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.  

“While Children’s Advocacy Day at the Capitol looks different this year without a big rally in the Rotunda, our mission is the same: speaking up to make Kentucky the best place to be a kid. Kids are the common ground for our elected leaders – and we urge that commitment to remain steadfast in the remaining days of the 2026 General Assembly, especially as final decisions are made on the biennial state budget,” said Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. 

Senate President Pro Tempore David Givens, House Speaker David Osborne, and Senate Minority Whip Cassie Chambers Armstrong spoke to the crowd at the Town Hall on Kids in the Capitol Education Center on Wednesday, followed by a Pep Rally for youth and young adults from all corners of the state with a youth-led Q&A with Representative Rachel Roarx. Throughout the day youth shared their stories of advocacy and urged leaders to prioritize the well-being of all Kentucky children.

“Children are our future. They will carry on the goals, successes, and even the failures that adults leave behind. As leaders make decisions, keep my peers and me at the forefront of your mind. So, find your passion, use your voice, and vote in favor of Kentucky kids!” shared the Town Hall on Kentucky Kids speaker, Aleah Stigall, a senior at Boyle County High School and former member of the 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 2025 Kentucky General Assembly: 

  • Senator Jimmy Higdon – presented The Frank Harshaw Thermostat Award for a legacy of leadership on issues impacting children and families
  • Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong – champion of Senate Bill 120 of 2025
  • Senator Julie Raque Adams – champion of Senate Bill 73 of 2025
  • Representative Jason Nemes – champion of House Bill 90 of 2025

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

  • Eric Friedlander – legacy as a champion for children and families while serving as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services
  • Zach Crouch – youth champion on substance and nicotine use prevention among peers
  • Griffin Nemeth – champion on youth nicotine use prevention
  • Housing Policy Ambassadors – champions on housing advocacy and eviction reforms

In addition to today’s event, advocates and youth are connecting with legislators and other elected officials throughout the week, including state Senators Danny Carroll and David Givens and Representatives Stephanie Dietz, Robert Duvall, Peyton Griffee, Samara Heavrin, Kim Holloway, and Kim Moser.

Advocates are pushing for several policy priorities on the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children 2026 agenda to pass the General Assembly by the final gavel of the session, including House Bill 6 to strengthen quality and access to child care, House Bill 102 to prevent educator sexual misconduct, House Bill 338 to promote family housing stability, House Bill 598 to strengthen family legal representation, House Bill 686 to support positive youth development, and Senate Bill 74 to support youth nicotine use prevention efforts, 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, Youth Engagement sponsor: Trager Family Foundation, Strategist sponsors: NECCO and Physicians to Children & Adolescents, Advocate sponsors: Kentucky Primary Care Association, Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Home, Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative, Save the Children, 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 event information, visit kyyouth.org/caw/. For more information about the Blueprint for Kentucky’s Children visit kyyouth.org/blueprintky/ and stay up-to-date on bill movement with our Kentucky General Assembly Bill Tracker.

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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. Learn more at kyyouth.org/blueprintky.