2022 Legendary Partners
Children’s Advocacy Centers Honor 2022 Legendary Partners
On Monday, March 14th at noon in the Capitol Rotunda, the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky honored the 2022 Legendary Partners, seventeen individuals and organizations from across Kentucky who have made a difference in the lives of child victims of abuse in their communities. Governor Andy Beshear provided the opening remarks and presented the awards. Honorees were also caped by CAC Kentucky Executive Director Caroline Ruschell, recognizing that these partners’ actions have made them superheroes to those around them.
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 over 7,000 children each year and provide forensic interviews, victim advocacy, medical exams and mental health services to child victims of abuse and their non-offending caregivers.
Working with partner agencies is central to the CAC and multidisciplinary team model. The services provided by Kentucky's Children's Advocacy Centers connect and support 177 Commonwealth and County Attorney Offices, 43 medical providers, 269 law enforcement agencies, 958 Department of Community-Based Services social service workers and social service clinicians, and many more therapists, educators, volunteers, board members and more.
Our child victims and their families benefit from the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams working to investigate and prosecute child abuse cases while also helping children heal from their trauma. CACs are thankful for these important partnerships and take time each year to celebrate just a few of the partners who have made a tremendous impact in their community.
The 2022 Legendary Partners represent Kentucky’s 15 regions and the state coalition.
Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Susie Powell
Affiliation with CAC: Department for Community Based Services
Buffalo Trace Children's Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Mary Buser
Affiliation with CAC: Commonwealth Attorney Advocate
CAC of the Bluegrass
Legendary Partner: Heather Wagers
Affiliation with CAC: Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General's Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution
Children's Advocacy Center of Green River District
Legendary Partner: Sitex Corporation
Affiliation with CAC: Community Partner
Cumberland Valley Children's Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Detective James Royal
Affiliation with CAC: Detective with Post 11
Family & Children's Place Kosair Charities Child Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Becky League
Affiliation with CAC: Executive Director of Family and Children’s Place CAC
Gateway Children’s Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Kappa Delta Sorority, Morehead State University
Affiliation with CAC: Kappa Delta Sorority raises awareness and assists with fundraisers and events.
Hope’s Place
Legendary Partner: Dr. Lori McCoy and Alona Gilliam
Affiliation to CAC: Co-founders of Advanced Primary Care
Judi's Place for Kids
Legendary Partner: Amy Turner
Affiliation with CAC: Assistant Commonwealth Attorney
Kentucky River Children’s Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Scott Blair (Commonwealth Attorney, Perry Co.)
Affiliation: Prosecuting Attorney, MDT participation
Lake Cumberland Children's Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Tr. Zach Scott
Affiliation with CAC: Kentucky State Police Post 15- Law Enforcement
Lotus
Legendary Partner: Leigh Ann Wiggins
Affiliation with CAC: Investigative Supervisor for Protection and Permanency for
Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Hickman Counties
Northern Kentucky Children's Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Danielle Sneed
Affiliation with CAC: Cabinet for Health and Family Services Northern Bluegrass
Region, Specialized Team Supervisor, and MDT partner
Pennyrile Children's Advocacy Center
Legendary Partner: Detective Joe Stratton
Affiliation with CAC: Hopkins County Law Enforcement
Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services
Legendary Partner: Dr. Kimberly Mudd-Fegett
Affiliation with CAC: Forensic Interviewer
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky
Legendary Partner: Ray Larson (posthumous)
Affiliation with CAC: Commonwealth Attorney – Fayette County from 1985-2016; One of the founders of the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass