LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Family & Children’s Place hosted its annual Rally to End Child Abuse. The organization has been in Louisville for more than 140 years and provides several services for children.

Elected officials and advocates gathered at the Family & Children’s Place for the annual event. Speakers highlighted progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done.

“Every six days, a child dies in the state of Kentucky because of abuse and neglect,” said Jerry Rabalais, representing Kosair for Kids. “In that same six days, two more children are nearly fatally injured and may result in long-standing [neurological] disability.”

According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was recently released, Kentucky had more than 14,000 child victims of maltreatment. This is an increase from the previous year.

“Placing Kentucky as having the fourth highest rate of maltreatment in the nation, nearly double the national rate,” said Elea Fox, Family & Children’s Place president and CEO.

Elea Fox, the president and CEO of the Family & Children's Place, talked about the prevalence of child abuse in Kentucky and the need for action to be taken. She also acknowledged the work that has been done by advocates, elected officials, activists and more to address the issue. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas)

Lieutenant Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, D-Ky, said Kentucky’s children are a priority for her administration.

“Every child in Kentucky deserves to grow up free from fear of abuse and neglect,” Coleman said.

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky, discussed the impact that organizations, like the Family & Children’s Place, have on Kentucky’s youth.

“We must invest in places like the Family & Children’s Place so that these kids are not thrown on the scrap heap of humanity and are given a chance to be put back together again and make something of their lives,” McGarvey said.

Others spoke of the need for elected officials to work together to address child abuse.

“Whether we’re at the federal level, at the state level, at the local level, to continue to do what we can to support these kids, to prevent this violence from happening in the first place,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg, D-Louisville.

“We are nowhere near where we want to be, and we continue to face significant challenges,” said State Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville. “One of those challenges, and I’ll just be bluntly honest, is in uniting our legislative and executive branches of state government in order to do this work.”

The hope is that one day events like this don’t need to be held anymore. They are important in spreading awareness for now.

“We just want people to really be mindful and to know that this happens everywhere, every community, every demographic, every zip code and we all have a responsibility to serve and protect,” Fox said.

The rally served as a kick-off event ahead of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Family & Children’s Place will host the 2025 Champions for Children Luncheon on April 17. The event is free to the public.