Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the House Families & Children Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 291 by the House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky has the third highest rate of parental incarceration in the nation, with over 100,000 children having experienced the disruption and trauma of being separated from a parent. The Family Preservation and Accountability Act, co-championed by Senator Julie Raque Adams and Representative Nick Wilson, seeks to hold parents accountable for their actions while minimizing the negative impact [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-20T10:13:33-05:00February 20th, 2025|Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Justice, News Room|

Youth Voice on Enforcing T-21: “Every loophole in legislation lets addiction thrive.”

Youth Voice on Enforcing T-21: “Every loophole in legislation lets addiction thrive.”

The following testimony was shared on February 18, 2025 at the Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee on Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Senator Jimmy Higdon. Testimony by Delanie, a freshman at Boyd County High School in Ashland and a Youth Advisory Board Member at #iCANendthetrend: My name is Delanie, and I’m here not just as a youth advocate, but as a representative of a generation that is being targeted and exploited by an industry that profits [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-19T10:47:00-05:00February 19th, 2025|Blog, Education, Health|

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 100 Senate Licensing & Occupations Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky kids have told us – as well as teachers, parents, coaches, and health care providers – vaping is happening among our high school and middle school students. And the reality is that, despite the Tobacco-21 law prohibiting sales of vapes and e-cigarettes to those under 21, two out of five youth nationally report getting these products [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-18T10:47:43-05:00February 18th, 2025|Education, Health, News Room|

Make Your Voice Heard: Paid Family Medical Leave for State Employees

Make Your Voice Heard: Paid Family Medical Leave for State Employees

Paid family medical leave is an essential strategy for healthy moms and healthy babies. The benefits of employers offering paid leave includes: Mothers get to heal before returning to work after a delivery or c-section. Mothers have the time and opportunity to breastfeed their infants. Infants can spend time bonding with their mothers to establish a pattern of healthy social and emotional development. Infant mortality rates decrease. Families still have a steady source of income [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2025-02-13T14:47:40-05:00February 13th, 2025|Blog, Economic Security, 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|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kids’ safety was once again prioritized by the Kentucky Senate with their overwhelming bipartisan support of Senate Bill 73 today. Through the leadership of Senator Julie Raque Adams, SB 73 will empower victims of sexual extortion by holding perpetrators accountable and will prioritize prevention education among Kentucky’s most vulnerable to online risks. Online sexual extortion – or [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-12T15:25:59-05:00February 12th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|

Statement on Passage of SB 17 by Kentucky Senate

Statement on Passage of SB 17 by Kentucky Senate

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Freestanding birth centers give pregnant moms choices in their care – and the Kentucky Senate voted to support that notion today with passage of Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Senator Shelly Funke Frommeyer. By removing barriers to establishing freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, pregnant moms with low-risk pregnancies can receive perinatal care safely in a homelike environment [...]

By Mara Powell|2025-02-07T12:59:36-05:00February 7th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|

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|

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Senate Judiciary Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 73 by Senate Judiciary Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – As Kentucky kids learn and socialize increasingly in online spaces, it’s as important as ever to put safeguards in place to prevent and address exploitation and promote child safety. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cases of online sexual extortion, or “sextortion” – where perpetrators use social media platforms, gaming sites, and messaging [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-06T09:59:09-05:00February 6th, 2025|Child Welfare & Safety, Education, News Room|