Bloom KY

A Look at the Connection Between ACEs and Physical Health

A Look at the Connection Between ACEs and Physical Health

By Ellen Ward, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including trauma such as abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction, are widely recognized for their lasting effects on mental health. Not as obvious, however, is the physical toll ACEs take on the body, which is equally significant and long-lasting. Chronic stress stemming from childhood trauma can lead to a range of serious health issues. Traumatic experiences in childhood trigger a cascade of stress responses in [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2024-09-11T15:49:37-04:00September 11th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|

Planting Seeds for Youth Substance Use Prevention

Planting Seeds for Youth Substance Use Prevention

One of my favorite quotes is: "Legacy. What is a legacy? It's planting seeds in a garden you may never get to see." This particular iteration is from Hamilton, but you’ve likely encountered a variation of this quote either biblically or from someone in your life. This idea perfectly encapsulates the bold and forward-thinking action taken by Attorney General Russell Coleman in the recent meeting with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission. During the meeting, [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2024-09-11T13:58:12-04:00September 11th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|

An Update on the Housing Crisis and Call to Action for Young People

An Update on the Housing Crisis and Call to Action for Young People

In all 120 Kentucky counties, families are struggling to find affordable housing. In addition to being a frequently discussed topic in communities across the Commonwealth, the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children policy agenda prioritized the development of an interim joint legislative task force to focus on the state’s housing crisis. We are pleased that the legislature established the Kentucky Housing Task Force to study and review the current and future policy needs to address [...]

By Hannah McCarty|2024-09-11T13:07:48-04:00September 11th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|

Together We Bloom Summit: Cultivating Kentucky’s Future

Together We Bloom Summit: Cultivating Kentucky’s Future

MARK YOUR CALENDARS on May 7, 2025, as community leaders, policymakers, and advocates will gather at the Shelbyville Conference and Welcome Center in Shelbyville for the Together We Bloom Summit, hosted by Bloom Kentucky. This one-day event will focus on cultivating positive childhood experiences through both policy and systems change across the Commonwealth, offering a unique platform to explore new strategies for fostering resilience and mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Kentucky’s children. The [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2024-09-11T10:01:07-04:00September 10th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|

Sowing Seeds of Hope this Recovery Month

Sowing Seeds of Hope this Recovery Month

September is National Recovery Month, a time to acknowledge the challenges of substance use and celebrate the progress of those on their journey to recovery. For me, this month resonates deeply. Throughout my childhood and life, I’ve witnessed firsthand how substance use can profoundly affect a family. My family, like many others, knows this struggle all too well. For years, substance use has been heavily stigmatized. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, stigma is “a strong [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2024-09-09T16:24:25-04:00September 9th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Making Kids Count in the 2024 Election

Making Kids Count in the 2024 Election

Kids cannot vote, but you can ensure that their voices are heard by engaging with candidates in local, state, and federal elections and being an informed voter. The leaders we elect determine policies and budgets that will impact our daily lives for what may be generations to come. But how often do we pause to consider–specifically–how our choices at the ballot box will impact us, and particularly children who depend on us to make [...]

By Mara Powell|2024-10-14T10:47:51-04:00September 4th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Tackling America’s Health Crisis: The Urgent Need for ACEs Prevention

Tackling America’s Health Crisis: The Urgent Need for ACEs Prevention

Trust for America’s Health recently released their 2024 report, revealing a 142% increase in deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide from 2002 to 2022 in the United States. The report's findings are alarming, with 207,827 deaths in 2022 alone. While there was a small decline in alcohol-induced deaths, rates for drug overdoses and suicides remained steady, underscoring the ongoing crisis. Key Recommendation: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) One of the [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2024-08-21T14:43:25-04:00August 21st, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Save the Date: Children’s Advocacy Week 2025

Save the Date: Children’s Advocacy Week 2025

For more than 20 years, advocates for kids have gathered in Frankfort for Children’s Advocacy Day to fill the halls of the Capitol and ask their elected officials to step up for Kentucky kids. The critical mass of advocates in the Capitol building led to many policy wins and raising awareness of issues facing kids and their families. During Children’s Advocacy Week, we host a series of virtual events with more opportunities to [...]

By Mara Powell|2024-08-26T09:32:38-04:00August 20th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Energy Insecurity and the Impact on Families

Energy Insecurity and the Impact on Families

If your electric bill seems higher than usual this summer, you’re not alone. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association projects that the average U.S electric bill for the 2024 summer months will be 8% higher than last year. Households in Kentucky along with other Southeastern states are facing some of the highest electric bills in the country with the average household expected to spend around $774 on electricity from June through September. As temperatures rise [...]

By Hannah McCarty|2024-08-14T14:44:30-04:00August 14th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky|

Bloom KY Growing Hope: Spotlight on Hardin County’s Opioid Abatement Efforts

Bloom KY Growing Hope: Spotlight on Hardin County’s Opioid Abatement Efforts

Shana Norton, Deputy Coroner of Hardin County, is passionate about her community and is committed to making a difference. In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, we’re highlighting the incredible opioid abatement efforts in Hardin County (and the incredible people too!). Norton describes her role as “one piece of the larger puzzle” when talking about coming together to address the opioid epidemic in her community. Norton is part of an Overdose Fatality Review [...]

By Hannah Edelen|2024-08-08T10:23:31-04:00August 8th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Health|