemic, over one in 10 parents quit a job, did not take a job, or greatly changed their job due to problems with accessing child care. By beginning to simplify the planning and zoning process for home-based family child care, providers can offer a regulated child care option for to up to six unrelated children in their community while meeting state health and [...]
Statement on Final Passage of Senate Bill 128 by the Kentucky General Assembly
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – If kids are to be served well in a post-COVID world, it is incumbent on us all to be inventive and creative in supporting them. When it comes to schools, that means that we simply cannot go back to business as usual. A thoughtful example of doing things differently on behalf of children is Senate Bill 128, championed by Senator Max Wise, chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 128, which has now passed the Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives and [...]
Statement on Passage of Senate Bill 36 by the Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Today’s passage of Senate Bill 36, via another bill, by the Kentucky House advances the commonwealth one step closer to a more effective and equitable juvenile justice system. SB 36, sponsored by Senator Whitney Westerfield, seeks to expand court discretion when determining the transfer of youth to adult court for certain offenses – a pragmatic move that will allow for speedier trials, more cost-effective and developmentally appropriate responses, and better access to rehabilitative supports and services for young people who get in trouble. [...]
Statement on Passage of House Bill 472 by the Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – In the closing days of the 2021 legislative session, the Kentucky Senate ensured final passage of an important bill for survivors of child sexual abuse, House Bill 472. “According to data from the latest national Child Maltreatment Report, there were more than 20,000 child maltreatment victims in Kentucky in 2019, the highest rate in the country. One child harmed is one child too many,” said Keith Inman, president of Kosair Charities, which founded and supports the Face It Movement. “Shame and fear can keep individuals from sharing about their abuse, [...]
Statement on Passage of House Bill 472 by the Senate Judiciary Committee
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – The 2021 Kentucky General Assembly is taking important action for kids in its final days. Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee ensured passage of House Bill 472, a measure to support survivors of child sexual abuse. “The research tells us that only 38 percent of children who have experienced sexual abuse disclose that abuse. House Bill 472 is an important piece of legislation that will help the voices of survivors of child sexual abuse be heard and their perpetrator held accountable, while understanding that there are complex reasons for delayed [...]