Kentucky Youth Advocates

06/19/2026

Last week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released its 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, offering a snapshot of how children and families across the country are doing. For Kentucky, the message of this year’s data is familiar but urgent: progress is happening, but it’s not happening fast enough.

Kentucky ranks 36th in the nation for overall child well-being in the 2026 report. For Kentucky, the latest release is both a call to action and a reminder that improving child well-being requires sustained investment and good policy, but it also requires reliable, accessible, and timely data on where children and families are.

Dive deeper into the improvements and setbacks across the 16 indicators that make up the KIDS COUNT report and the importance of reliable data sources: https://kyyouth.org/kids-count-on-good-data/

06/18/2026

Good News! In 2027, local governments will have the opportunity to influence how much federal funding they get through 2040 for crucial programs that support child well-being, economic development, and infrastructure. This opportunity? The Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA).

Learn more about how you can influence child well-being and community funding until 2040 and work to ensure every household is counted accurately: https://kyyouth.org/want-to-influence-child-well-being-and-community-funding-until-2040-start-now/

06/17/2026

"There is the one data point I do get with clarity – almost 200,000 Kentucky kids woke up this morning in poverty.

I have dug into KIDS COUNT data for more than two decades and I have no doubt – the seminal data point is childhood poverty. It undergirds the current status of every other indicator. If that trendline is improving, inevitably other measures will follow in the next 2-3 years. And if that trendline is worsening, then you just know where those other measures are going...

The data on Kentucky’s kids and their economic well-being has been collected. The question is, of course, “What will our leaders in Frankfort do with it?”"

Read Dr. Terry Brooks' reflections on the latest KIDS COUNT Data Book in this op-ed featured by the Kentucky Lantern:

I have dug into KIDS COUNT data for more than two decades and I have no doubt – the seminal data point is childhood poverty.

06/16/2026

The U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory last month issuing a warning against the harms of screen time on children and teens. The advisory coincides with historic multi-district litigation (MDL) that is currently moving forward against social media companies.

One of Kentucky’s own school districts, Breathitt County Schools, is one of the six bellwether cases for the federal MDL, settled in advance of a trial receiving a settlement of $27 million.

Check out updates on ongoing litigation and how we all have a role to play in building a healthier digital future for Kentucky’s kids: https://kyyouth.org/raising-a-generation-beyond-the-screen-the-high-cost-of-screen-time/

06/15/2026

While the percent of children in poverty decreased by 14% from 2019 to 2024, Kentucky ranks in the bottom 10 relative to other states with nearly one in five (19%) children living in families with an income below the federal poverty line.

Experiencing poverty during childhood can disrupt all aspects of a child’s life, from their physical and mental health development to their performance in school. When families can afford stable housing, nutritious food, health care and other essentials, children are more likely to thrive.

To learn more about how economic instability is affecting Kentucky's children, check out the newly released 2026 KIDS COUNT® Data Book from our partners at Annie E. Casey Foundation: https://bit.ly/43h3oN2

06/12/2026

We asked Kentucky Youth Advocates' outgoing Executive Director, Dr. Terry Brooks 5 farewell questions as he transitions to a new adventure.

In our recent blog, we sat down with Dr. Terry Brooks as he reflects on his 20-year tenure at KYA, shares what he's most proud of, what he's learned, and offers parting wisdom when it comes to Kentucky kids and as KYA’s approaches its 50th anniversary.

Read more about Dr. Brooks and his hope for KYA's legacy: https://kyyouth.org/5-farewell-questions-with-dr-terry-brooks/

06/11/2026

Here's a recent update on the pending cuts to critical social service programs. Kentucky Youth Advocates is continuing to monitor the budget discussions and potential impact on kids and families. We will share more as additional information becomes available.

As decisions are made, we urge the Governor and General Assembly to more strongly consider the implications of program cuts on family budgets and well-being over continued political folly.

A week after announcing cuts to Medicaid, foster care and other social service programs, Gov. Andy Beshear said he is now moving $30 million from projects to offset them.

06/10/2026

While we’re still reflecting on the wins, missed opportunities, and conundrums surrounding kid-related policies during the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly, Kentucky Youth Advocates is eagerly looking ahead to this interim period and planning for the 2027 legislative session.

Check out our recent blog for 5 ways YOU can boost child advocacy now through December: https://bit.ly/4uZ7y8r

06/09/2026

OUT NOW: Kentucky Youth Advocates' 2025-2026 Impact Report

As the “Kid Lobbyists” in Frankfort, KYA advocates for our youngest and most vulnerable in the halls of the state Capitol and in the media every legislative session and beyond.

Through data-driven advocacy and authentic storytelling, we speak up on proposals that are good for kids and speak out on ideas that pose a threat to child well-being.

While advocacy is vital, direct lobbying of elected officials is a necessity to ensure real progress in Frankfort. Your support allows KYA to remain as THE independent voice and to serve as THE lobbyists for kids – without it, our legacy of wins would not be possible.

View KYA's latest Impact Report for highlights of our work towards making Kentucky the best place in America to be young, including a message from retiring Executive Director Dr. Terry Brooks: https://kyyouth.org/about-kya/

06/09/2026

“We know that if there is a safe place for kids to lay their head every night and it’s consistent, that has resounding impacts on their ability to focus in school and to regulate their emotions,” Dr. Shannon Moody, the incoming executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, said. “It’s good for both their mental and physical health, as well as their education.”

More on the latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, featuring child well-being measures in edu­ca­tion, health, economic success, and com­mu­ni­ty and family, from the Kentucky Lantern.

Fewer Kentucky children were living in poverty in 2024 than 2019, but nearly one in five kids still lack the resources they need to thrive.