What better way is there to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month than to rally behind preventing and ending child abuse with state and local leaders and advocates? Yesterday, Kentucky Youth Advocates joined Family & Children’s Place and the Kosair Charities Face It® Movement at the foot of the Big Four Bridge in Louisville at the annual Rally to End Child Abuse. We applaud Family & Children’s Place for hosting the annual event that welcomed more than a hundred people, including state and local officials, child-serving organization staff, community members, and youth.

We thank Governor Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin for encouraging the crowd to lend a hand to our neighbors when they are overwhelmed with caring for their children—because everyone, including their family, needs help from time to time. We appreciate Chief Conrad of the Louisville Metro Police Department and his leadership in the effort to end child abuse in Jefferson County. We also thank Attorney General Andy Beshear and Indiana Attorney General Greg Zeller for reminding us that it is not only our moral responsibility to report suspected child abuse, but also our legal responsibility. Finally, thank you to the students of Holy Trinity for leading a chant as we began our walk across the bridge, urging all of us to speak up and be safe.

Watch a summary of the rally here via the Courier Journal. View a slideshow of the rally below.