07 Jan Attorney General Cameron Joins Partners in the Kosair Charities Face It Movement for Press Conference on Child Abuse Prevention and Prosecution
Contact:
Mara Powell
502-895-8167 ext. 122
mpowell@kyyouth.org
LOUISVILLE, KY (January 7, 2020) – Kentucky has the highest rate of child victims of abuse and more than double the national rate. Today, with partners in the Kosair Charities® Face It® Movement, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron shared his office’s commitment to helping end child abuse in the Commonwealth.
“Child abuse exploits the innocence of youth and robs our children of the security and safety they desperately need and deserve. We can no longer accept that the Commonwealth leads the nation in child abuse, and we must do all we can to end this injustice for Kentucky’s children,” said Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron. “As the chief law enforcement officer for the Commonwealth, I am committed to partnering with child advocacy organizations, as well as state and federal prosecutors, to prevent child abuse and prosecute abusers to the fullest extent of the law. Together, we will work to eliminate child abuse and create safer communities where Kentucky families and children can flourish.”
“Kosair Charities works every day to ensure children have the supports they need to be safe and healthy with opportunities to thrive, and our 100 partners in the Face It Movement are diligent in efforts to keep Kentucky kids safe from abuse and neglect,” said Keith Inman, president of Kosair Charities. “We commend Attorney General Cameron’s commitment to helping us reach our goal by implementing efforts to prevent child abuse and ensure perpetrators cannot harm another child. Kentucky is fortunate to have courageous state leaders willing to face the epidemic of child abuse head on.”
In 2018, 24,066 Kentucky children were victims of abuse or neglect. The Face It Movement focuses on a three-pronged approach to addressing Kentucky’s high rate of child abuse and neglect: promote best practices in prevention and intervention, build community awareness, and advocate for effective policies to keep kids safe and strengthen families.
“We know that ending child abuse demands everyone’s commitment. That means principals and pastors, business leaders and child care workers, police officers and the medical community. Ending child abuse also calls for elected leaders to bring vision, courage, and action on this crisis for Kentucky’s kids, and we are so very fortunate to have Attorney General Cameron at the forefront. His imagination and guts can be catalysts in changing the trajectory of the disturbing trendlines we see around abuse and neglect,” said Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates.
“For the safety of our children, we need to work together to improve the prosecution of perpetrators of child maltreatment. Keeping kids safe is an adult responsibility that spans all professions and caregiver status. My team and I look forward to working with our new Attorney General in addressing this critical, statewide issue,” said Dr. Christina Howard, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Forensic Medicine at Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
Learn more about Face It’s 2020 policy priorities at faceitabuse.org/policy/. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, make a report at 1-877-KYSAFE1.
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About Kosair Charities
Since 1923, Kosair Charities has helped children reach their potential while overcoming obstacles. Kosair Charities enhances the health and well-being of children by delivering financial support for healthcare, research, education, social services, and child advocacy. We envision a world in which children in need live life to the fullest. For more information, please visit kosair.org.
About the Face It Movement
The Face It Movement launched in 2013 as an initiative led by Kosair Charities in response to the number of child abuse deaths in the Commonwealth. Face It focuses on a three-pronged approach to addressing child abuse and neglect: promote best practices in child abuse prevention and intervention, build awareness and engage the community, and advocate for effective policies to improve the child welfare system. Learn more at faceitabuse.org.
About Kentucky Youth Advocates
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 www.kyyouth.org.