Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass

04/28/2025

We want to give a HUGE shoutout out to Campbellsville University School of Nursing students for organizing a donation drive for Kristin's Closet! Last week, they dropped off more than 1,000 items to help bring comfort and peace of mind to families in crisis.

We are so appreciative of their support that will keep Kristin's Closet stocked for a while!

04/25/2025

Despite the rain, it was a beautiful morning as our community came together for the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass's "Pinwheels for Prevention", sponsored by Republic Bank, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Together, we planted 1,000 pinwheels outside of our Center to represent the 1,000+ children and families that will receive our healing services in 2025.

Thank you to Mayor Linda Gorton for her proclamation, recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and to our Board Chair and Central Kentucky Market Manager Senior Vice President of Republic Bank, Emily Miller, for her thoughtful remarks, and Republic Bank's continued support of our mission.

We're also grateful to the elected officials, community partners, sponsors, board members, and staff who joined us today, even in the rain, to recognize this important occasion.

04/24/2025

CAC of the Bluegrass Lead Family Advocate, Whitney, also helps keeps kids safe by educating the community on child passenger safety! She's the best!

Meet Whitney Roepke, MSW, CSW, CPST. Whitney is the Lead Family Advocate at the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, where she has worked for 6+ years. She previously worked in child care regulation in Iowa before moving to Kentucky in 2018. She became interested in child passenger safety during an internship in 2013, and was given the opportunity to obtain her certification in 2017.

Whitney's passion lies in keeping kids safe and loves being able to help families ensure that kids are safe in the car by partnering with Safe Kids Fayette County. Whitney lives with her husband, 2-year-old daughter, dog, and turtle. She enjoys reading, puzzles, coffee, and being outside with her family.

In honor of Whitney, several families will be receiving car seats and cribs this month through our safety education and safety device assistance programs. Thank you Whitney, for your time and dedication to protect children from preventable injury!

04/23/2025

Time for another Core Values Shout Out!

April has been a crazy month at the Center, and Laura has worked hard to make sure that our Center is open and operating correctly so that children and families can have access to the services they need. Her hard work does not go unnoticed!

04/21/2025

Friday was a great day at the Center! CAC staff joined with volunteers from Gray and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to take care of some much needed spring cleaning projects. Thanks to their hard work, our Center is looking beautiful with fresh mulch and new flowers.

We're so grateful to everyone who gave their time to help make our space even more welcoming for the children and families we serve!

04/18/2025

Our Pinwheels for Prevention is NEXT WEEK! Join us on Friday, April 25th at 10:00am as we plant 1,000 pinwheels to honor the 1,000 children we serve each year.

RSVP to Taylor Ballinger at [email protected].

We hope to see you there!

04/17/2025

CAC of the Bluegrass was happy to host Children's Advocacy Centers of Kentucky - CAC Kentucky today for the Directors Council Strategic Planning meeting! We love to provide space for collaboration that leads to better services for children and families across the state.

04/16/2025

We all have the power to protect children. Learning the warning signs of abuse is a crucial first step. If you ever suspect abuse or neglect, you're legally required to report it. It could make all the difference in a child's life.

We can all be heroes by educating ourselves and preventing child abuse.

04/14/2025

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and you can be a part of creating a safer, brighter future for kids in our community.

A gift to the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass helps provide hope and healing for children and families in Central Kentucky — and this month each donation will be recognized in our Virtual Pinwheel Garden at www.kykids.org/virtual-pinwheel-garden

Your support matters! Donate today at https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E357958&id=6

04/11/2025

We're just two weeks away from our annual Pinwheels for Prevention event, sponsored by Republic Bank!

If you haven’t RSVP’d yet, email Taylor Ballinger at [email protected] to let us know you’re coming.

Join us as we plant 1,000 pinwheels in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month—a powerful reminder of the happy, healthy childhoods every child deserves.

04/10/2025

Help us welcome two new faces to the CAC of the Bluegrass team — Crystal Crouch and Makayla Richter!

Crystal joins us as our Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Coordinator, a brand new role at the Center. She’ll be working closely with our community partners to strengthen collaboration and will oversee and facilitate MDT meetings across our region. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her relaxing with family around the backyard fire pit.

Makayla is our new Child and Family Advocate. She’ll be supporting children and families and connecting them with vital resources. Makayla loves to travel — but when she’s home, she’s spending time with her two dogs, Oliver and Bear.

We’re thrilled to have Crystal and Makayla on the team!

04/09/2025

CAC of the Bluegrass is glowing purple this week in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week!

As part of Marsy's Law for Kentucky's "Shine a Light on Victims’ Rights" campaign, organizations across the state are shining purple to show support for survivors and to highlight the places they can go to seek help.

This year, CAC of the Bluegrass will provide healing services for over 1,000 children in Central Kentucky. We’re proud to stand with survivors and honored to be part of this powerful campaign.

04/07/2025

Show your support for Child Abuse Prevention Month! You can make a difference in the life of a child by donating to the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass.

Throughout April, every donation will be honored in our Virtual Pinwheel Garden at www.kykids.org/virtual-pinwheel-garden

Just $20 can provide food and emergency items for a family in crisis. Every dollar counts!

Donate today: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E357958&id=6

04/04/2025

Emily, Michelle, Sara Kay, Crystal, and Traci are rocking their blue today for !

Wearing blue is a simple way to stand up for kids and raise awareness about child abuse prevention. Are you wearing your blue today? Let us know!

04/03/2025

We continued our celebration of Child Abuse Prevention Month yesterday in Jessamine County!

A huge thank you to Tyra Chatman with DCBS, Ben Kleppinger with CASA of Lexington, Judge Executive David West, and Family Court Judge Jeff Moss for sharing their inspiring words on the importance of child abuse prevention.

Keeping children safe is a responsibility we ALL share. By staying informed, speaking up, and supporting prevention efforts, we can create a brighter future for every child.

04/02/2025

Did you know that April is National Volunteer Month? What better time to celebrate one of our incredible volunteers, Eve Stern!

Each week, Eve stops by our Center to ensure that Kristin's Closet—our emergency resource room—is stocked and ready to support the children and families we serve. Thanks to her dedication, we can always count on having essential items, like toiletries, available for those who need them most.

Eve's kindness and commitment make a world of difference. Thank you for all that you do!

04/01/2025

April is here, which means it's officially Child Abuse Prevention Month!

Yesterday, CAC of the Bluegrass had the opportunity to attend Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky (PCAK)'s Child Abuse Prevention Month Kickoff and Pinwheel Planting! It was a wonderful opportunity to join with individuals and partners throughout the state who wish to see a world free of child abuse.

Thank you to PCAKY Executive Director Jill Seyfred and Governor Andy Beshear for your dedication to protecting Kentucky's children.

Each of the 4,000 pinwheels outside of the Kentucky Capitol represent 17 children born in Kentucky last year. We all can play an important role in keeping these children safe so that they can go on to live the happy and healthy lives that all children deserve.

03/31/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Jacqueline Sugarman on receiving the NSVRC's prestigious Visionary Voice Award! 🌟

This national honor recognizes individuals making a profound impact in sexual violence prevention and response.

"Dr. Jacqueline Sugarman, Medical Director of the Children's Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, has been a driving force in shaping Kentucky's medical response to child abuse and sexual violence for decades. Her expertise in pediatrics and child abuse pediatrics, combined with her leadership on the Kentucky Multidisciplinary Commission on Child Sexual Abuse and as a physician representative on the state's sexual assault response team, has had a lasting impact. Dr. Sugarman's collaboration with KASAP and other community partners further strengthens Kentucky's efforts to protect children and support survivors of sexual violence."

Thank you, Dr. Sugarman, for your dedication and unwavering commitment to keeping children safe!