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Statement on Passage of HB 6 by House Families & Children Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Child care programs offer working families a safe place for children to learn and grow and serve as a critical pillar of community economies. Recognizing the need to strengthen quality and access to affordable child care across Kentucky, Representative Samara Heavrin – along with numerous bipartisan co-sponsors – is championing House Bill 6 this session, and we’re [...]

By |2026-02-12T09:30:30-05:00February 12th, 2026|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, News Room|
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Kentucky Continues to See Double National Rate of Child Maltreatment in Latest Report

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org LOUISVILLE, KY – The latest national Child Maltreatment report, released last month by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shows a total of 14,505 child victims of maltreatment in Kentucky during the reporting period (FFY 2024). While there has been a 13% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2020 to 2024, Kentucky continues to see nearly double the national rate (7.2 per 1,000) of [...]

By |2026-02-09T15:35:04-05:00February 10th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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What’s Coming Next with the State Budget and How to Take Action

Updated March 20, 2026 With just ten working days to go in the 2026 legislative session, the state budget process is nearing its conclusion. As we detailed in early January, the General Assembly spent a bulk of the legislative time in 2026 crafting a two-year state budget that will be complete before the final gavel on April 15th.  What’s Already Happened? So far, the Governor released his proposed budget during the State of the Commonwealth [...]

By |2026-03-20T15:35:31-04:00February 3rd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Making the Case for a Refundable State Child Tax Credit

Raising children is expensive and the rising cost of diapers, food, housing, and childcare, are making it increasingly difficult for many Kentucky families to make ends meet.  Access to basic necessities is critical for healthy child development, yet financial stress can strain families’ ability to provide the safe, stable, and supportive environment young children need to grow and thrive.  One proven tool to help working families stay afloat is the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC).  [...]

By |2026-02-03T09:05:45-05:00February 2nd, 2026|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|
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Understanding and Recognizing Grooming Behaviors

This blog was originally published on Face It Movement. Everyone can play a role in keeping kids safe, but that only happens when people know the signs to look out for. Some warning signs of child abuse, like grooming behaviors, can be difficult to spot because they appear as normal adult-child relationships especially when the abuser is a family member or a close family friend.  Grooming is defined as a pattern of complex and deceptive [...]

By |2026-02-05T13:50:34-05:00January 22nd, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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Looking Ahead to Children’s Advocacy Week 2026

This year, as lawmakers begin their work in Frankfort, we’re preparing to show up with urgency, purpose, and a shared commitment to putting Kentucky kids first.  Children’s Advocacy Week, coming up March 2nd - 6th, offers a powerful opportunity for advocates to rally together, connect directly with legislators, and ensure children and families remain a top priority throughout the session.  To make the most of the week, we have included some updates and tips for [...]

By |2026-01-21T11:43:02-05:00January 20th, 2026|Blog|
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Building Kentucky’s Budget: Implications of Federal Actions and State Taskforces

The 2026 state legislative session is underway and lawmakers have been busy in Frankfort filing more than 350 bills in the first week. Among the bills that remain to be seen is the budget bill that will detail legislative proposals for the state’s next two year operating budget. Originating in the House, this bill will see several rounds of revisions over the next two months before final passage by April 15th.  Governor Beshear kicked off [...]

By |2026-01-14T16:01:59-05:00January 14th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health, Medicaid|
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Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2026 State Budget Address

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – There was good news in last night’s address by Governor Andy Beshear as he joined with Republican legislative leaders in prioritizing basic needs like housing stability and food security for our kids and families. Those two arenas are clearly common ground and are ripe for legislative action as this session unfolds.  That is a vital opening for [...]

By |2026-01-08T07:56:51-05:00January 8th, 2026|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room, Youth Justice|
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8 Ways to Advocate for Kids During #KYGA26

The Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes in Frankfort on Tuesday, January 6th. Check out these 8 ways advocates can speak up for kids throughout the 2026 state legislative session: Review the 2026 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children state policy and budget priority 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 2026 Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker [...]

By |2026-01-02T14:02:10-05:00January 2nd, 2026|Blog|
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OP-ED: Turkey Bombs or Political Spam for Kentucky Kids

This originally appeared as an op-ed in the NKY Tribune on December 20, 2025. These days after Black Friday and before December 25 mean lots of things to different folks. Mobbed malls. Hopeful and expectant kids. Family gatherings near and far. Lots of packages on that doorstep. Perhaps a beautiful church service or cantata. And for me? Really wonderful homemade Italian and more than a bit of football! But for families in remote parts of [...]

By |2025-12-22T12:08:05-05:00December 22nd, 2025|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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