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The Long-Awaited Decision

In a victory for faith-based social service agencies across the country, a federal judge in Louisville has dismissed a lawsuit against Sunrise Children’s Services that questioned whether we should receive partial expense reimbursement from the state. The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Simpson III followed a 10-year legal battle with taxpayers and the American Civil Liberties Union. Simpson ruled that the taxpayers had no standing to sue Sunrise, citing Hein v. Freedom from Religion Foundation. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against taxpayers challenging federal funding for a White House office that promotes faith-based social services. You can read more about the lawsuit dismissal from the Christian Legal Society, including the full decision.

What does the victory mean for Sunrise? Although an appeal is possible, we are moving on and focusing on providing care for the abused and neglected children of Kentucky without the distraction of a lawsuit. The legal process required the use of far too much of our staff’s time and resources.

However, the lawsuit made us a stronger agency as we took a hard look at our procedures and practices. We stood firm knowing that faith is a choice, and the opportunity for children to embrace faith is part of our mission. Every day, we choose compassion over coercion. For us, choice trumps indoctrination and hope overcomes despair. Thankfully, the ministry of Sunrise Children’s Services can continue unchanged. We are grateful for this outcome, because we know it’s best for the kids.

Blue Ribbons Wave as a Reminder of Young Victims

If you happen to be driving through Louisville during the month of April, check out Sunrise's blue ribbon display on Shelbyville Road.  The display is at the site of the old Spring Meadows near the intersection of Watterson Trail.  There are 350 stakes with blue ribbons with a sign proclaiming that each ribbon symbolizes 200 of the 70,000 children reportedly abused or neglected each year in Kentucky.  Thanks to Mike Judah, the new land owner, for letting us borrow the space for the display again this year.

(Click on each picture to see a larger version.)

It's Blue Ribbon Month

Did you know that 26 children in Kentucky died last year because they were severely abused? Probably not. You may have read about one horrific case in your local newspaper where an adult, sometimes a parent, was charged in the death of a child. The truth of child abuse is that it can strike anywhere, in any family. Each case makes us cringe in disbelief. Who would harm a child? Yet today, 26 children aren’t learning in school, aren’t laughing on playgrounds and aren’t realizing their dreams.

Each of these children had someone who loved them deeply. In 1989, a Virginia woman whose grandson died because of child abuse tied a blue ribbon to her van. The blue ribbon is now the symbol of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

There are many more children who struggle to live through the abuse and neglect they’ve endured. Last year, the state confirmed that more than 15,000 kids suffered abuse or neglect. The number of actual victims is likely much higher.

Statistics show that these hurting children are more likely to grow up into adults who mistreat children. That’s why Sunrise Children’s Services strives to break the cycle of child abuse by bringing healing and hope to children and teens who bear deep scars from abuse. Every night, about 400 children find refuge with Sunrise.

You don’t read in the papers about the thousands of children in state custody very often, but our employees and foster parents take care of them every day. We think it’s crucial that the public knows about these kids who suffer in silence and realizes that child abuse is a significant problem in our society. So we’re dedicating the month of April to a campaign called Take a Stand against Child Abuse.

The climax of the Take a Stand campaign takes place on April 23 and 25, when hundreds of our supporters will gather in 11 cities across Kentucky and stand outside for an hour in blue ribbon T-shirts. We will be a visible reminder to passers-by that child abuse happens in every community. We will create a unified front signifying our fight to stop child abuse. At the same time, participants will be raising money to help provide all the children in Sunrise’s care with presents at Christmas.

It may be difficult for one individual to draw attention to the problem of child abuse, but there is power in numbers. Please consider joining Sunrise and Take a Stand against Child Abuse. Visit http://www.sunrise.org/upcoming_events.php to find the location nearest you, then call (800) 456-1386 to register your team. It’s Blue Ribbon Month. Can you spare an hour to stand up for all the kids who’ve been beaten down?