What our children's advocates in Kentucky hoping to achieve in the upcoming legislative session.

Over 100 nonprofits met yesterday at the blueprint for Kentucky's Children event to discuss just that.

Our Mackenzie Spink was there and tells us what children's issues are top of mind for advocates and some state lawmakers for 2026.

The Kentucky Youth Advocates policy agenda has more than a dozen policy changes and budget investments outlined in its 2026 blueprint, covering subjects like mental health, housing stability and access to better legal representation for families.

Executive Director Terry Brooks shares what he thinks will be the headlining children's issues on the table for discussion in Frankfort next year.

Juvenile justice is going to be a crossroads issue this session.

You can already feel, that early childhood is going to be an up in the air issue to be, fussed about, debated and acted on.

Although the policy blueprint from Kentucky's advocates is extensive, Brooks says he has seen successes in this arena in the last few years.

For instance, while far from perfect, we have a much more cohesive child welfare system than we did, a few years ago.

The other area that I would highlight is over the last ten years or so, there's been significant progress mitigating the tragedy of abuse and neglect.

Now, if there is a single kid in Kentucky who is abused, that's one too many.

But we need to give our lawmakers props.

They have taken decisive and deliberate steps over the last decade to improve that sector.

Three legislators came to the blueprint for children event to share insights on how to connect effectively in Frankfort and to share the legislation that they are excited about for the next session.

Representative James Tipton will be filing an educator misconduct bill again.

The bill addresses the issue of teachers who are accused of sexual misconduct, resigning from that school and then being hired in another district.

My legislation would ensure that, when they buy a sport teaching position that a school district is required to look at those references from most previous school districts, they're required and that those previous school districts are required to provide that information.

Republican Representative Jennifer Decker will be introducing a bill implementing education and trade school into Kentucky jails to better improve inmate outcomes upon release.

We have one of the.

Highest rates of incarceration in the nation, and what studies have shown is that the children of in a family that has a parent incarcerated are up to 6 or 7 times more likely to be incarcerated in cells.

Louisville Democrat Joshua Watkins says he looks forward to yet another push for universal pre-K in the state.

There's an old.

Proverb that says it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken dogs.

I totally believe in restorative justice.

I would prefer that we improve the literacy rates, the retention rates, and the access that every Kentucky family has to affordable pre-K.

The 2026 legislative session is a 60 day session that requires the General Assembly to create a state budget for the next two years.

The session begins on January 6th.

For Kentucky edition, I'm McKenzie Spink.

Thank you.

McKenzie.

Next week, Kentucky Youth Advocates will be releasing its Kids County report examining data on the well-being of children in Kentucky.

And we'll provide a report on that later.