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Statement on the Transition of KY’s Office of the Ombudsman

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed Senate Bill 48, a comprehensive bill that makes multiple organizational changes to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Within SB 48 a key win for kids and families was included that moved the Office of the Ombudsman from CHFS to the Auditor of [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:14:39-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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Statement on SB 151, Delays in Implementation, and the Impact on Kinship Families

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY –We at Kentucky Youth Advocates were eager to celebrate final passage of Senate Bill 151 with bipartisan support – especially once the Governor signed it into law in April. We proudly supported Senator Julie Raque Adams’ legislation as a win for kids because of the opportunity for more flexibility and access to financial assistance for Kentucky’s kinship and [...]

By |2024-07-30T15:10:36-04:00July 30th, 2024|Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kinship Diversion Policies Survey by State: Key Takeaways

By  Kathleen Baldwin, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates The timing of the recent Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Family Ties series of reports on kinship care state policies is well aligned with the ongoing conversations around access to supports for kinship families in Kentucky. The latest report was released on July 15, 2024 and includes questions for consideration by local, state, and federal leaders in collaboration with kinship families.  In 2022, The Annie E. Casey Foundation [...]

By |2024-07-25T13:35:35-04:00July 24th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Race Equity|
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A Look at the Latest Domestic Violence Report

In June, the second annual Statewide Domestic Violence Data Report was published, detailing a devastating reality for thousands of adults and children across the Commonwealth. Domestic violence (DV) is “a systematic pattern of power and control that’s perpetrated by one intimate partner against another”. It’s the willful use of a range of abusive behaviors that can include being:  isolated from family and friends,  threatened with weapons,  coerced into committing crimes or engaging in other activities [...]

By |2024-07-22T16:58:04-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Intersection of Vaping and Opioid Use

Despite concerted efforts to address underage tobacco and nicotine use and advocacy to increase funding for prevention and cessation programs, vaping continues to be a major concern throughout Kentucky schools and communities.   Research has long-proven the negative health impacts that tobacco and nicotine use has while using and for years to come – costing both individuals and health care systems millions of dollars over the lifetime of a smoker. Youth who vape also experience negative [...]

By |2024-07-17T12:31:54-04:00July 17th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Health|
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The State of Child Labor in Kentucky

Entering the labor force young has its benefits. Having a job as a teen (ages 16-18) can predict higher quality jobs and higher wages in adulthood. Quality work experience at a young age can improve physical and mental health in the long term, as well as reduce the likelihood that a youth will interact with the criminal justice system.  However, youth only benefit from employment when they are working in safe, age-appropriate environments. In Kentucky [...]

By |2024-07-11T13:42:11-04:00July 11th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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KYGA24: Major Updates for Kinship Families

Co-authored by  Kathleen Baldwin, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates During the 2024 legislative session we saw some MAJOR wins for kinship families in Kentucky, which will be going into effect over the coming months. Research shows that placement with family members or a safe adult known to the child, rather than traditional foster care, can have lifelong benefits for a child and their family. Children placed in kinship settings have more placement stability, are less [...]

By |2024-07-03T15:10:37-04:00July 3rd, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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OP-ED: If we all agree Kentucky children need more help, why is ‘kinship bill’ stalled?

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader on June 27, 2024. By Norma Hatfield Norma Hatfield with her granddaughters I am shocked and saddened as I reflect upon recent events regarding Senate Bill (SB) 151 for kinship caregivers. There are many questions, beginning with, how is nothing better than something for children, when we know we can do better? The story requires some background; I begin with the term, ‘kinship care.’ It’s [...]

By |2024-07-03T11:37:11-04:00June 27th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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KYGA24: Unpacking HB 2 and the School Choice Ballot Initiative

The 2024 state legislative session was marked by a diverse range of K-12 education legislation, covering topics from bus safety to cursive writing to enhancements in mathematics interventions, and adjustments to substitute teacher certification.  There was notable legislation passed with aims of supporting the teacher pipeline and others around safety and student wellbeing – see a full recap of K-12 education and other legislation impacting kids here. To add to the business of the session, [...]

By |2024-06-12T11:52:30-04:00June 12th, 2024|Blog, Education|
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KYGA24: Addressing the Impact of Evictions on Kids

Evictions have a major impact on the safety and stability of Kentucky kids, often forcing families to move away from systems of support and into housing insecurity. However, a new report from Louisville’s Center for Health Equity shows that the impact of evictions goes much deeper than stability, also impacting the health of children and families. Evictions are both common and impact families of color more than other groups. Over 16,000 evictions were filed just [...]

By |2024-06-12T10:14:20-04:00June 12th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Economic Security, Health, Race Equity|
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