Louisville, KY – The Bounce Coalition is joining Kentucky Youth Advocates to further strengthen its efforts as a collaborative network of professionals and advocates that works to increase understanding of the impact of childhood trauma, address the root causes of poor health and inequities, and improve outcomes of all Kentucky children.

“The Bounce Coalition has had success in working with agencies serving children to better understand the immense impact childhood trauma can have throughout one’s lifetime and how to build resiliency to help mitigate that impact. We want to see those outcomes grow through a systematic, statewide presence, which is why we are eager for the joining of this work to the Kentucky Youth Advocates’ portfolio,” said Dr. David Finke, Vice President of Residential Services at Uspiritus and co-chair of the Bounce Coalition Executive Committee.

“By expanding statewide and deepening policy advocacy efforts, the Bounce Coalition will serve as a catalyst and guide for all systems that intersect with Kentucky’s youth.  It will assist those systems in becoming trauma-informed and resiliency-focused – schools, foster care agencies, community centers, health providers, faith communities, and so many more,” said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. “We’re animated by the good work that the Coalition has already done and by the potential for exponential growth to impact more Kentucky kids and families.”

Resiliency-focused work is especially important as the traumas associated with the COVID-19 pandemic increase in communities across the Commonwealth.

“The importance of partnerships among agencies and organizations committed to caring for Kentucky’s most vulnerable cannot be overstated. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services joins Kentucky Youth Advocates in welcoming Bounce Coalition to offer support. Bounce Coalition will add meaningfully to the deep reserves of resiliency from which these vulnerable youth must draw,” said Eric Friedlander, Acting Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

The Bounce Coalition work originated as a successful pilot programs in a Jefferson County elementary school and the YMCA of Greater Louisville.

“The Bounce Coalition was launched in 2014 with a grant from the Foundation for a program in Jefferson County Public Schools to improve adult responses to students dealing with Adverse Childhood Experiences and to reduce risky behaviors among the youth,” said Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “The Bounce interventions reduced out-of-school suspensions, improved staff perception of their skills for supporting youth experiencing trauma, improved student climate survey results, increased parent engagement and raised teacher retention.”

“The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has been instrumental in the Coalition’s development and we look forward to our continued partnership. Our joining with Kentucky Youth Advocates will allow our data-driven efforts and vision to expand into every Kentucky community through our trainings, policy advocacy, and awareness efforts,” said Betty (BJ) Adkins, Director of Community Resource Development at the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and co-chair of the Bounce Coalition Executive Committee.

The Bounce Coalition offers an array of trainings and resources on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed practices, self-care practices, and building resilient families and communities. Learn more about the Bounce Coalition at www.bouncecoalition.org. View a video from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky about Bounce Coalition outcomes in Louisville here.

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About The Bounce Coalition
The mission of the Bounce Coalition is to build the resilience of children and families by improving knowledge about the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the skills to help youth bounce back from adversity. Learn more at www.bouncecoalition.org.  

About Kentucky Youth Advocates
Kentucky Youth Advocates believes all children deserve to be safe, healthy, and secure. As THE independent voice for Kentucky's children, we work to ensure policymakers create investments and policies that are good for children. Learn more at www.kyyouth.org.