21 Jan Statement by Dan Fox, Chair of the Face It Policy Team, On Governor Beshear’s Budget Address

(Louisville, KY –January 21, 2014) Governor Steve Beshear’s budget address was a true demonstration of his commitment to the future of Kentucky by investing in our kids. The safety and well-being of children is essential for the Commonwealth to thrive. The Face It Policy Team commends the Governor for continuing his commitment to prevent child deaths due to abuse and neglect by providing funding for the External Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel.

We also applaud the inclusion of funding to support parents in caring for their children with additional funding for the HANDS (Health Access Nurturing Development Services) program and child care assistance for low-income parents. The HANDS program has been shown to reduce the occurrence of child abuse and neglect.  Restoring funding for the Child Care Assistance Program ensures children are being cared for in a safe environment while parents work.

Given all we know about the devastating impact of experiencing abuse and neglect, the Face It movement is deeply grateful to the Governor in prioritizing the protection and safety of Kentucky kids in the upcoming budget.

About the Face It Movement:  Face It was conceived and created in 2012 as a response to the public outcry against the increasing number of child abuse deaths in the Commonwealth, officially launched on April 9, 2013, as a 10-year initiative led by Kosair Charities; its vision is that by 2023 all children in Jefferson County will be free from abuse and neglect.  Face It directly addresses the increasingly unacceptable number of child abuse deaths in Jefferson County and the surrounding areas with best practices in child abuse prevention, community engagement and the promotion of effective policies to improve the child welfare system. For further information visit https://faceitabuse.org.  Socially, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faceitabuse, Twitter: https://twitter.com/faceitabuse.