Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Statement on Passage of SB 17 by Senate Health Services Committee

Statement on Passage of SB 17 by Senate Health Services Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Kentucky kids’ health depends on access to safe and equitable care – beginning even before they are born. Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Senator Shelly Funke Frommeyer, will remove barriers to critical perinatal care options so that more Kentucky moms and their babies have the chance to thrive. Freestanding birth centers are small health care facilities that offer [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-02-05T17:47:04-05:00February 5th, 2025|Health, News Room, Race Equity|

Educator Sexual Misconduct: The Role of Technology and Prevention Efforts

Educator Sexual Misconduct: The Role of Technology and Prevention Efforts

A recently published study in the Journal of Child Sexual Abuse examines how technology has been used to facilitate educator sexual misconduct in Kentucky’s schools. The study’s author, Kotomi Yokokura, discusses the findings below. Between 2016 and 2021, 74 Kentucky educators had their licenses suspended, voluntarily surrendered, or permanently revoked by the Kentucky Education Professional Standard Board for educator sexual misconduct. Within these cases, over 120 students were affected. These students were as young as [...]

By Andrew Alvey|2025-02-04T12:00:43-05:00February 4th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Education|

OP-ED: “Say What?” Legislative Proposals for Kids

OP-ED: “Say What?” Legislative Proposals for Kids

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader, NKY Tribune, and Courier Journal. By Terry Brooks “Say what?” Merriam Webster describes this idiom as “a way to express surprise or disbelief at what someone has said or at unexpected news.” It is also the most popular response to any question or request directed to my three teenage grandkids. I’m never sure if that teen response is genuine surprise or a very skilled stalling [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-01-31T16:17:58-05:00January 30th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|

Statement on Auditor’s Report on Foster Children Sleeping in DCBS Offices

Statement on Auditor’s Report on Foster Children Sleeping in DCBS Offices

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – With the release of the preliminary report on foster children staying in Department for Community Based Services office buildings, State Auditor Allison Ball and the Office of the Ombudsman exemplifies how to be a catalyst for change for some of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable kids. The report outlines a few important takeaways for us to consider when it [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-01-29T14:20:49-05:00January 29th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

The Latest Child Maltreatment Report Shows Kentucky’s High Rate of Victims Persists

The Latest Child Maltreatment Report Shows Kentucky’s High Rate of Victims Persists

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – The latest national Child Maltreatment report from the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows a total of 14,484 child victims of maltreatment in Kentucky during the reporting period (FFY 2023). While there has been a 28% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2019 to 2023, Kentucky has nearly double the national rate (7.4 per 1,000) of child maltreatment at 14.2 per 1,000 children. Young [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2025-01-16T14:26:47-05:00January 16th, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|

High Ratings + (Sometimes) High Frustrations: Special Education in Kentucky

High Ratings + (Sometimes) High Frustrations: Special Education in Kentucky

In 2024, the Kentucky Department of Education received the highest possible rating for its special education system. This rating is based on the Commonwealth’s ability to meet the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the federal law that governs special education laws and funding. Kentucky has all the necessary policies and procedures in place that IDEA requires, and the state systems are designed to align with federal government laws. Although [...]

By Sarah Vanover|2025-01-16T12:57:03-05:00January 16th, 2025|Blog, Education|

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|

8 Ways to Advocate for Kids During #KYGA25

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

Preventing Unsafe Access to Firearms to Keep Kentucky Kids Safe

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 Andrew Alvey|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

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 [...]

By Kentucky Youth Advocates|2024-12-10T12:54:44-05:00December 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Kids Count, Medicaid, News Room, Youth Justice|