Our Mission
We are the independent voice for Kentucky's children.
Our Vision
Kentucky: The best place in America for children and youth.
History
Kentucky Youth Advocates was founded in 1975 by a group of citizens who came together over concerns about the care of abused and neglected children and delinquent youth in the custody of the state. KYA incorporated and hired staff in 1977. Four goals guided our work in the first 16 years:
- Support adequate programming for children who are in need of protection from abuse and neglect
- Assure that each neglected and abused child secures a permanent home
- Assure that delinquent children and those with emotional problems receive effective and humane treatment
- Prevent the unnecessary jailing and detention of youth and secure adequate remedial services for these youth.
Two additional goals were adopted in 1983 as we saw additional needs for vulnerable children in the areas of health care and education:
- Support programs which provided proper prenatal and early childhood service for mothers and children
- Assure that the educational system is responsive to the needs and rights of vulnerable children by helping children, their parents, and other citizens.
See a more detailed desciption of our history.