Bloom KY

Youth Voices Leading the Charge: Insights from Substance Use Prevention Focus Groups

Youth Voices Leading the Charge: Insights from Substance Use Prevention Focus Groups

Last fall, Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), through the Bloom Kentucky initiative, conducted six focus groups across the Commonwealth to elevate youth perspectives in shaping the Attorney General’s youth substance use prevention campaign, “Better Without It”. With participation from 70 middle and high school students, we engaged young people from Mayfield, Springfield, Louisville, Hazard, and Covington, while a virtual focus group connected youth from Shelby, Warren, Taylor, and Boyle Counties. These conversations—held both in-person and virtually—provided [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2025-03-13T16:03:10-04:00March 13th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|

Governor Beshear, House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol 2025

Governor Beshear, House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol 2025

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org FRANKFORT, KY – Hundreds of child advocates are convening this week for Children’s Advocacy Week, urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified policy agenda focused on creating brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and families. Today is Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, where community organizations, professionals who work with kids and families, and young people from across the Commonwealth gather in Frankfort to meet with their legislators, attend committee [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-03-04T20:33:42-05:00March 5th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Youth Justice|

Phoenix’s Story: The Impacts of Eviction in Childhood

Phoenix’s Story: The Impacts of Eviction in Childhood

By Phoenix Berry, member of the 2025 Housing Policy Ambassadors cohort The feeling of loss is something we all experience, whether that's losing an item, ourselves, or another. I first remember losing my housing when I was in elementary school. My family was evicted from our home due to a public nuisance violation after the police were called because my mother was attempting to flee her abusive partner. We lost everything from baby photos to [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-27T15:01:43-05:00February 27th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity|

Positive Childhood Experiences: Feeling a sense of belonging in high school

Positive Childhood Experiences: Feeling a sense of belonging in high school

Did you know that positive experiences in childhood can shape lifelong resilience and well-being? These moments, known as Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), create a strong foundation for emotional and social development. While Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) focus on difficulties and trauma, PCEs emphasize the relationships, environments, and opportunities that nurture a child’s growth. In the Bloom Kentucky blog series, we explore how fostering these positive experiences can support children across the Bluegrass. Today, we’re [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2025-02-26T17:09:57-05:00February 26th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|

Weathering the Storm: Adverse Climate Experiences and Resilience in Kentucky

Weathering the Storm: Adverse Climate Experiences and Resilience in Kentucky

Many moons ago, before I was born, and when my brother was just a little boy – the sky one day turned the color purple and in moments, the wind picked up and my family found themselves huddled under an old pick-up truck praying that the wind would subside. That day a tornado hit my home lane of Hillsboro and turned my family’s single-wide sideways. To this day, whenever the wind picks up, my father’s [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2025-02-18T15:30:51-05:00February 18th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Taliyah’s Story of Losing Child Care: Roadblocking Dreams and Missing Early Learning

Every parent wants a stable child care option to keep their kids safe and help them learn and grow. Taliyah's Story My world was turned upside down this summer when the daycare that my children attended told me that they could no longer serve my two-year-old son. The director explained that my son needed more one-on-one support and that the center was too short staffed to be able to provide the care he needed. I [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-13T14:14:43-05:00February 13th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|

A Look at the Family Preservation and Accountability Act

A Look at the Family Preservation and Accountability Act

Updated April 9, 2026 In 2025, the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and Bloom Kentucky‘s 2025 legislative priorities included the Family Preservation and Accountability Act. The proposed legislation would require courts to consider alternative sentences for parents of dependent children who committed low-level and nonviolent offenses. With the hard work of advocates and legislative champions, Senator Julie Raque Adams and Representative Nick Wilson, Senate Bill 122 successfully passed both chambers in 2026 and is expected to be signed into law by the Governor. On February [...]

By Cortney Downs|2026-04-22T14:44:06-04:00February 6th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice|

Children’s Advocacy Week 2025 — All You Need to Know!

Children’s Advocacy Week 2025 — All You Need to Know!

With the 2025 state legislative session well underway in Frankfort, it’s time to provide updates on Children’s Advocacy Week 2025! This significant week will take place from March 3rd to 7th, and our goal is to equip you with the schedule and reminders to effectively advocate for the children of Kentucky. This year, we will offer both in-person and virtual events. Below, you’ll find a schedule of events along with their registration links. Please note [...]

By Jami Garth|2025-02-06T15:37:37-05:00February 6th, 2025|Blog|

Positive Childhood Experiences: The enjoyment of participation in community traditions

Positive Childhood Experiences: The enjoyment of participation in community traditions

Did you know that creating positive experiences in childhood can lay the groundwork for lifelong resilience and well-being? These experiences are known as Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Unlike Adverse Childhood Experiences, PCEs highlight the nurturing moments, relationships, and environments that build a child’s strength and emotional health. In the Bloom Kentucky blog series, we explore how we can nurture these positive experiences to support children across the Bluegrass. Today’s spotlight is on the enjoyment [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-01-22T14:04:53-05:00January 22nd, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|

Bloom Kentucky Announces 2025 State Policy Priorities

Bloom Kentucky Announces 2025 State Policy Priorities

The Kentucky General Assembly gaveled in this snowy week for the 2025 Regular Legislative Session. While this year is a non-budget session, it presents critical opportunities to advance legislative items that can help mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and foster positive outcomes for families and children across the Commonwealth. Bloom Kentucky is a collaborative initiative of grantmaking organizations from across the Commonwealth focused on statewide policy changes and budget investments that aim to prevent and [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2025-01-08T10:18:01-05:00January 8th, 2025|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|