Statement on Passage of HB 11 by the House Health Services Committee

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Statement from Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates Mallory Jones testifying on HB 11 in Frankfort LOUISVILLE, KY – “It is an adult responsibility to protect kids from the harmful effects of nicotine and keep harmful vaping products out of the hands of me and my peers. I live in a smaller town, and I am aware of multiple different places where my peers can purchase [...]

By |2024-03-08T11:44:37-05:00March 7th, 2024|Education, Health, News Room, Youth Justice|

CAW 2024 Retreat: Empowering Kentucky’s Youth to Light the Way

Two weeks ago, Frankfort became a buzzing hub of youthful energy and advocacy as over thirty dynamic young individuals from every corner of the Commonwealth convened for Kentucky Youth Advocates' annual youth retreat. This gathering, held on the eve of Children’s Advocacy Day, was not just any retreat – it was a vibrant confluence of minds eager to shape the future. Groups including KYA’s Health Youth Ambassadors, REFORM Louisville, True Up, and YouthBuild Louisville [...]

Youth Voice: “Working together brings the best results for kids like me and communities like mine.”

By Amelia Williams, member for the Health Youth Ambassadors Amelia shared the following speech as the opening of the 2024 Rally for Kentucky Kids in the Rotunda at the 20th annual Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol.  Good morning and welcome everyone to the Kentucky State Capitol for the 20th Annual Children’s Advocacy Day. My name is Amelia Williams and I am a Junior from Graves County and a member of the Health Youth Ambassadors [...]

Governor Beshear and House and Senate Leadership Join Hundreds of Youth and Advocates for Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org Frankfort, KY – With the 2024 Kentucky legislative session well underway in Frankfort, advocates across the Commonwealth are joining together to lift kids’ voices during Children’s Advocacy Week. They are advocating for the state budget and policy priorities addressed in the 2024 Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children to elected leaders.  Today is Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, where community organizations, professionals who work with kids and families, and young people from [...]

Children’s Advocacy Week 2024 Updates

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  With the new year officially here, it is time for an update on Children’s Advocacy Week 2024. Children’s Advocacy Week will take place January 22-26th and we wanted to provide the schedule and reminders for the week to assist you in lifting your voice for Kentucky’s children. Again, this year, we will host both in-person and virtual events. You can find a schedule of the events with [...]

Bloom KY Growing Hope: Spotlight on Graves County ASAP

In this edition of Bloom Kentucky’s Growing Hope series, where we’re spotlighting opioid abatement efforts across the Commonwealth, we are shedding light on the great work happening with the Graves County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy and Prevention (ASAP).  Their comprehensive action plan serves as the north star that guides their work – from the exchange program, the distribution or narcan boxes, their recovery backpacks, youth engagement with the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council, and [...]

By |2023-12-21T16:39:58-05:00December 20th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Education, Health|

2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Investing in the “Kid Workforce”

Contact: Mara Powell mpowell@kyyouth.org 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book: A Look at Child Well-Being Data Trends and Investing in the “Kid Workforce” Featuring the latest county-level data for key measures of child well-being Louisville, KY – The 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, released today by Kentucky Youth Advocates, features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the [...]

Health Youth Ambassadors 2023 Onboarding Retreat

Last week, our 2023-2024 Health Youth Ambassador cohort came together for the first time in Bowling Green, Kentucky for their two-day overnight onboarding retreat! Representing 8 different counties from across the Commonwealth – including Oldham, Graves, Daviess, Clark, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, and Crittenden – our new cohort consists of 13 youth advocates. The Health Youth Ambassadors (HYA) program is a statewide cohort that engages high school aged youth to learn about advocacy and policy, [...]

By |2023-09-28T16:34:23-04:00September 28th, 2023|Blog, Education, Health|

Kentucky Youth Speak Out Against Substance Use

We know substance use, among both adults and adolescents, continues to be an issue in communities throughout the Commonwealth.  To better understand just how substance use, as well as the opioid epidemic, are impacting Kentucky’s young people, Bloom Kentucky recently connected with high school students across the state to hear their perspectives on the impact of substance use among their peers and in their communities and how we might address substance use prevention.  We [...]

By |2023-09-14T11:55:50-04:00September 14th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health|

Health Youth Ambassadors are Heating Up: 2023-2024 Cohort Application Now Open!

The summer is heating up, and so is our excitement for the 2023-2024 Health Youth Ambassadors program! Are you a high school student looking to develop your advocacy and leadership skills? Are you interested in connecting with peers from around the Commonwealth to make positive changes in your community and throughout the state? Do you want to help Kentucky kids and families with their overall health and wellbeing? If so, apply TODAY to be a [...]

By |2023-07-05T16:31:25-04:00July 5th, 2023|Blog, Health, Kids Count|
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