Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children – Kentucky Youth Advocates

New Efforts to Boost WIC Participation in Kentucky

New Efforts to Boost WIC Participation in Kentucky

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women’s, Infant, and Children (WIC) provides vital support for the food and nutrition security of pregnant women, new moms, babies, and young children by providing food assistance via an EBT card, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. While this support is critical for new parents and young children, the WIC program is out of date and does not reach everyone who is eligible. Kinship caregivers and Kentucky’s Latinx population face [...]

By Karena Cash|2023-05-25T21:43:43-04:00May 25th, 2023|Blog, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|

Sowing Resilience with Bloom Kentucky

Sowing Resilience with Bloom Kentucky

What does Bloom Kentucky and Mickey Mouse have in common this summer? They are both ALL EARS. As soon as the gavel fell for the 2023 state legislative session, Bloom Kentucky already had a plan to get advocates excited about 2024. Kentucky Youth Advocates and Bloom Kentucky want to hear from you! During May and June 2023, we’re hosting regionally-based listening sessions across the Commonwealth to bring local advocates and leaders together to identify strategies [...]

By Shannon Moody|2023-05-30T12:41:49-04:00May 10th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Too Many Kentucky Young People Exit Foster Care Without Permanent Families and Unprepared to Thrive on Their Own

Too Many Kentucky Young People Exit Foster Care Without Permanent Families and Unprepared to Thrive on Their Own

Too Many Kentucky Young People Exit Foster Care Without Permanent Families and Unprepared to Thrive on Their Own Fostering Youth Transitions 2023 Urges Improvements to Extended Foster Care Transition LOUISVILLE, KY – Permanent families and supportive adult connections, stable housing, and postsecondary education remain beyond the reach of too many young people with foster care experience, according to Fostering Youth Transitions 2023: State and National Data to Drive Foster Care Advocacy, a data brief released [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-05-10T11:49:46-04:00May 10th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, News Room, Race Equity|

Health Youth Ambassadors Participate in the Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Workshop

Health Youth Ambassadors Participate in the Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Workshop

On April 12th, two of Kentucky Youth Advocates’ Health Youth Ambassadors took part in the Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Workshop hosted by the Networking for Kentucky Youth (N4KY) and #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board. This youth-developed and youth-led tobacco control workshop was a full-day immersive experience which offered a chance for students from across the state to connect, network, and learn both with and from one another. Throughout the day, students took part in team [...]

By Melissa Collins|2023-04-27T13:03:37-04:00April 27th, 2023|Blog, Education, Health, Kids Count|

A Focus on Black Maternal Health & Outcomes

A Focus on Black Maternal Health & Outcomes

Since 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health recognizes April as National Minority Health Month, established to support efforts to educate on and eliminate health disparities for ethnic and racial minority groups. This year, the Office is highlighting the importance of providing healthcare services, information, and resources that are linguistically and culturally competent to create better and more equitable health outcomes for everyone. April is also when Black Maternal [...]

By Cortney Downs|2023-04-27T12:40:08-04:00April 27th, 2023|Blog, Health, Race Equity|

Bloom Kentucky: Recapping KYGA23 Efforts to Address ACEs

Bloom Kentucky: Recapping KYGA23 Efforts to Address ACEs

While the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly saw many confounding moments, we also saw continued positive momentum when it came to addressing childhood adversity. Kentucky’s policymakers, once again, found common ground when it came to the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on Kentucky’s kids and families. This year, Bloom Kentucky identified four policy areas to focus on throughout the 2023 legislative session which included 1) supporting the health and well-being of new moms and their [...]

By Melissa Collins|2023-04-17T17:27:37-04:00April 17th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Health|

A Look at SB 65 and Its Impact on Adult Medicaid

A Look at SB 65 and Its Impact on Adult Medicaid

As we continue to reflect on the 2023 legislative session, Kentucky Youth Advocates is recapping an item of particular interest for families across the Commonwealth – the adult Medicaid expansion and Senate Bill 65. How did we get here? In October 2022, Governor Beshear announced an expansion of the dental, vision, and hearing benefits available for adults on Medicaid. This change included several new dental services covered for adults. The additions were largely restorative procedures [...]

By Alicia Whatley|2023-04-13T14:13:57-04:00April 13th, 2023|Blog, Health, Medicaid|

KYGA23: Impacts for Kids and Families

KYGA23: Impacts for Kids and Families

The actions of the General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session confounded us at times. While we certainly don’t agree with any legislator 100% of the time, there are still ways we can find common ground and at the very least agree on a process. In the juvenile justice realm – we’ll go into bill details below – members of the House and Senate demonstrated thoughtful and careful consideration. The much debated House Bill 3 [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-04-26T15:38:36-04:00April 5th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity, Youth Justice|

Statement on Failed Passage of HB 288

Statement on Failed Passage of HB 288

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As the Kentucky General Assembly wraps up the final hours of the 2023 legislative session, an arena that would have had a true impact on the protection of children was left on the table. House Bill 288, sponsored by Representative James Tipton, disappointingly did not receive a final vote by the Senate today. The reality is that [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-03-30T16:56:32-04:00March 30th, 2023|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

Statement on Final Passage of HB 21

Statement on Final Passage of HB 21

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – On the Kentucky Senate’s consent orders, House Bill 21 received final passage and will soon head to the Governor’s desk for signature. Youth and housing advocates are cheering as HB 21, sponsored by Representative Randy Bridges, updates Kentucky’s homeless ID law to allow unaccompanied youth to get an ID without parental permission. An ID is necessary to [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2023-03-30T08:49:17-04:00March 30th, 2023|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, News Room, Race Equity|

ACTION ALERTS!