5 Ways to Take Action for National Children’s Dental Health Month

This blog was originally posted by the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition.  February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, when the American Dental Association encourages grownups to spread awareness about the importance of children’s oral health. Here are 5 things to know about kids’ oral health in Kentucky, along with ways to take action!   What To Know: As noted in KOHC’s 2023 Landscape Assessment, fewer than half of Kentucky children on Medicaid or KCHIP received a routine [...]

By |2024-02-22T12:17:53-05:00February 22nd, 2024|Blog, Health|

Youth Voice: “My first encounter with vaping took place over five years ago in the 6th grade.”

The Kentucky 2024 General Assembly is well underway and legislators from around the state are considering a number of policy proposals that impact kids and families. As KYA monitors action in Frankfort, we also look to Kentucky youth to hear the issues they want to see prioritized by our state decisionmakers. A common message among young people in Kentucky – do something about the overwhelming youth access to vapes and nicotine products. Keep reading to [...]

By |2024-02-01T10:42:08-05:00February 1st, 2024|Blog, Education, Health|

A Look at SB 34 and Potential Impact on Kentucky Families

Pregnancy and early childhood is considered a special time in life. However, any new parent will tell you it is also an expensive time. The cost of giving birth, caring for a new child, and child care can often be more than new parents make.  To address the financial challenges that new parents face, Senator Whitney Westerfield introduced Senate Bill 34. This legislation contains a multitude of provisions that provide for the basic health and [...]

While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood

Contact: Mara Powell | mpowell@kyyouth.org | 502-895-8167 *122 While Improving, Kentucky Children of Color Still Face Disparate Outcomes that Jeopardize Their Well-Being into Adulthood 2024 Race for Results Report Identifies Gaps in Child Well-Being That Persist Across Race and Ethnicity, Caused by Policy Choices That Shortchange Young People LOUISVILLE, KY — Despite improved outcomes for many key measures, Kentucky children, especially kids of color, still face too many barriers to reaching essential milestones of well-being, [...]

The Landscape of School Choice

School Choice – what once was a term that simply described a variety of different school options – is now a term that brings about a variety of different emotions. What once was a nonpartisan issue is now deeply polarizing in today’s times.  Here at Kentucky Youth Advocates, we believe in equipping families with the tools to make the best choices for their unique circumstances. We believe that whatever “choice” of education, it should [...]

By |2024-01-10T11:27:45-05:00January 9th, 2024|Blog, Education, Race Equity|

Bloom Kentucky Announces 2024 State Policy Priorities

The General Assembly gaveled in for the 2024 Regular Session this week. Given Kentucky’s unprecedented budget reserve trust fund surplus and the state’s current landscape, there is a real opportunity to invest and empower kids and families 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 mitigate the multi-generational impacts of childhood adversity so that [...]

KYA & Kentucky Humanities Council hosts Author Cara Fitzpatrick

During the first week of December, Kentucky Youth Advocates and the Kentucky Humanities Council hosted Cara Fitzpatrick, author of "The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America," for a two-day venture starting with an author forum on Monday night followed by a series of conversations with local Louisville leaders on Tuesday. A Forum on School Choice – In spirit of "Deliberative Democracy" On Monday night, a Forum on School [...]

By |2023-12-20T17:12:45-05:00December 20th, 2023|Blog, Education, Race Equity|

Announcing the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2024 State Policy and Budget Priorities Agenda

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 2024 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 [...]

When We All Do Our Part, Families Make It: An End of Year Thriving Families, Safer Children Reflection

Turkey for Thanksgiving is a hassle. There, I said it.  Why are we so bound by tradition for the sake of doing what’s always been done? This year, during my post-meal mindless social media scrolling, I was proud to witness several of my timeline pals boast throwing the classic main dish imperative out the window for less complicated options including roast beef and an even bolder resistance, smoked salmon. Similarly outdated and long overdue for [...]

By |2023-12-05T21:35:06-05:00December 5th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security|

Journey to Success KY: Community Conversations

When the Fostering Youth Transitions report was released earlier this year, True Up Kentucky and Journey to Success Kentucky lifted up the data trends that could be celebrated as progress, as well as those that highlighted the need for continued advocacy for policies and practices that improve the experiences for Kentucky’s transition-age youth.  In Kentucky, emerging trends made clear that advocates must rally to: Address the overrepresentation of youth of color in the child welfare system. [...]

By |2023-11-30T11:17:52-05:00November 30th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Race Equity|
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