Judi Patton

Activist work In December 1995, Paul Patton became 59th Governor of Kentucky and the Pattons entered the Governor's Office in Frankfort, Kentucky. Immediately, Judi focused on taboo topics such as child abuse and domestic violence.

While in office in Frankfort, Kentucky, she pushed "20 bills that strengthened protections for children, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, created policy standards for prosecuting perpetrators and expanded training initiatives from local law enforcement to judges, doctors and nurses."

In 1994 the federal Violence Against Women Act passed.

In 1996 Patton received from Janet Reno the federal government's allotted grant funding for the Commonwealth to address the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

In 1998 Vice President Al Gore presented to Patton a special "full faith and credit" grant of nearly $3 million from the STOP Violence Against Women program from the U.S. Department of Justice. Patton's work led to the creation of 11 advocacy centers in Kentucky's Area Development Districts.

Other leadership roles Patton took on were:

Helping create the Governor's Task Force on Sexual Assault, which proposed legislation creating and funding Rape Crisis Centers around the state, removing legal restrictions on marital rape victims, toughening sexual offender laws and creating victim protections. Backing legislation that created Family courts in Kentucky. Promoting legislation that forced insurance companies to cover the cost of breast reconstruction and equalization for cancer patients. Becoming the first governor's wife to serve on the Kentucky Commission on Women. Hosting an annual reception for survivors of breast cancer and helping create the Kentucky Breast Cancer Coalition. Lobbying lawmakers to pass legislation addressing child abuse, rape, domestic violence and child support.

The only bill with which Patton's lobbying did not succeed was the criminalization of sexual assault between spouses.

In 2001, Judi's Place for Kids opened in Pikeville - a center named in her honor. Patton is on the Board of Directors of the Big Sandy Area Child Advocacy Center, founded in 1999 to serve the five easternmost counties of Kentucky (Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin), in supporting and protecting child abuse survivors.

In 2003, The Judi Conway Patton Endowed Chair of Study on Violence Against Women was established at the University of Kentucky Center for Research on Violence Against Women.

The Judi Patton Center for Families opened in 2021 as a center to provide resources and treatment to women dealing with substance use disorder.

Patton's work concerning women and children continues.

Awards and honors

Patton received over twenty awards between 1996 and 2001 for her work. 1996, awarded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 1996: Outstanding Legislative Advocacy award; the Kentucky Coalition against Rape and Sexual Assault. 1996: Kentucky Distinguished Citizen Award; the Kentucky Psychological Association 1996, received her second national recognition at the 11th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect where she received a Commissioner's Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1996: Inaugural Committed to Peace in Kentucky Homes Award; Kentucky Domestic Violence Association. 1997: Outstanding Leadership award; the Commonwealth's Attorneys' Association. 1997: Inaugural Outstanding Advocate Award; Kentucky Council on Child Abuse. 1997: she was honored by the Lexington YWCA with the Smith-Breckinridge Award for outstanding leadership in support of women and children. 1997: Distinguished Alumna Award; Pikeville High School. 1998: she was honored by Board of Directors of Very Special Arts Kentucky for support of Arts Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. 1998: Outstanding Service to Children; Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children, Chapter 5. 1998: Junior Williamson Memorial Award; Pike County Chamber of Commerce 1999: Friend of Kentucky's Children Award; Exploited Children's Help Organization. 1999: Honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.); board of directors of Pikeville College. 1999: Children First honored her with a special award for her outstanding leadership in advocating for children. 2000: Joy of Life Award; the Kentucky Cancer Program, the Brown Cancer Center 2000: Leadership Award; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and BMW Ultimate Drive for the Cure. 2000: Outstanding Child Advocate Award; Sunshine Center in Frankfort, Kentucky, where a children's playroom was also dedicated in her honor. 2000: Gold Medal Award; Family Place in Louisville for her work on behalf of abused children. 2000: Annual Leadership Award; Center for Women and Families in Louisville. 2000: she again was honored by the Kentucky Commonwealth's Attorney's Association in recognition of the successful legislative package she championed before the 2000 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. 2001: the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center honored her for her efforts on behalf of Kentucky's children by establishing the Judi C. Patton Community Conference Hall in the newly constructed advocacy center. 2001: she was presented the Key to the city by the Mayor Sandy Jones of Bowling Green who was joined by Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon who presented a joint proclamation declaring January 12, 2001, as Children's Advocacy Day in honor of the First Lady. 2010: Woman of Distinction at the Celebration of Service and Survival based Center for Women and Families