Jeffersontown, KY – Hundreds of Kentuckians of all ages from across the Commonwealth are convening in Frankfort today for the 10th annual Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol. They are urging legislators to fund kids first in the next two year state budget and support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a common agenda for child advocates across the state.

“We are challenging legislators to stand up for kids,” said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. “From quality child care to protecting kids from abuse. From ensuring children and pregnant moms can breathe clean air to supporting grandparents as they raise grandkids. And from reforming how we respond to youth behaviors to supporting working parents with a state Earned Income Credit. We know solutions that work and it’s time to make them a reality.”

In addition to individual legislative meetings advocates will have today, two major events include:

 10:00 a.m.-10:45 a.m.- Children’s Advocacy Day Rally, Back Terrace of the Capitol

  • Rally speakers:
    • RaShaan Allen, Boys and Girls Club of America Military Youth of the Year from Ft. Knox – emcee
    • Representative John Tilley – youth justice
    • Jeanne Miller-Jacobs, Grandparent from Northern Kentucky raising her grandchildren – kinship care
    • Adrienne Bush, Hazard Perry County Community Ministries, Inc. – child care assistance restoration
    • LaRosa Shelton, Senior from Male High School in Louisville – smoke-free
    • Keith Sanders, Lawrence and Augusta Hager Educational Foundation – Earned Income Credit
    • Representative Addia Wuchner and Representative Susan Westrom – pediatric abusive head trauma training for doctors (House Bill 157)
    • Terry Brooks, executive director at Kentucky Youth Advocates – call to action

1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – KIDS COUNT Briefing and Award Ceremony, Capitol Rotunda
*Governor and First Lady attending

  • The KIDS COUNT Briefing and Award Ceremony provides a state of KY kids briefing and awards to several legislators and the Governor and First Lady for their work on various children’s issues. The KIDS COUNT Briefing and Award Ceremony is sponsored by Kosair Charities, Passport Health Plan, and the Kentucky Beverage Association.

“Children’s Advocacy Day challenges the Governor and our legislators to take the unique opportunity to put aside party affiliation and join together on solutions that are good for kids and families and good for the state budget. Budgets always require tough choices. But especially now, we cannot afford to fail to invest in kids,” said Brooks.

Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol is made possible with the support of over 60 sponsors and Blueprint partners. For more information, visit https://kyyouth.org/childrens-advocacy-day-at-the-capitol/.

For more information about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children visit http://www.blueprintky.org.

Please contact Andrea Bennett at abennett@kyyouth.org or 502-381-1176 with any questions or to schedule an interview.