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Bolstering the Early Childhood Workforce: Good for Kentucky Families, Child Care Centers, and Economy

In this week’s Advocate Virtual Forum, we covered one of this year’s hottest topics: compensation for early childhood educators. Panelists Laura Hogan with National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Brenda Hagan with the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood, Jennifer Washburn with iKids Childhood Enrichment Center, and Kevin Fields with Louisville Central Community Centers discussed the challenge’s child care providers are facing, issues facing the early childhood workforce, and potential solutions to common workforce [...]

By |2021-10-14T14:53:29-04:00October 14th, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education|
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OP-ED: Is that the best we’ve got for our kids?

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Courier Journal on October 7, 2021. By Dr. Terry Brooks Knee jerk and wrong-headed proposals. Courageous young people giving voice to the issues at hand in the middle of a school board meeting. Bold leadership from our Superintendent. And a puzzling mix of regressive and promising policy proposals from Metro Council leadership. Thus is the landscape of Louisville as we grieve the tragic murder of Tyree Smith. And [...]

By |2021-10-07T14:28:19-04:00October 7th, 2021|Blog, Education, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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OP-ED: Kids don’t need ‘flaws’ and ‘scandals’ – they deserve a justice system that works for them

This post originally appeared as an op-ed in the Herald Leader on September 24, 2021. By Dr. Terry Brooks First, on behalf of Kentucky’s kids, thanks to John Cheves and the Herald Leader for the deep, thoughtful series looking at youth detention centers in Kentucky. The stories told, the issues raised, and the challenges at hand demand action from both the Beshear Administration and the General Assembly. There is no doubt that we must address the crisis [...]

By |2021-09-24T13:19:33-04:00September 24th, 2021|Blog, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Statement on the Impact of the 2021 Kentucky General Assembly Special Session on Kids

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – Last week’s special session entered our minds and news feeds as quickly as it has now disappeared. Alongside the Beshear Administration and members of the General Assembly, we will continue to assess the results with an eye towards the 2022 legislative session and two-year state budget. As we shared in our initial statement on the special session, [...]

By |2021-09-16T16:21:07-04:00September 16th, 2021|Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room|
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Recapping the 2021 Special Session & Impact on Kids

Last week’s special session entered our minds and news feeds as quickly as it has now disappeared. Alongside the Beshear Administration and members of the General Assembly, we will continue to assess the results with an eye for the 2022 legislative session and two-year state budget. As we shared in our statement on the special session, there is no group of Kentuckians that deserves decisive action more than our young people – and the good [...]

By |2021-09-21T11:55:20-04:00September 16th, 2021|Blog, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Updates on Bills Impacting Kids in the Special Session

This week, the Kentucky General Assembly has convened for a special session related to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping Kentuckians safe, and looking ahead to recovery for all Kentucky kids and their families. At this moment, House Joint Resolution 1 passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor, which extends or expires certain emergency orders through January 15, 2022.  Also, House and Senate companion bills have been filed and are moving through the legislative process [...]

By |2021-09-08T17:13:58-04:00September 8th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health|
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Getting to the Root of the Problem

By Greta Hittle I recently had the opportunity to chat with folks around Kentucky about the work being done to prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). These folks included state representatives, medical professionals, care and service providers, teachers, counselors, advocates, public health experts, and mental and behavioral health professionals. Just when I thought I had heard every perspective and learned every nuance, I would speak with another one of these folks and realize the [...]

By |2021-09-08T11:54:13-04:00September 8th, 2021|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Health|
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Statement on Priorities for Kids During the Kentucky General Assembly Special Session

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates LOUISVILLE, KY – The easy path as we approach this special session is to devolve to conventional thinking – that the pandemic and Kentucky’s recovery efforts are too polarizing and too complex for thoughtful and direct solutions. Yet, we attest a hope that the special session can be a landmark moment when the General Assembly and the Governor come together for [...]

By |2021-09-16T12:59:01-04:00September 4th, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, News Room, Race Equity|
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Update on the Kentucky Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity

When the final gavel sounded on the 2021 General Assembly, several pieces of legislation passed that will begin to close gaps in opportunity for children of color. Among these policies that became law was Senate Bill 10, co-sponsored by Senator David Givens, Senator Whitney Westerfield, and Senate President Robert Stivers, which established a Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity. The Commission is tasked with providing studies, research driven policy proposals, and annual reports crossing [...]

By |2021-09-02T16:58:26-04:00September 2nd, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Justice, Race Equity, Youth Justice|
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Kinship Caregivers, State Leaders, and Advocates Attend Kinship Coalition Virtual Summit

Kinship Caregivers, State Leaders, and Advocates Attend Kinship Coalition Virtual Summit Governor Proclaims September as Kinship Care Awareness Month LOUISVILLE, KY – Dozens of kinship caregivers, child welfare stakeholders, policy makers, and advocates from across Kentucky virtually gathered today for the Kinship Coalition Virtual Summit. Two years after the federal Family First Act implementation, over a year out from a global pandemic, a lawsuit that rose to the level of the Supreme Court, and several [...]

By |2021-09-02T11:32:05-04:00September 2nd, 2021|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, News Room|
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