Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children

Statement on Passage of HB 3 in Kentucky House

Statement on Passage of HB 3 in Kentucky House

Marylee Underwood, staff attorney, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs “We applaud the Kentucky House of Representatives for recognizing that human trafficking is a very real problem in Kentucky and unanimously passing House Bill 3 today. This bill will ensure that child victims get the services they need to heal and provide better resources for law enforcement officers and prosecutors.” Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates “Today, the House showed bipartisan collaboration by unanimously [...]

By admin|2013-02-15T11:28:11-05:00February 15th, 2013|News Room|

Statement on Passage of HB 3 (Human Trafficking) in House Judiciary Committee

Statement on Passage of HB 3 (Human Trafficking) in House Judiciary Committee

Today, the House Judiciary Committee took an important step in protecting vulnerable children and youth from human trafficking in Kentucky by passing House Bill 3. We applaud the House Judiciary Committee for standing up for children today. We also want to thank Representative Overly, Representative Wuchner and the many other co-sponsors of this bill for their leadership and commitment to this issue. Kentucky Youth Advocates, along with more than fifty organizations in Kentucky, adopted this [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-02-13T15:34:34-05:00February 13th, 2013|News Room|

State Needs More Independent Review of Child-Abuse Cases

State Needs More Independent Review of Child-Abuse Cases

This post originally appeared as an Op-Ed in the Herald Leader here. A million years ago, when I was a high school student in Jefferson County, schools were overcrowded to the point where 200 to 300 students were clustered in an auditorium or cafeteria to watch instructional television as the means of teaching. Because of those outrageous student/teacher ratios, we frequently graded our own papers. Maybe it was just me, but a trend line emerged: My grades [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-02-13T09:01:37-05:00February 13th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Safe Harbor for Kentucky’s Children

Safe Harbor for Kentucky’s Children

Guest Post by Gretchen Hunt, Training Coordinator, Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs The statistics are staggering. Nationally, between 100,000 and 300,000 children are vulnerable to being trafficked into commercial sex in the United States. Runaways and homeless youth are particularly vulnerable, with one in three being exploited in commercial sex in the first 48 hours of being on the streets. The average age of entry into prostitution in this country is between twelve and [...]

By admin|2013-02-11T07:38:41-05:00February 11th, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Youth Justice|

Statement on Governor Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth Address

Statement on Governor Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth Address

Jeffersontown, KY-The Governor’s forward looking message gives hope to Kentucky’s kids. The broad-based agenda around revenue and adequacy is an imperative, not an option. It is an imperative it we want to protect Kentucky’s kids from abuse and neglect. It is an imperative if we want Kentucky’s kids to emerge as world-class learners. It is an imperative if we want Kentucky’s families not to feel the high price of being poor. We applaud the Governor’s call for [...]

By Terry Brooks|2013-02-06T21:00:26-05:00February 6th, 2013|News Room|

New Year Resolutions for Kentucky Children

Happy New Year! Welcome back to many of you who took time off for holidays and vacations. Beginning a new year often means making (and breaking) resolutions. The 2013 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children outlines nine policy priorities that can serve as resolutions for improving the lives of kids throughout Kentucky. Take a look at the list of priorities – and when making your own resolutions this year, consider how you can make a difference in the lives [...]

By Katie Carter|2013-01-02T11:46:04-05:00January 2nd, 2013|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Youth Justice|

trans-par-ent [trans-pair-uh nt, -par-], adjective

trans·par·ent [trans-pair-uh nt, -par-] , adjective Having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen. Admitting the passage of light through interstices. So sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous. “Transparency” is the word of the year in the world of child welfare in Kentucky. The word gets tossed around so easily among advocates and others interested in improving the “system”, especially [...]

By Lacey McNary|2012-12-20T11:39:36-05:00December 20th, 2012|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|

Blue Ribbon Tax Commission’s recommendations include a state Earned Income Tax Credit

The Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform’s final report came out Monday. The Commission’s final recommendations include enacting a state Earned Income Tax Credit. Enacting a state EITC is a proven method to get and keep parents working and raises children out of poverty. The Commissioners had a serious charge – to think about what is best for all of Kentucky now and in the future. This includes ensuring a fair, competitive, adequate system. [...]

By Katie Carter|2012-12-19T11:31:43-05:00December 19th, 2012|Blog, Economic Security|

It’s Time to Clear the Air

VIDEO: Kentucky - Business Has Never Been Healthier (smoke free) During 2013, the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children will be working to pass a statewide, comprehensive smoke-free law which would prohibit smoking inside all work-sites including restaurants and bars. We are working with the Smoke-Free Kentucky Coalition to CLEAR THE AIR. We all have the right to breathe clean indoor air—workers, families, children, everyone. Currently, about one-third of Kentuckians live in communities with comprehensive smoke-free laws, leaving thousands of children still [...]

By Andrea Bennett|2012-12-12T11:01:02-05:00December 12th, 2012|Blog, Health|