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

8 Ways to Advocate for Kids During #KYGA25

The Kentucky General Assembly reconvened in Frankfort on Tuesday, January 7th. Check out these 8 ways advocates can speak up for kids throughout the 2025 state legislative session: Review the 2025 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children state policy priorities agenda Look up who represents you in Frankfort and how to contact your state Senator and Representative, as well as information on bills, committee schedules and agendas, and more from the Legislative Research Commission Bookmark our 2025 Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker webpage so [...]

By |2025-01-16T10:57:35-05:00January 3rd, 2025|Blog|

Preventing Unsafe Access to Firearms to Keep Kentucky Kids Safe

Unsafe access to firearms is one of the greatest threats to Kentucky kids’ safety. Injuries from improperly stored firearms are the second leading cause of death among children and teens ages 1-17 in Kentucky. Nationwide, the situation is even more grim – injuries from firearms are the leading cause of death for children, surpassing motor vehicle accidents.  The Issue at Hand In 2023 alone, firearm violence was responsible for 42 homicides and 31 suicides among [...]

By |2024-12-19T12:31:24-05:00December 19th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health|

Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 State Policy Priorities Agenda

Media Contact:  Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Louisville, KY – Today, Kentucky Youth Advocates and partners from across the Commonwealth released the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 priority agenda. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families. The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future [...]

The State of Child Care from the Perspective of Kentucky Providers and Parents

Kentucky kids need safe spaces to learn and socialize while their parents work. And before they begin kindergarten, many families rely on child care – whether in homes or centers – to provide this care. Despite the clear indication that child care is needed for Kentucky families, there continue to be challenges to finding and staying connected to care, especially for children with disabilities.  During the month of September, KYA surveyed child care center directors/owners [...]

By |2024-12-05T15:53:16-05:00December 5th, 2024|Blog, Economic Security, Education|

“It is too easy for kids to buy these products”: Making the Case for Youth Vaping Prevention

Kentucky kids need healthy environments to learn, play, and grow, free from the harmful effects of nicotine products like e-cigarettes and vapes. Unfortunately, Kentucky kids continue to get their hands on addictive nicotine products – with many buying them directly from a gas station, convenience store, or other retailer. Earlier this month, Kentucky young people and a Kentucky pediatrician joined state Senator Jimmy Higdon to make the case to the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations, [...]

By |2024-11-26T16:19:37-05:00November 26th, 2024|Blog, Health|

2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Mitigating Adverse Childhood Experiences Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child health, education, economic security, and family and community Louisville, KY – The 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, [...]

Strengthening Kentucky Homeschool Settings

Kentucky kids access education in a variety of ways, including public schools, private schools, and homeschool settings.  Over the past several years, the number of families choosing homeschool for their children has grown substantially. There are many reasons that families choose to homeschool their children, but whatever motivation the family has for initiating homeschool education, it is important to ensure that all Kentucky kids are in a safe learning environment where they receive a high [...]

By |2024-11-07T11:10:58-05:00November 7th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

Kentucky Won Big Against JUUL – but What Happens Now?

Kentucky kids need safe and healthy communities to grow up, free from harmful products like nicotine and tobacco. But for decades, tobacco manufacturers have found ways to evolve their products and marketing strategies to appeal to youth at a young age and keep them hooked.   Despite youth smoking rates declining over the past decade, current use rates remain a concern – with Kentucky youth using nicotine and tobacco at a higher rate than the national [...]

By |2024-10-16T17:36:06-04:00October 16th, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|

Parental Incarceration & the Impact on Kids: “I want the cycle to end with me.”

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 [...]

By |2026-04-09T10:25:43-04:00October 9th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice|
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