Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on CHFS Leadership Announcement
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Today, the Governor named Adam Meier as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) and Kristi Putnam as a Deputy Secretary. As the Cabinet that most impacts the lives of Kentucky children and families, CHFS leadership plays a critical role in protecting children from abuse and neglect, promoting health and access to health care, and connecting families to services to meet basic needs. Kentucky families and children are counting on the Secretary to engage families and stakeholders impacted by CHFS [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on State Intervention and Local Control of Jefferson County Public Schools
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Can we find a way for the state to intervene to help kids and address the recent audit of Jefferson County Public Schools while preserving local control of schools? I can definitively say the answer is yes. I have learned a lot about how people perceive the Kentucky Department of Education’s action around the Jefferson County Public Schools over the last two weeks. Our role at Kentucky Youth Advocates is always to be the independent voice for Kentucky’s kids. That means we always [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on State Takeover of Jefferson County Public Schools
Contact: Mara Powell 859-496-5524 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Many of the conclusions reached by the state audit are incontrovertible. Inefficiencies in administration and lack of student achievement – especially amongst vulnerable populations – are undeniable. The most significant reality that the audit recognizes is that Marty Pollio is not like recent superintendents. Dr. Pollio brings leadership; exudes a laser focus on kids; and has galvanized the community within and without JCPS with hope that has been absent for more than two decades. I am pleased that the audit seemingly recognizes that there has been a [...]
Kentucky Youth Advocates Hosts Cheers for Children 2018 Celebration
Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org (o) 502-895-8167 *122 (c) 859-496-5524 LOUISVILLE, KY – This evening, Kentucky Youth Advocates will host the Cheers for Children 2018 Celebration, presented by Kosair Charities®, to celebrate progress for kids during this year’s legislative session and to honor community advocates who helped make that progress happen. In the 2018 legislative session, four Kentucky Youth Advocates and Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priority bills were passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. House Bill 1 will keep Kentucky kids safe and improve how the commonwealth responds to child abuse and supports families. House Bill 527 will support the educational [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on KY House and Senate Passing the Budget
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates In the best of times, crafting a budget is a complicated and difficult challenge. In these times of fiscal constraints, growing needs, and a less than certain economic future, crafting a budget is about making the toughest of decisions. As we think about the proposed budget and Kentucky’s kids, and given the tight budget constraints, it is important to highlight the wins. There is no question that Kentucky’s most vulnerable kids won with this budget. The budget puts real money behind child welfare [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 1 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 took decisive action to fundamentally reform Kentucky’s adoption and foster care system, protecting kids and ensuring families are safe and supported, with passage of House Bill 1. If there is an arena that historically has been marked by more rhetoric than action, it is around the child welfare system. HB 1 will fundamentally change the landscape for Kentucky’s most vulnerable young people. That is why we applaud co-sponsors Representative David Meade and Representative Joni Jenkins for their diligent work [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on HB 527 Passing Kentucky Senate
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 best interests are prioritized—and our leaders in Frankfort have exemplified just that with their overwhelming and bipartisan support of House Bill 527, championed by Representative Steve Riley. We applaud the Kentucky Senate for unanimously supporting HB 527 and Senator Dan Seum for his leadership on this issue, which promotes the educational stability of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. When a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, they face a number of transitions, [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 137 Passing Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Children rely on the adults in their lives to keep them safe. A bill to allow information that a child shares with a trustworthy adult to be considered for testimony in court moved one step closer to being signed into law today with its passage in the full Kentucky House. We applaud the Kentucky House for their continued commitment to protecting children with the passage of Senate Bill 137. While a child may be comfortable disclosing abuse to a teacher or coach, some [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 133 Passing Kentucky House
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates All children deserve a strong start in life, and Senate Bill 133, championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams, makes the health of Kentucky kids a priority even before birth. We applaud the Kentucky House for prioritizing the future health, safety, and overall well-being of the unborn children affected by substance use by supporting pregnant inmates seeking treatment with passage of SB 133 today. Seventy-one percent of women in custody have children and we cannot think about parental incarceration without acknowledging the shared sentence [...]
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks on SB 137 Passing House Judiciary Committee
Contact: Mara Powell 502-895-8167 *122 mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates When adults are held accountable in the court system, we keep kids safer now from abuse and prevent future abuse from occurring. We applaud the House Judiciary Committee for passing Senate Bill 137, which addresses abuse and protects future victims by giving judges the option to allow testimony from a trustworthy adult to whom a child has disclosed abuse. While a child may be comfortable disclosing abuse to a teacher or coach, recalling the abuse throughout the court process could bring back fear [...]