Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

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

LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care programs offer working families a safe place for children to learn and grow and serve as a critical pillar of community economies. Recognizing the need to strengthen quality and access to affordable child care across Kentucky, Representative Samara Heavrin – along with numerous bipartisan co-sponsors – is championing House Bill 6 this session, and we’re celebrating its passage by the House Families & Children Committee today. 

Among many other components, HB 6 seeks to strengthen care for children with disabilities, to strengthen the structure of the Child Care Assistance Program, and to strengthen access to the proven CCAP Income Exclusion Program. 

As a priority of the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, requiring annual training for child care providers on strategies to support children with disabilities sets teachers up for successfully and safely caring for young children with special needs. All children, including those with disabilities, deserve to attend a child care program where they can learn and play surrounded by caring teachers and same-age peers. Yet, child care providers are less likely to enroll – and even three times more likely to expel – children with special needs or disabilities due to their typically more challenging behaviors and need for more individualized care. HB 6 addresses that head on by requiring three hours of providers’ annual training be focused on supporting children with disabilities, as well as allowing pediatric therapy specialists to offer onsite support to children. 

We are also celebrating as the Committee unanimously supported House Joint Resolution 50, which directs the Auditor’s Office to commission a study of child care and offer recommendations to further improve access and quality. 

Both measures recognize the urgent need to strengthen Kentucky’s child care infrastructure for the bottom line of families, businesses, and the state budget. Kentucky Youth Advocates joins the bevy of advocates, child care operators, business leaders, faith-based organizations, school administrators, and elected officials in thanking the Committee for their support of HB 6 and HJR 50 today and in urging the General Assembly to support full passage of both measures by the final gavel on April 15th.

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.

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About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky’s children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.