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Kentuckians: We Need Your Input on Tools Needed to Address Opioid Use in Your Community

By Andrew Alvey, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As Bloom Kentucky has detailed, the opioid crisis has significantly impacted all of Kentucky’s communities. In 2020, Kentucky had the third-highest age-adjusted drug overdose fatality rate in the United States. This statistic shows the urgency with which we must come together to create opportunities for healing and resilience. With support from the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, Kentucky Youth Advocates is leading a project to collect [...]

By |2024-03-21T12:37:39-04:00March 20th, 2024|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Race Equity|
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The Echoes of Youth Chants and Energy Goes Beyond Children’s Advocacy Day

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is when people across the Commonwealth come together to lift up a united voice for Kentucky’s children. A highlight of the day always includes the presence of youth-serving organizations and school groups. This year, nearly 300 youth took the time to speak on behalf of themselves and their peers. Kentucky Youth Advocates wanted to briefly highlight how groups had an [...]

By |2024-02-14T16:20:12-05:00February 14th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education, Health, Justice, Youth Justice|
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Child Fatality & Near Fatality External Review Panel Annual Report

By Bailey Brewer, Intern with Kentucky Youth Advocates Kentucky’s Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel released their 2023 Annual Report, which consists of a comprehensive review of every child death and near death within the state fiscal year 2022 referred to the panel by the Department for Community Based Services and Department for Public Health. This panel is required by state law to meet throughout the year to review each child’s case and [...]

By |2024-02-13T16:18:49-05:00February 13th, 2024|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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National Adoption Month: The Smith Family’s Story

By Leah Wade, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  November is National Adoption Month, which acknowledges adoption's importance in many families’ lives. The goal of foster care is to reunite children with their parents; when that is not an option, alternatives for permanency are pursued, like adoption. The Children’s Bureau reported that in Kentucky in 2021, 2,453 children are awaiting adoption following the termination of parental rights. In Kentucky, adoption can be pursued through private foster [...]

By |2023-11-20T16:09:15-05:00November 20th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety|
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A Focus on Youth Mental Health and Improving Outcomes

By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  Mental health is an integral part of kids’ everyday lives and a focus area nationally as mental health issues among youth have increased in recent years. Addressing these concerns is vital for youth since mental health struggles are leading causes for poor health outcomes and difficulties in school and relationships. Since the pandemic, mental health among youth has declined drastically in Kentucky, which can be attributed to [...]

By |2023-11-22T11:13:23-05:00November 20th, 2023|Blog, Bloom Kentucky, Education, Health, Kids Count|
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Strategies to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes in Kentucky

By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  Achieving optimal maternal health is critical to mothers across the Commonwealth and affects future generations in our communities. Nationally, improving maternal health has been a focus area due to high maternal mortality rates across the country. Kentucky also experiences similar negative maternal health outcomes.  In 2018, Kentucky’s maternal mortality rate was 40.8 per 100,000 live births. This is significantly higher than the national rate of 17.4.  In 2021 [...]

By |2023-10-11T16:52:03-04:00October 11th, 2023|Blog, Health, Race Equity|
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Back to School and Back On Track with Immunizations!

By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates  August is National Immunization Awareness Month, an opportunity to recognize the importance of childhood immunizations and answer questions from parents and guardians about necessary immunizations and their safety. As children prepare to start classes and see their friends in August, there are more possibilities for them to contract preventable diseases.  Ensuring students are up to date on their immunizations allows them to safely focus on their studies [...]

By |2023-08-24T15:16:19-04:00August 24th, 2023|Blog, Education, Health|
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Back to School, Back to Anti-Vaping Efforts

By Yelena Bagdasaryan, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates As Kentucky counties are heading back to school, there is a buzz of anticipation and excitement for students to be back in the classrooms and with their peers. However, the start of classes also reignites concerns for student’s health, specifically their use of e-cigarettes or vapes.  The use of vapes has increased dramatically, creating a new generation of youth that are dependent on nicotine. According to a [...]

By |2023-08-17T15:46:44-04:00August 17th, 2023|Blog, Education, Health|
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The Impact of Guns on Kentucky Kids

By Kaitlin Lacefield, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Since 2020, the number of child deaths by a gun has surpassed car accidents and motor vehicle-related deaths. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children under 18 in Kentucky and nationally. Now, there is a challenge to prevent accidental shootings involving children by building knowledge and increasing awareness. The number of gun deaths among Americans has been on the rise since 2019. Unfortunately, children are [...]

By |2023-07-27T15:59:32-04:00July 27th, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Health, Justice|
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Intern Insights: Understanding the Impacts of Homelessness for Foster Youth

By Carlie Reeves, Intern at Kentucky Youth Advocates Homelessness, while experienced by many, disproportionately affects those with a foster care experience.  It has been found that in Kentucky, 1 in 3 young adults who have foster care experience will face homelessness/housing instability at some point. So, out of the 1,132 youth aged 16-20 that were in foster care in 2021, 444 of them will eventually face housing instability. Foster care’s purpose is to reunify families or establish [...]

By |2023-06-21T14:05:39-04:00June 21st, 2023|Blog, Child Welfare & Safety, Economic Security, Education|
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