KENTUCKY YOUTH ADVOCATES INC

Programs

1. Child welfare: kya believes that all children and their families deserve to thrive in their home and community. This means children need: services that assist and promote safe and supported parenting for all families; a child welfare system focused on primary prevention efforts that support children safely growing up in their own home and supports parents thriving in their own community; the most appropriate and least restrictive care setting in which to access supports and services as they navigate the trauma of experiencing abuse or neglect; the same supports whether they live with their biological parents or if they live in foster or kinship care; and support in transitioning from the child welfare system into adulthood and the workforce. Recent successes include increasing child safety when interacting with healthcare professionals by allowing child abuse and neglect registry checks of employees within the healthcare system and prioritizing children who have experienced abuse and neglect by closing gaps in kinship caregiver access to additional supports.face it movement: kya coordinates the kosair for kids face it movement to end child abuse across kentucky. With over 170…

   $1,380,033 spent$475,286 earned by the program
   42% of program spending

2. True up: this initiative empowers young people in foster care to gain the critical life skills they need to make a successful transition from a structured environment to self-sufficiency in our communities. True up, which was founded in 2011, is a landmark partnership among foster care agencies that serve as surrogate parents for hundreds of children and teens in kentucky. True up is committed to helping youth transition from agency care to independent living.

   $430,136 spent
   13% of program spending

3. Data & research: for over 30 years, kentucky kids count has provided the latest child well-being data, and because it is seen and used by everyone from groups of youth in eastern kentucky to cabinet secretaries in frankfort, kids count data is a catalyst for change. We use this data as the foundation for policy recommendations, and many others across the state including educators, government officials, social workers, and more utilize the book and online interactive county data dashboard for everything from grant proposals to classroom materials. This publication provides data on 16 measures of child well-being and data profiles for each kentucky county. In addition to the kentucky kids count project, kya engages in other data and research related work including a project around increasing participation in the census for historically undercounted populations across kentucky along with another project on understanding the impacts of the opioid epidemic on children and families through data collection and community education/awareness building.

   $349,393 spent
   11% of program spending

4. The bounce coalition: this initiative builds the resiliency of children and families by improving knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and the skills to help youth bounce back from adversity. The coalition of community partners are moving "upstream" to address these root causes of poor health in our most vulnerable people. Through education, training, and other resources, bounce supports individuals and organizations to implement trauma-informed approaches in practical, everyday settings to better serve their communities.early childhood education: kya believes that all children deserve access to quality, affordable early childhood education. This means children and families need programs that: allow parents and caregivers to go to work knowing that their children are safe, learning, and cared for; provide quality early childhood education that will prepare children to be successful in kindergarten; provide quality early childhood education that will guide their physical and cognitive development, social and emotional learning, and motor and self-help skills; and support and retain trained early childhood educators that provide safe, quality care and can…

   $1,147,058 spent$103,671 earned by the program
   35% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $3,306,620.