Contact:
Mara Powell
mpowell@kyyouth.org

FRANKFORT, KY – Hundreds of child advocates are convening this week for Children’s Advocacy Week, urging elected leaders to support the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children, a unified policy agenda focused on creating brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and families.

Today is Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol, where community organizations, professionals who work with kids and families, and young people from across the Commonwealth gather in Frankfort to meet with their legislators, attend committee meetings, and rally for children in the Capitol Rotunda.  

“Each year, Children’s Advocacy Day is a time for parents, social workers, educators, faith leaders, pediatricians, community leaders, and young people themselves to raise their voices on issues impacting kids during the legislative session. The common ground for our elected leaders is kids – and we urge that commitment to remain steadfast in these remaining days of the 2025 General Assembly,” said Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. 

Governor Andy Beshear, Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens, and House Families & Children Committee Chair Representative Samara Heavrin spoke to the crowd at the Rally for Kentucky Kids in the Capitol Rotunda. Kentucky Youth Advocates also welcomed Lt Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Attorney General Russell Coleman, State Auditor Allison Ball, Kentucky’s Ombudsman Jon Grate, Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander, and several members of the General Assembly. Additionally, youth shared their stories of advocacy and urged leaders and advocates to prioritize the well-being of all Kentucky’s children.  

“Children’s Advocacy Day is about raising our voices on issues impacting kids across the Commonwealth. Our voices matter today and every day,” shared the Rally opening speaker Zach Crouch, a high school student from Taylor County and a member of KYA’s Health Youth Ambassador program.  

The following state legislators were honored with Champion for Children awards for their leadership on Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children priorities in the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly: 

  • Senator Julie Raque Adams – presented The Frank Harshaw Thermostat Award for legacy of leadership on issues impacting children and families in the child welfare system 
  • Senator Shelley Funke Frommeyer – champion of Senate Bill 74 of 2024 
  • Senator Chris McDaniel – leadership on child care advocacy efforts of 2024 
  • Representative Kim Banta – champion of House Bill 377 of 2024 
  • Representative Samara Heavrin – champion of House Bill 561 of 2024 
  • Representative Kim Moser – champion of the Momnibus Bill of 2024 
  • Representative James Tipton – leadership on legislation to prevent educator sexual misconduct 

The following young people and community leaders were also honored with Champion for Children awards for their advocacy efforts for Kentucky kids and families: 

  • Bella Cornett – youth champion on substance use prevention and member of KYA’s Health Youth Ambassador program 
  • Tia Humphrey – champion of child welfare reforms  
  • Kotomi Yokokura – youth champion to prevent educator sexual misconduct  
  • Graves Co ASAP Council, presented to Courtney Jefferies – advocacy organization committed to preventing youth substance use and empowering high school students  

In addition to today’s event, advocates and youth are connecting with legislators and other elected officials throughout the week, including Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman, Senator Cassie Chamber Armstrong, Senator Keturah Herron, Representative Stephanie Dietz, Representative Robert Duvall, Representative Peyton Griffee, Representative Rachel Roarx, and others. 

Advocates are pushing for several policy priorities on the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2025 agenda to pass the General Assembly by the final gavel of the session, including Senate Bill 17 and House Bill 90 to expand access to perinatal care options, Senate Bill 73 to increase awareness of and ensure appropriate response to sexual extortion, Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 187 to protect kids from the harmful effects of vaping, House Bill 291 to minimize the impact of parental incarceration on children, and House Bill 36 to prevent educator sexual misconduct, among several others.  

Children’s Advocacy Week is made possible with the support of our many sponsors, including our signature sponsor: Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, strategist sponsors: The Hager Foundation and Save the Children Kentucky, advocate sponsors: Attend Behavior, JCTA, Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Homes, Sunrise Children’s Services, and WellCare, and our many partner sponsors. We appreciate their support of Kentucky’s largest effort to bring child advocates together. 

For more information, visit kyyouth.org/caw/. For more information about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children visit kyyouth.org/blueprintky/. 

Photo/Video Note: All Children’s Advocacy Week 2025 events conducted via Zoom will be recorded and posted to Kentucky Youth Advocates’ YouTube page. Please contact Mara Powell at mpowell@kyyouth.org with questions. 

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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 kyyouth.org. 

The Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children is a coalition of non-profit, public, and private organizations that stands on three pillars: thriving communities launch strong families, strong families launch successful kids, and successful kids launch a prosperous future for Kentucky. The Blueprint speaks with a common voice to create brighter futures for all Kentucky kids and their families.