Making Kids Count

Terry Brooks is joined by state Senator Lindsey Tichenor to discuss the proponent perspective of Amendment 2, the state ballot initiative to amend the Kentucky constitution to allow the Kentucky General Assembly to create legislation that allows public dollars to be spent to support nonpublic or private K-12 education. Be an informed voter on November 5th -- check out Kentucky Youth Advocates’ Ele...

Terry Brooks is joined by Jonathan Shell, Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture, to discuss the Department of Agriculture's initiatives related to hunger, nutrition, and workforce, as well as the role we can all play in advocacy and volunteerism. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count Podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more abou...

Terry Brooks is joined by Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman to continue Kentucky Youth Advocates’ look at the 2024 national KIDS COUNT® Data Book and Kentucky students’ educational outcomes. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family’s...

Alicia Whatley, KYA's Senior Policy & Advocacy Director, is joined by Dr. Brit Anderson, pediatrician and vice president of the Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy for Pediatrics, Bruce Crouch, who has served as a school resource officer in Taylor County and helps lead the Taylor County Youth Coalition, and Ashlea Christiansen, Kentucky government relations director for the American...

Terry Brooks is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Dinkins, dean of the School of Education at Bellarmine University, and Dr. Jim Flynn, Executive Director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, to continue Kentucky Youth Advocates' look at the 2024 national KIDS COUNT® Data Book and Kentucky students' educational outcomes. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting...

Terry Brooks is joined by state Senator Max Wise and Representative James Tipton to continue Kentucky Youth Advocates' look at the 2024 national KIDS COUNT® Data Book and Kentucky students' educational outcomes. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and pro...

As part of Kentucky Youth Advocates' segment with WEKU's Eastern Standard Radio, Terry Brooks was recently joined by Dr. Tony Zipple, Bounce co-chair, and Kelly Pullen, executive director of Aetna Better Health of Kentucky's SKY Program, to discuss youth mental health and highlight the partnership between CVS Health and the Bounce Coalition. They break down findings from a recent CV...

Terry Brooks reflects on key takeaways from the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book. The 50-state report provides state level data and rankings, analyzing how kids are faring in post-pandemic America. With a focus on challenges facing children’s educational outcomes, the data show Kentucky must do more to prepare children to learn so they are ready to earn when they reach adulth...

Terry Brooks is joined by Cori Gadansky, executive director of Community Coordinated Child Care, Charles Aull, executive director of the Center for Policy & Research at the KY Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Sarah Vanover, Policy & Research Director and lead on child care at KYA. They look at the wins and missed opportunities for child care during the 2024 General Assembly, the impacts on cen...

Terry Brooks is joined by Shane Noem, a Republican lobbyist from Northern Kentucky with Roebling Solutions and a Kentucky Youth Advocates board member, and Abby Piper, Founder & Managing Partner of the government and public relations firm Piper Smith based in Lexington. Terry shares KYA's recap of "fumbles" for kids by the 2024 General Assembly and facilitates a debrief of the l...

Terry Brooks is joined by Barry Dunn, President & CEO of Kosair for Kids, and Shannon Moody, KYA's Chief Policy & Strategy Officer, for a look at the Face It Movement's efforts over the last decade. As part of a call to action for Child Abuse Prevention Month, they discuss the state of child maltreatment in the Commonwealth, the growth and impact of Face It, and how everyone can...

Terry Brooks and Kentucky Youth Advocates' policy team discuss the status of the 2024 state budget proposal as the General Assembly begins conference committee negotiations, and offer advocates calls to action to ensure kids and families are prioritized in the final biennial budget. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and track the progress of bills that are good for kids a...

Terry Brooks speaks with Senator Max Wise, Chair of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor Committee, to discuss the General Assembly's school safety efforts since 2019 and components of Senate Bill 2 of 2024. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and track the progress of bills that are good for kids at kyyouth.org/blueprintKY. Thank you to Aetna Better Health...

As part of Children's Advocacy Week 2024, Terry Brooks speaks with leaders of the Education Committees -- Representative James Tipton and Senator Jimmy Higdon. They discuss the state of K-12 education and school choice, teacher workforce, student mental health, and more. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children and track the progress of bills that are good for kids at https://ky...

As part of Children's Advocacy Week 2024, Shannon Moody speaks with the chairs of the Families and Children Committees -- first with Senator Danny Carroll and then with Representative Samara Heavrin. They discuss a variety of topics discussed within their committees, from child care and early childhood education to foster care and kinship care to paid family leave. Learn more about the Bluepr...

Terry Brooks offers predictions of the 2024 General Assembly, reflections on the legislative session so far, and a look ahead to Children's Advocacy Week. Learn more about the Blueprint for Kentucky's Children and track the progress of bills that are good for kids at https://kyyouth.org/blueprintky/ Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates at kyyouth.org/donate !

Terry Brooks is joined by Bill Goodman, executive director of Kentucky Humanities, for a conversation with Cara Fitzpatrick, author of “The Death of Public School: How Conservatives Won the War Over Education in America." They discuss Fitzpatrick's book, the national landscape of school choice, and what it means for Kentucky. Support this podcast with a gift to Kentucky Youth Advocates a...

Terry Brooks discusses the 2023 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book, including the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being and an analysis of the "kid workforce" -- the committed adults that support and impact the well-being of Kentucky’s children and youth. View the County Data Book, our press release, county profiles, and more at https://kyyouth.org/kentucky-kids-count/. The 20...

Terry Brooks sits down with Governor Andy Beshear to discuss issues impacting Kentucky kids, such as education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and much more. Tune in to hear the candidate’s ideas for helping make Kentucky the best place to be young. An invitation for an appearance on the Making Kids Count Podcast has also been extended to Gubernatorial Candidate Daniel Cameron. Thank you to Aetn...

Terry Brooks sits down with Colonel Pam Stevenson, state Representative of District 43, to discuss issues impacting Kentucky kids, such as Adverse Childhood Experiences, the impact of parental incarceration on kids, improvements to the youth justice system, and much more. Tune in to hear the candidate’s ideas for the role of the Attorney General's office in making Kentucky the best place to y...

Terry Brooks sits down with Russell Coleman, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, to discuss issues impacting Kentucky kids, such as Adverse Childhood Experiences, the impact of parental incarceration on kids, improvements to the youth justice system, and much more. Tune in to hear the candidate’s ideas for the role of the Attorney General's office in making Kentucky the...

This week, Shannon Moody sits down with Barry Allen, President & Treasurer of the Gheens Foundation, and Kristin Walker Collins, the Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, to discuss the importance of community listening and best practices in implementing. Alicia Whatley then shares takeaways from Sowing Resilience: A Bloom Kentucky Listening Tour, including what c...

Terry Brooks discusses data trends featured in the latest national KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, including challenges facing child and family well-being and the child care sector. Sarah Vanover, Policy and Research Director at Kentucky Youth Advocates, moderates a panel of child care advocates: State Senator Danny Carroll, Ashley Brandt with Metro United Way, and Kathy D...

This week, Terry Brooks and the Kentucky Youth Advocates' policy team take a detailed look at the 2023 Kentucky General Assembly, Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children wins and missed opportunities, and what it means for kids and their families. Learn more about the 2023 Blueprint priority bills and other bills that are good for kids at kyyouth.org/bill-tracker/. Thank you to Aetna Better Health...

Terry Brooks sits down with Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky Senate Minority Floor Leader and Congressman-Elect for Kentucky's 3rd District, to discuss the landscape and his priorities for children and families as he leaves Frankfort and heads to Washington, DC. Thank you to Aetna Better Health of Kentucky for supporting the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more a...