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Family & Children’s Place was delighted Thursday to be part of celebrations at the Capitol teeing up April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and honoring individuals like Chris Hogan, a Cabinet for Health and Family Services social worker, who have partnered with child advocacy centers such as ours to make a difference in the lives of children injured by abuse in their community.

President and CEO Pam Darnall and Vice President of Government Relations and Planning Liz Ferguson represented the agency in Frankfort. They participated in a pinwheel planting on the Capitol lawn, sponsored by Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky and attended by Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and First Lady Glenna Bevin, and then joined the inaugural Legendary Partner Award ceremony, sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers.

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) are child-focused facilities that coordinate the investigation, prosecution, and treatment of child abuse while helping abused children heal. CACs in Kentucky serve more than 6,500 children each year – the F&CP center helped more than 1,200 children last year – and provide forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams and therapy to children and their non-offending caregivers.

Hogan, who was nominated by Family & Children’s Place, was among the honorees. Becky League, executive director of the agency’s child advocacy centers, also joined the honor ceremony, accompanied by Emmie, the center’s therapy dog. Caroline Ruschell, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers also participated.