Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on Final Passage of HB 11
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Tobacco conversations in Kentucky are complex and bring lots of pressures on our elected leaders, and that is why House Bill 11 is such a profound win for Kentucky’s kids. We’re hearing cheers across the Commonwealth as it clears its final hurdle of the 2019 legislative session. HB 11 establishes a statewide tobacco-free school campus policy, and that is a common sense and common ground move ahead for the health of Kentucky’s kids. HB 11 carries special impact because of the boom in [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 2 Passing Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, the Kentucky Senate unanimously supported House Bill 2 to affirm the critical role that thousands of grandparents and other relatives serve as they step up to care for children who cannot remain safely with their parents. As HB 2 heads to the Governor's desk for signature, it should serve as the launch pad needed to ensure a quality infrastructure around the Commonwealth's rich tapestry of Kentucky's kinship caregiver heroes. And by establishing the much needed reporting mechanism, HB 2 can help us [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 11 Passing Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kids win when their leaders prioritize them, and the Senate Health and Welfare Committee did just that today with their passage of House Bill 11. With more and more Kentucky middle and high school students using tobacco products like e-cigarettes, a statewide tobacco-free school campus policy is the step in the right direction to protect the next generation from the harms of tobacco and nicotine. Prohibiting tobacco use creates an environment where smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes is not the norm, reduces teen tobacco [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 11 Passing Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky is one step closer to making a profound and positive difference for kids’ health with the House’s passage of House Bill 11, championed by Representative Kim Moser. Currently, only 42 percent of Kentucky public school districts have adopted tobacco-free policies. And all of our students deserve to learn and grow in a healthy school environment. The peak years for first trying tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are 6th and 7th grades; these are young kids who are getting hooked on the nicotine in [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 158 Passing Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates House Bill 158, which received unanimous support by the Kentucky Senate and was concurred by the Kentucky House today, is the commonwealth’s first step to ensuring state law is aligned with the comprehensive federal Family First Prevention Services Act. Kids thrive when they are safe and have the support of a stable family and strong community. And off the heels of last year’s House Bill 1 child welfare reforms and state budget investments, the Family First Act offers the commonwealth a prime opportunity [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 2 Passing Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates House Bill 2 is an important affirmation of the thousands of grandparents and other relatives stepping up to care for children who cannot remain safely with their parents. Children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect do better when they are placed with relatives as they experience less trauma when separated from parents, less disruption to their education, and fewer behavioral issues. While HB 2 is a clear win for these relative caregiver heroes, it is also a reminder of how much more Kentucky needs [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 218 Passing Kentucky Senate
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates The passage of Senate Bill 218 is a moment that deserves recognition for elevating a growing issue impacting too many Kentucky kids and to push our elected leaders to seize common-sense opportunities that invite their action to protect our young people. Certainly, the good news is that Senator Brandon Smith’s leadership has animated the conversation around preventing youth from getting hooked on nicotine. SB 218 begins to address the rising epidemic of kids’ use of e-cigarettes, and that is a beginning step around [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 1 Passing Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates With today’s sound of the gavel in the Kentucky House on Senate Bill 1, legislators across the aisle and chambers confirmed their commitment to increasing students’ safety in the commonwealth. With the leadership of Senator Max Wise and Representative John Carney, SB 1 takes a multi-faceted approach to ensure every Kentucky student is safe and supported in their school building, including addressing student behavioral health needs. The School Safety Working Group and the Kentucky Senate and House approached the complex and urgent issue [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 2 Passing Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates By all accounts, a real asset in Kentucky are the thousands of kinship caregivers who are stepping up for children who cannot remain safely with their parents. We know that children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect do better when they are placed with relatives as they experience less trauma when separated from parents, less disruption to their education, and fewer behavioral issues. And supporting our caregivers ensures our children have every opportunity for success. Yesterday, the Kentucky House demonstrated its commitment to supporting [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 158 Passing Senate Health and Welfare Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Our state leaders understand that kids thrive when they are safe and have the support of a family. And they continue to demonstrate that commitment by overwhelmingly supporting House Bill 158, championed by Representative David Meade, which passed the Senate Health and Welfare Committee today. HB 158 is Kentucky’s first step to ensuring state law is aligned with the comprehensive federal legislation, Family First Prevention Services Act. Off the heels of last year’s House Bill 1 child welfare reforms and state budget investments, [...]