Contact:
Mara Powell
502-895-8167 *122
mpowell@kyyouth.org

Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

HB 527, which prioritizes the educational stability of children who have experienced abuse or neglect, passed the Kentucky House on consent orders today.

When a child is removed from their home due to abuse or neglect, they face a number of transitions, including a new home and a new caregiver. A child’s removal from his or her home can be traumatic and we should do everything possible to maintain positive ties in a child’s life. Knowing for some kids that school is the most stable part of their life, we need to place a priority on that stability, which is emphasized in HB 527. When appropriate, allowing kids to stay in their current school will minimize the loss of important learning time, and even more important, encourage a consistency in relationships built at the school when so many other facets of life are changing. When a child must move schools because of the abuse or neglect they’ve experienced, we need to make the transition to a new school as smooth as possible with swift enrollment and transfer of records.

We applaud Representative Steve Riley for sponsoring HB 527 and we thank members of the House of Representatives for their continued commitment to supporting children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect.

Stay up-to-date on Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities and other bills that are good for kids on our Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker.